We have a simple home. 1700 square feet. Metal border will be used with Bull rock instead of mulch on top. (think this is the big ticket item) 3 different plants and are only landscaping the front. 2-3 foot beds. Does this sound like a $2400 job?? Is $1400 for labor alone reasonable??
It's hard to say. Why not get a couple estimates? We went with the most expensive landscaper but their design was far superior to anyone else and I loved their use of boulders and garden rocks in the design. I also liked that we now have several ornamental plant that I think are just so beautiful and fairly unique.
I have done all my own landscaping and it is really hard work. I would imagine, like some of my other projects the labor is more than the materials.
The only way you will know for sure is get multiple bids.
I would get a few estimates for the work and what plants and materials you want. You will get an idea of the labor costs and material costs (if it's itemized), $2400 can go quick for just materials alone.
You should ask your neighbors, both personally and on Nextdoor.com. The cost REALLY varies depending on your region/local market. It also depends whether they need to tear out existing plants? condition of soil/slope? will they buy/deliver materials or will you? are they installing irrigation/drainage?
costs for both materials and labor vary wildly from region to region.
you need to get a few bids and then decide.
khairete
S.
It totally depends. We used my mom's guy to do our yard a couple of years ago and it was $900. It wasn't that much work in my opinion, but I know my husband and I did it the year before and I swore I'd never do it again. Another guy was going to do it for $200 when we did it ourselves. You need to ask around and get quotes.
I dated a landscape architect at one time. I about choked when he showed me one of his recent projects and told me what it had cost. He did some jobs around new builds and some businesses that were in the $50,000-$100,000 range. That was about 15 years ago.
Landscaping is not cheap. That's why my yard looks really crappy. I can't afford to hire someone and I don't have the skills myself. Ask around for other quotes but I'm guessing they will be similar. The "labor" costs cover not only the time that goes into the job but also the upkeep of the equipment used and the planning and design time. If the ground is rocky, sandy, or clay based there may need to be extra steps taken as well.
Is the quote you got reasonable? Probably, but different areas of the country will have different rates.
I have no idea what it would be in your area.
Get a couple of different quotes from different companies. Then compare.
Go price the items they'll be using for yourself at 3 different lawn and garden places. Then add it all up.
If their pay is less than the cost of the items then I'd say it might be a fair trade off. If I hate to do something sometimes it's worth more to me to pay someone anything they want so "I" don't have to do it. Otherwise I can usually figure it out and pay myself that money or use it for something I want.
