mark foster

Andrew,  let us know what you find.

Cheryl’s situation seems pretty clear-cut–same project with contractor pitching an extra service is a no-no. I believe this would be true if it is sub or referral relationship.
Unfortunately, there are other grey areas.  What if the client contacts the contractor directly in the future for an expansion of the project beyond the original scope,…[Read more]

I’m with the majority opinion– the contractor over-stepped.  The ethical thing would have been to refer the client back to you.  If I am installing for another designer and a new issue comes up, I always send it back in his/her court.  I would expect the same if they worked on one of my designs.
And to Heather’s query– things do change in the fi…[Read more]

I’m not sure about the exact product, but most pressed board products do interesting things when soaked in water…..

“First, I am stunned that so many spend so little time on the site”.
One of my pet peeves,  This is a major reason I am in D/B.  
Getting paid to implement the project allows me to be paid to spend the time to get to know the site intimately– over large periods of time and in all kinds of weather conditions–which I was never able to achieve thr…[Read more]

I’m with Jason and Brett–use the most commonly known terms.   I use “site”, and “concept” because most laypeople don’t know the meaning of “master” and “schematic”.

Don’t have these, but I have a couple of Nakashima’s chairs–most comfortable chairs I have ever owned.

Just to add to Nick’s excellent advice–
When a business is registered, a search is done to make sure no one else is using the name.  It also stakes your “claim” to that name, so someone else can’t use it in the future.  
Every state is different– but in mine the registration of a name does not have anything to do with the company structure.  …[Read more]

Back to the question: “Did company greed kill our jobs?”  No.   When times were good, those firms looked like geniuses. Now, not so much. I don’t think anything done in our profession had anything to do with our current suffering–the “big overhead” firms were just the first to fall (for obvious reasons)  
The bigger questions are “what are the…[Read more]

William,
I went backwards from where you are:  LA degree (graduated in the last great recession), landscape foreman, construction specialist, design and sales, head of design,  D/B business owner.
My advice to anyone wanting to make landscaping their profession?  If you are coming to it from mowing and maintenance, don’t skip steps. Learn ho…[Read more]

 I wonder how much of the office “swank” was an attempt to market the firm?  I know some subscribe to bringing the clients to the office, and this would require a real “statement”.  I never liked this approach.  Besides the cost, I would much rather meet the clients on their turf then ours.  The last thing I want to do is send the wrong mess…[Read more]

D,
Your post suggests a tight budget.  If this is the case and you must travel a long distance, I would say it’s probably not a good expenditure.  Also, the ASLA conference is large, and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd.  You would get better (and cheaper) exposure to the “real world” and have better networking opportunities by attending lo…[Read more]

Trace and Jason–lol  Maybe we should compile a list of “toxic client types”?! 
I will start,  Toxic clients are ones who have:
1. have too much time on their hands
2.  are involved in power struggles
3.  are trying to impress a boss…..
4.  are so totally geeked out on one aspect they lose perspective
Anyone, please add……

To add to Craigs:  never promise to make someone else happy.  Tell them what service/product they will receive–period.   Don’t be afraid to (politely) fire a client.  
Years ago, I suggested to a couple that they might want to consider a marriage counselor instead of a landscape architect.  
And Craig–hang in there….Retired homeowners assoc…[Read more]

Tipton,
Check out Andres Duany’s lecture on “Agricultural Urbanism”  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfx4QnmTFZM&feature=related

James,
This has been discussed in various forms before on land8.  It is difficult to give/get accurate information on this site because insurance regulation is a state affair, and what may be true in Ohio won’t be in California.   I suggest talking with other local professionals or talking with a local independent insurance agency which may gi…[Read more]

BZ, I have been in your place.  It is unbelievable draining to swab the decks of a sinking ship.  You have no idea how light you will feel the first morning you wake up and not have to go back.  Good luck.

Craig, LOL!  The scenario you describe between you and your wife has been a dominant theme in our conversations with friends for years!!!  Maybe that’s a “new” job for someone out there– independent consultant therapist…..
When I have asked for detail/technical advice on Land8, I have been astounded at the succinct, valuable, and accurate infor…[Read more]

Mark,  thanks for this.

Heather,
You will find that there are about 120 ways (an exaggeration)  to go with “profit”….All lead to the same amount of tax, because the IRS is like Microsoft–“plug a hole here, and there, and here etc”.  
I don’t know anything about SEPP… What I do know is I am too d&mn busy to afford an audit, so I do what my accountant tells me to, an…[Read more]