Estimates and Fees | A Typical Project | The Design Process | Philosophy THE DESIGN PROCESS The design process begins when you realize you wish to have a waterfeature in your yard. You will have visions of water spilling and falling, memories of the sounds of streams moving. Because I utilize lump sum bids or estimates, the design process takes place prior to the submission of a contract. I am available for one site visit for a few hours to gather information specifying what we intend to build. There are two ends to the design continuum. At the simpler end, I meet with you on site to discuss your site, your budget and your ideas while you peruse my portfolio and question my pond building experience. If you agree that you like my work and I agree that your ideas and site seem right for me, I will then put together a contractual proposal for you based on the footprint you have available for construction. Some items in the contract will be well defined (such as pond footprint) and some will be relatively vague ( "flagstone at pond edge" rather than "conn blue flagstone"). If you have any questions arising from the contract, the time to ask for additional information is before you sign. At the other end of the continuum, you may have a landscape architect, a landscape contractor and/or a designer on board with whom we meet to determine who will be responsible for what and on what schedule. The design process will be more drawn out but will afford you (in most cases) the insurance of knowing that your architect, your landscape contractor and I will be talking apples and apples. The integration of systems goes more smoothly when more good minds are working on your behalf. In most cases I will be happy to work with the team you are comfortable with. If you prefer to work with me alone, that is fine as well. The design process ends when you sign the contract. Often, small design changes take place as the pond is constructed. Expect to see "change orders" which specify the nature of the changes and the additional cost (if any). If the nature of your landscaping is such that extended time is necessary to design a fit for the pond, please advise me up front so that I do not submit a succession of bids while we design as we go. I can be available for a design consultation with you and your team to shepherd the waterfeature through to fruition.