How to decide between two professionals who both seem great?

[Anonymous]

We are completely redoing our yard, including adding a small guesthouse, jacuzzi, fire pit etc. This is our first major renovation and hiring of a contractor for a project this big. I’ve interviewed several professionals and have narrowed it down to two. They have overlapping but not identical strengths and weaknesses, and I don’t know who to pick. Here are their profiles, in brief:

Person #1 - landscape designer/architect. He designs only, then I’d submit his plans to multiple builders for bids. I’ve heard in this scenario the designer & builder end up blaming each other when something goes wrong, but I got his info from a reputable construction company that I might hire, and I don’t see these two pointing fingers at each other. He is on the younger side (mid 30s), but seems to have a lot of projects under his belt and has many positive reviews (no negs) on houzz. He has done projects in my city, and our project size is in his wheelhouse. He seems quite creative, and I believe he is more likely to present design/layout ideas that are more out of the box but that really work for us. One negative is that he can do a preliminary design for the guesthouse, but I ultimately would have to hire an architect (whom he can refer) for this. Since I’d be working with him and multiple other professionals (architect for guesthouse, construction company), I should expect completion to take longer.

Person #2 - landscape design & build firm. The company head is the designer and he has a deep background in landscape, but more as a builder than a creative type. He does seem to have good vision and I believe he would come up with a great design, but he’s more likely to come up with something “standard” based on his prior work than person #1. His company would handle both the design and build, so the process is more streamlined and faster. I’ve heard that D&B firms tend to make design choices that suit the builder over the client, but this can be both a positive and negative. He also has many positive reviews on houzz, but after digging some more, I found several very negative reviews from 12 years ago. However, he was working in the family business back then, and has since started working on his own. He says he can do everything, including designing the guesthouse, but that he’s not licensed as a home builder, so would have to bring in an architect to communicate with the city. He assures me though that he has worked on many guesthouses and home construction, but he prefers to specialize in outdoor spaces.

I’ve spoken with referrals for both professionals and naturally they’re all glowing. Both are good communicators and seem like decent people who would be easy to work with. I like that our project would probably go much faster with person#2 and that he would be the point person from start to finish. I like that person #1 is more likely to exercise his brain cells and creative juices in coming up with ideas and perhaps a design person #1 wouldn’t consider.

Who would you go with? What other factors would you look out for?

[Anonymous]

Just close your eyes and pick, you’ll never know what would have been anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just close your eyes and pick, you’ll never know what would have been anyway.

LOL we’re going to be spending well into the six-figures, so I’d rather do more than that!

[Anonymous]

I really don’t like the process of getting bids so I would choose the design and build firm to avoid another round of that (since you also feel confident in their work. )

[Anonymous]

The former does not sound like a licensed architect. That is why other people are doing the permitting and paperwork. And because he doesn't have the years of experience, he doesn't understand how things get built. And this is where the builder gets annoyed and frustrated at drawings that don't show where the pumps for the hot tub are supposed to located and easily accessible but also designed to blend seamlessly.

The latter, where did he go to school, is there an actual ASLA degree? or Architecture degree?
Design-build can be great, but can be cheesy because they are so bottom line focused. So if the guy actually went to school for landscape or architecture, you have someone who does not prioritize bean counting. Otherwise, they all prioritize bean counting.

Here's what the well heeled clients do instead of relying on Houzz -
They talk to their interior decorator for referrals. Most decorators are shopper/buyers and if the project is big requiring significant renovation, decorators don't know how to draw and can't file so they HAVE to work with a licensed professional. They usually know some they have worked well with.
They look at completed projects they admire and ask the owners if they would recommend the designer/builder.

[Anonymous]

As the parent of a landscape architecture major, my suggestion is to pick the first guy.

[Anonymous]

Don't rely on Houzz reviews. Speak to actual clients. Any good contractor/architect should be willing to provide you with references.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Here's what the well heeled clients do instead of relying on Houzz -
They talk to their interior decorator for referrals. Most decorators are shopper/buyers and if the project is big requiring significant renovation, decorators don't know how to draw and can't file so they HAVE to work with a licensed professional. They usually know some they have worked well with.
They look at completed projects they admire and ask the owners if they would recommend the designer/builder.

I can't fathom seeking an interior decorator's guidance for anything involved in a landscaping project. It's entirely outside of their lane and their professional contact list. I would absolutely hire an interior decorator to decorate - they can elevate a project in so many ways - but this sort of advice is awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Here's what the well heeled clients do instead of relying on Houzz -
They talk to their interior decorator for referrals. Most decorators are shopper/buyers and if the project is big requiring significant renovation, decorators don't know how to draw and can't file so they HAVE to work with a licensed professional. They usually know some they have worked well with.
They look at completed projects they admire and ask the owners if they would recommend the designer/builder.

I can't fathom seeking an interior decorator's guidance for anything involved in a landscaping project. It's entirely outside of their lane and their professional contact list. I would absolutely hire an interior decorator to decorate - they can elevate a project in so many ways - but this sort of advice is awful.

That rec route is to find an architect.
For landscape arch., usually talk to the architect to see whom they have worked with or follow up with owners who have work done the OP likes.
No self respecting architect relies on Houzz.

[Anonymous]

I also would want to know how many jobs they have going on at one time. Basically, will they be at your house 5 days a week? Also, talk to recent customers. Are they happy? Was the job completed on time? Have they had any issues and were the problems solved?

[Anonymous]

Have you seen their actual work? I think that would be illuminating. Go see projects.

[Anonymous]

So the first guy is not an architect?

[Anonymous]

I’ve gone the design and build with the same company before and won’t do it again. Problem is that there are no checks and balances and you have to end up managing and monitoring the progress.
When you have a separate landscape architect and contractor, the landscape architect will make sure that the contractor is executing the plans exactly as he/ she drew them.

[Anonymous]

If you are a creative type and can handle uncertainty with grace pick #1.
If you are a control type pick #2.

[Anonymous]

Is #1 a licensed landscape architect? Go with him. Let him refer you to an architect for the detailed finish of any building concepts. Architects are great with designing structures, less great with pulling a whole site together. Your LA will have the training to do that. And that is the difference with #2 the design/build guy. As others have said, speed, efficiency and the bottom line drive the DB world. Unless your DB guy attended college in a design related field, which would likely show a deep personal commitment to the "ideal", consider #1 as a preferred choice.