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Spring has sprung--can you do it now?
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Posted by miss_rumphius_rules z6 NJ (My Page) on Sun, Apr 2, 06 at 6:53
| Just a small vent/rant...
It got warm here this week, the phone is ringing off the hook, and everyone wants the work done now. I'm booked through much of spring from clients who contacted me much earlier.
Yesterday I went to see someone who I had initially met last year. He still, after talking to me last year, believed that I could present him with a full landscape plan in two weeks and that it would take me 3-4 hours. He has new construction and needs walks, grading, driveway, pool placement, fencing and two masonry terraces...
Just couldn't get that one out of my head. Thanks for listening... |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Spring has sprung--can you do it now?
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| I'm listening .... I remember those calls ... people would never think of planning a wedding the last minute but call on Friday afternoon to get their half acre custom landscape done by Monday ! The spring has a way of bringing out the NUTS !! One of the reasons I'm glad I don't work in the private sector anymore. Hang in there. Good Day ... |
RE: Spring has sprung--can you do it now?
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| It's at least six weeks until the last killing frost date, and I have a woman who wants to plant tomatoes NOW. Why don't I have any ready? |
RE: Spring has sprung--can you do it now?
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| Boy, does that sound familiar!! Where are these folks in late fall or winter (a wonderful time for landscape design in my climate) when the phone is quiet and my appointment book is open? And why they expect it to be a pretty instantaneous process is beyond me, even when they know I work fulltime at a nursery as well. Even fulltime designers can't turn out a quality product over night. Susan, I share your rant :-) |
RE: Spring has sprung--can you do it now?
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| I was approached by a manager at a garden center today as I was perusing the options for annuals- "I've got a customer who wants someone to plant her annuals, can you do it?" My response was that I had plenty of work for my regular maintenace clients, plus a real schedule of design work to accomplish. No, I don't have time. He asked it I knew anyone who might. I said that most folks were busy with regular clients and a one shot planting would be hard to fit in (especially since the customer was buying the annuals herself- no mark-up there). I did do a short term fall clean-up and pansy planting last fall, but this year- I've got work! Yes I'm a bit stressed, but it's a different stress than 'Am I goung to ever make any money at this? Now if I could just learn to crank out a design in 3 hours :)
As my graphic designer friend says- you don't just poop out these things! |
RE: Spring has sprung--can you do it now?
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| My favorite story so far this spring was the attorney who revised the standard hardscape contract to state that the work would be started and completed on one specific date in May. In his little world, rain only happens when he commands it. V.
(ps - the contractor ran away from this job as fast as he could) |
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