The design process generally involves the following stages:
STAGE ONE:

The initial on-site consultation covers an exchanging of creative ideas, your personal requirements and possible budget for proposed hard landscaping. This consultation literally sets the scene for any future work. As I view your garden from both inside and out I will be gauging the style of your home and materials used, any areas of concern, safety issues, evaluating the terrain and climatic factors, identifying and discussing existing features to be retained, potential focal points and general colour schemes that have been employed throughout. I will also need to know if there are to be any changes in house tones since they have direct impact on future proposals. Sketches of possible ideas are not drawn because they can be misleading and therefore unprofessional. Wellington terrain is such that accuracy is paramount.

The fee for drawing up design options and a planting schedule (if requested) will be stated at the end of our time together. Depending on the nature of the area to be landscaped, it may also include surveyor fees. I will submit a written quotation that covers terms and conditions and a design brief.
STAGE TWO:

Once the quotation and brief have been accepted and requested items received (site plans, deposit etc.), on-site measuring will commence.
STAGE THREE:

Preliminary hard landscaping designs are drafted as a basis for further discussion and feedback. They will be posted to you with an explanatory letter. A further on-site appointment is made after you have had time to peruse the options and make decisions. It is not uncommon for the two options to be blended to form a composite. You will be asked to state your preferences regarding a variety of landscaping materials, styles and surfaces since they will influence the final costing. Depending on the nature of the proposed work, it is helpful at this stage for my contracting colleague to attend this meeting.

STAGE FOUR:

Once agreement has been reached the drawings are then developed into a final working plan that will form the basis of contractual documentation for the construction stage. Until that stage is reached the contractor is unable to provide an accurate costing. (Ref: mblandscaping.com)