Construction Department


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"Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life. " - Confucius

As you know, nothing is more rewarding than building a beautiful landscape for your clients (except maybe receiving the final payment). To be able to stand back and admire what you and your company created, from virtually nothing, is an experience few people get to enjoy. We, however, get to do it every day.

As a member of FromDesign2Build.com, you will learn:

The latest construction techniques and details

How to properly sequence a design/build installation

How to seamlessly transfer a project from design/sales to construction

How to manage labor and materials more effectively and more profitably

When you should use subcontractors and when you shouldn't

Which on site meetings are critical and which are a waste of time

How to get more production from your employees every day

The installation process can be incredibly rewarding and incredibly frustrating at the same time. Listen to successful design/build contractors tell it like it is and learn from their success and failures. Plus, view photos and videos of actual construction projects while they are being built.

The Landscape Facility Tour
Jody Shilan, Editor

We are trying something new at our next NJLCA membership meeting. We're doing a facility tour. For those of you that have never been on one, it's exactly what it sounds like, a guided tour of one of our contractor's facilities. . . . keep reading

To Sub or Not to Sub - That is the Question
Jody Shilan, Editor

Most landscape design/build contractors struggle with the issue of working with subcontractors or "subs". Some of you may at times be a subcontractor for another company like a home builder or pool builder. Since no company can be all things to all people, . . . keep reading

Stop Wasting Money and Create Profitable "Busy" Work
Jody Shilan, Editor

As we all know things don't always go as planned when doing any type of landscape installation. Whether it's the weather, equipment issues or bad communication. Inevitably things happen when all of a sudden you are faced with finding something for a three . . . keep reading

Knock His Block Off and You Win
Jody Shilan, Editor

Most landscape contractors have a mix of residential maintenance and design/build work, as well as commercial maintenance and bid work. Now before you go any further, look at what I just wrote: "A mix of residential maintenance and design/build work, . . . keep reading

There's only two ahead of you...
Jody Shilan, Editor

One of the most difficult and exasperating things to deal with is your production schedule. Not only does it cause you stress but your clients can become angry and frustrated with you before the work even begins. . . . keep reading

Free Plans Cost You Plenty
Jody Shilan, Editor

Q: Many companies in my area, both large and small, do "free drawings" to try to get installation work. We have always charged for our landscape plans but oftentimes lose work because of this. What can we do? - Rob Whenton -- Landscapes Unlimited . . . keep reading

Jody Shilan, MD -- Landscape Psychiatrist and Marriage Counselor
Jody Shilan, Editor

I am currently working on a project for my next door neighbor. They are your typical clients, excited and nervous, neurotic and inquisitive, but ultimately a very nice family that just wants to see their project completed properly with a minimal . . . keep reading

Hey Honey, Who Did The Work Around the Corner? - I Don't Know
Jody Shilan, Editor

One of the easiest, least expensive and most overlooked ways to advertise your company is to put up a "job sign" at the site where you are working. People can drive by and see your company name and phone number, along with any other information you want to . . . keep reading

Do your clients think you're an "Indian Giver"?
Jody Shilan, Editor

Although I am sure that this term is politically incorrect in 2011 and somehow I don't think writing "Native American" Indian Giver will lessen the offensiveness of it. For better or worse, I have chosen this to be the title of this weeks "Trade Secret" and . . . keep reading

Built by the Oompa-Loompa's?
Jody Shilan, Jody Shilan Designs, LLC

I guess this homeowner was influenced by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when they planned out their landscape. I checked, the snozberries actually taste like snozberries. . . . keep reading

Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Jody Shilan, Editor

One of the upsides of providing design services for a variety of landscape contractors is that oftentimes I get to watch them in action during the installation. Besides providing me with an endless supply of ideas for Trade Secrets, I also gain valuable . . . keep reading

"We Don't Know How Much We Want to Spend" - How To Get A Budget Number From Your Client
Jody Shilan, Editor

A common problem for landscape contractors is trying to find out what a client is budgeting for a particular project. Clients are always hesitant to throw out a number, and contractors know that without a budget they are going to be flying blind . . . keep reading

"Travel Heavy" - If You Want To Be Efficient You Must Do This.
Jody Shilan, Editor

I first heard the expression "travel heavy" after I took a landscape construction job for the summer. The foreman was explaining to me how he liked to have everything that he needed with him when he would do his installations . . . keep reading

The Importance of Designing the Landscape and Architecture Together

When it comes to new construction and major home renovations, we as landscape design/build contractors are usually called in to a project after the majority of the home construction is completed. In reality, we should be involved in the process much sooner. . . . keep reading

Download: Plant Guarantee
Jody Shilan, Editor

We all know that we would like to find the guy who started the whole plant guarantee thing and beat him senseless, but since it's too late for that let's at least protect ourselves as much as possible . . . keep reading

Save Labor In 4 Easy Steps: Why Adding More Labor Is Not The Way To Solve Your Labor Problems
Jody Shilan, Editor

We're all acutely aware of the labor shortage facing our industry and the limitations being placed on the H-2B seasonal guest worker program. This is a real problem for the Green Industry, but one that can be minimized if we approach it from different directions . . . keep reading

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