I think customers are sometimes surprised to see how much my team and I truly love our jobs. Why wouldn’t we? We get to work outside, meet nice people, and see interesting plans and drawings come to life. That’s a great way to spend your days.

There is one more part of the job that is often underrated: understanding that every property presents a new challenge. Every single piece of land has its own dimensions, slope, vegetation, soil, and so on. And each homeowner we meet has their own unique vision for how that property should be used.

That brings us to the worst, or maybe hardest, part of things: sometimes what customers want doesn’t match the reality of the piece of ground they are working on. In fact, the two sets of ideas can come into direct conflict with one another.

Consider this: from a hardscaping perspective, the ‘perfect’ plot might be a flat, square space that was completely blank. It would have easy access for materials, utilities, and transportation. But at the same time it could be moved to face the sun or tucked away in the shade. It would have water and drainage when needed, but great soil or interesting features when we wanted them.

Obviously, these bits of land don’t exist in the real world (although I’m told you can find them in kids’ video games). Reality is filled with all kinds of pre-existing obstacles and constraints. There are sloped yards, stubborn tree roots, debris from old buildings, cranky neighbors, and so much more.

How we resolve those differences between blank slate dreams and real-world limits is the real mark of our professionalism. Our customers love us because we find ways to give them what they want most while still treating each property as a canvas like no other.

It takes a combination of talent, experience, and hard work to pull it off. But that doesn’t mean homeowners don’t play a role. Here are some ways you can help your hardscaping contractor to give you their best work, regardless of what your property looks like:

Be Clear About Your Dreams and Constraints

We can build or install almost anything you want to see on your property. What we can’t do, though, is read your mind. You have to be clear about what you want so we can figure out how to fit it into the space around your home.

In the past I’ve had a few customers who weren’t upfront about what they wanted from a hardscaping team. Usually, it was because they weren’t sure if their ideas were feasible, or were afraid that the costs might be overwhelming. Those are understandable concerns, but we can’t address them (or give realistic answers) until we know what your wishes look like in the first place.

The same goes for constraints. We understand that everyone has budgets and preferences. We won’t be upset if you need to amend your plans or hold off on an installation because of funding. In fact, we might even be able to suggest alternatives or put together a strategy to finish the job in stages.

The bottom line is that the more your hardscaping contractor knows about what would make you happy, along with what you can or can’t afford to pay, the easier it will be to meet your expectations. So, don’t be afraid to ask.

 Stay Open to Different Ideas

Assuming your contractor has given you a chance to express your wishes for the project, give them the opportunity to make suggestions. They might be able to suggest some small upgrades or improvements. After all, we do dozens of these projects every year. We usually know all the small tips and tricks that take a design from beautiful to amazing.

At the same time, your hardscaping team might offer recommendations based on practicality. Homeowners often bring us photos of features they have seen on other properties, for instance, but that aren’t practical in their own spaces. Or the features they want call for extra drainage, retaining walls, or other small adjustments.

Your contractor shouldn’t try to talk you out of anything that’s an important part of your plan. However, a good team might look for ways to save you money or ensure the work you have done will last for years to come.

Compare Costs and Compromises

In the end, almost anything in the world of hardscaping is possible if you’re willing to put enough time and money behind the project. Someone took the time to build the pyramids without power tools, after all; it just took thousands of people whole lifetimes.

You can probably have whatever you want installed on your property, provided you have the physical space and a budget to match your ambition. Just be aware that some improvements aren’t necessarily worth the cost, particularly when you look at the challenges posed by your environment.

Renovating your patio can require you to make some hard decisions about budgets and priorities. Accept that as part of the process and you won’t get frustrated when your contractor presents you with a choice you didn’t expect to make.

Do You Want to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into a Masterpiece?

Something magic happens when we finish a hardscaping job and see a customer realize that their own back yard looks like a resort destination. The satisfaction we get from that moment is enough to carry us through the physical work, paperwork delays, and challenging weather that are all part of the business we work in.

If you want to stop dreaming about what your property could be someday and begin the process of planning for a new patio, we should talk. Stefano’s Landscaping has been a leading hardscaping contractor in the Saugus, Massachusetts area for more than 20 years. We built our business through word-of-mouth advertising and have the reviews to prove it.

Contact us today to schedule a free design consultation at your home and see for yourself why so many of your neighbors refuse to work with anyone else.