BUILD June 2017

54 BUILD / June 2017 , The Great Outdoors Selected as part of our Ones toWatch series, Renz Landscapes is a custom landscape design and contracting business located in Cary, NC, with over 40 years’ experience in the Triangle area. The business was founded in 1978 by Curt Renz, Bachelor of Environmental Design in Landscape Architecture NCSU 1975. We invited the founder to tell us more about the firm’s work by responding to some of the most commonly questions they get asked by potential clients. Renz Landscapes (RL) initial work started with residential projects in North Raleigh and inside the beltline in the late 1970’s, moving to commercial projects in the Research Triangle Park in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Today, their focus is on designing and installing residential landscapes. Their projects are typically residential and range from $3,000 to $50,000 in price. Their goal is to bring you quality, cost effective, homeowner focused design, and solid workmanship. • In 1987, the company was award a contract to design a master plan for Praxis Biologics after competing against four local landscape architectural firms. The design eventually led to a major contracting project. • In 1989, Renz Landscapes was awarded first place in the commercial design/build category for a $300,000 commercial project in partnership with Wachovia Real Estate Developments. The state-wide contest was sponsored by the North Carolina Landscape Contractors Association. • In 2012, Renz landscape was commissioned by Artsplosure and the City of Raleigh to design and landscape a setting to surround and direct the movement of visitors around a statue created by J. Seward Johnson titled ‘Time for Fun’. What are the scope of your services? Our services include: landscape design and contracting, drainage, ornamental plants and lawn installation, mulching, play areas for children, patios, decks, walkways, retaining walls, steps, driveways, outdoor kitchens, outdoor chimneys and fire pits, lighting, irrigation, drip irrigation, fences, gates, arbors, water features, and site grading. If a service is not mentioned above, we can recommend a reputable professional we know and trust. May I see landscape plans and photos of past projects? Look for an artsy look to the plans, which is often a reflection of creativity. Ask questions about the plan layout, the intent of the design, plants specified and why they were chosen. At RL, we ask that you view our site before our first visit…get to know us. Plans or simply proposals similar to what you will be receiving, are presented at the first meeting. In some cases, a simple sketch or a ‘list of work to be completed’ is all that is needed to assure a solid understanding of what to expect. A price for ‘a design proposal’ will be determined by the size and scope of the project. We have a lot of community and city regulations; can you help us with these matters? Yes. With our design background, we have worked with local landscape ordinances and regulations in the Cary, Raleigh, Apex, Chapel Hill, Durham, Holly Springs and Wake Forest areas. If you are part of a homeowners association, you may want to ask them for a copy of any standards or regulations, and how often they meet, before our initial meeting. A survey plan of your property that you may have received at closing is a good start. How much experience do you have in landscape design and contracting? What are your credentials? Curt Renz (Owner, B.S. in Landscape Architecture NCSU 1975) has 35 years’ experience in designing and installing commercial and residential landscapes in the Triangle Area. Our landscape foreman has 10 years’ experience in landscaping and hardscape construction. He is the backbone of our business with a designer’s eye, quality craftsman’s skills, and eye for detail. How do you determine the price for completing a landscape design? At our first meeting, we will briefly walk your property and discuss your needs, goals, budget, and the scope of your project. Next, we’ll get back with you presenting a written proposal or narrative describing issues and visions to be addressed in the design, and a price to prepare and present the design. Renz Landscapes realizes you want to invest in your landscape and not the design, so we keep the design time minimal, with enough written communication to avoid misunderstandings. Companies that charge cheap design fees usually build their lost time into the installation price and surprises always pop up. There is not a charge for the initial consultation if you estimate the project to be over $3,000.00 and you plan on breaking ground soon. An estimate is what you do when you know what you want; a design is what you do to find out what you want. If we hire you to design, are we obligated to you for the installation? No, but we would like you to. You own the final landscape plan and are not obligated to have us install your landscape. At Renz Landscapes, we like to keep the design and the contracting phases as two separate financial steps. Some landscape companies don’t charge a design fee, but will add their design time into the installed project price. With this approach designers are rushed; because they are not being paid for their design time. Paying for design is an investment in a thoroughly thought out design, with phone calls and meetings obtaining your feedback, time spent locating plants that are available and preparing estimates of costs. In return, you receive a plan of action tailored for you and you’ll know what you expect, preventing mistakes and miscommunication. Some ‘design only’ companies will low-ball their designs, receiving 5-10% kickbacks from the installers they recommend to install your project. 1702BU45