Landscape through builder - Jade Court
- Thread starter LP
- Start date
Not sure about the $10k price tag but here's some advantages of getting landscaping done through the builder:
You don't need to worry about HOA approval process
Builder has better warranty than outside landscapers
It will be done before you move in
You can roll it into mortgage if you are short on fund.
You don't need to worry about HOA approval process
Builder has better warranty than outside landscapers
It will be done before you move in
You can roll it into mortgage if you are short on fund.
The Motor Court Company
Well-known member
$10k seems steep for concrete in a small yard (what's your yard sq footage?), plus if done by the builder and added to the sales price, you pay 1% tax for your landscaping every year.
lnc said:
irvinehomeshopper
Well-known member
Cal Pac guarantees the installation and comes back to fix things if something went wrong. This is the reason why model homes look good and installation orchestrated by outside contractors and designed by home owners look bad and most of the time causes problems later on such as bad water vapor barrier prep work, improper drainage, water ponding, slab settlement, most importantly concrete or soil work that affect the stucco screed causing it to saturate. To the laymen these things are the reason why an outside contractor can give you a better pricing and cut corner without you knowing it. By the time you see the problems they are long gone. Have you ever noticed those flyers or cards the contractors leave at your door just have a contact number but no physical address?
$10k to me is a ripoff. Your yard is ~300sf. To do what the builder is providing you:
Poured concrete: 200sf x $10psf (high side) = $2000
Drainage + Irrigation: $2000
Soil prep: $250
3 15-gal trees: $300
10 5-gal plants: $300
3 lights (for trees,etc): $400
Total: $5,250
For $10k, if you hire an outside company, you can get stone, bigger trees, better lights, better design, etc. The only thing is... it is sometimes hard to get someone out to do these small-ish jobs, but with so many neighbors, I'm sure someone will have a recommendation.
Good luck!
Poured concrete: 200sf x $10psf (high side) = $2000
Drainage + Irrigation: $2000
Soil prep: $250
3 15-gal trees: $300
10 5-gal plants: $300
3 lights (for trees,etc): $400
Total: $5,250
For $10k, if you hire an outside company, you can get stone, bigger trees, better lights, better design, etc. The only thing is... it is sometimes hard to get someone out to do these small-ish jobs, but with so many neighbors, I'm sure someone will have a recommendation.
Good luck!
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
bones should really start a landscaping consulting firm. 
irvinehomeshopper said:
Listen to IHS, don't cheap out on landscaping. As IHS alluded to, bad landscaping can destroy the stucco on your house, destroy your sewer lines, and all sorts of bad things but these problems will not manifest themselves for years after your yard is done. Best bet is to look for a landscape contractor that has been in business a long time, Jackhammering out your driveway or trenching to replace a sewer line is not fun.