Construction Notebook: The Real Costs of Site Work
If you’re not charging for your work preparing a site, you might be forfeiting 10% of your project’s revenues, and more!
 Site prep work can be costly, time-consuming work, and we see too many landscape contractors giving this work away for free. While they usually charge clients the cost of equipment used for the landscape project, hardscape materials, and green goods, it seems too many contractors are afraid to charge clients for the site work that must be done before starting the actual contracted construction project.
And if you aren’t charging for this work, you’re losing an opportunity to show the client more of the value you bring to this work ...
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Manipulating the Eye 2:
Using Patterns & Directions
Use patterns, symbols and stimuli to direct the eye and traffic of people on a site.
 Patterns and directions do more than manipulate the eye. Just as line can direct the eye and traffic patterns through a space, strong directive elements and patterns also manipulate perception and movement.
Visual stimuli like this affect mental patterns, too. This garden with four entrances draws visitors from any side through its directional patterns. It allows good circulation patterns, and psychologically, you feel options to go in many directions while still being directed ...
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Meet a Design/Build Revolutionary: Tom Taylor
Profile: Tom Taylor, Owner/Designer, Integrity Landscape and Design, Fairview, TN
Employees: 2-4 Employees
Mix: 100% Design, Build and Installation
Years in Landscape Business: 15
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What's New
at the Kinman Institute
 This project shows much visual stimulation with its use of different materials and textures. You can clearly discern ares for pedestrian use and those for vehicles. |
Your design and construction skill level can set you apart from competitors and allow you to charge more money for your expertise. Do you need new inspiration or better technical knowledge? Now’s the time to consider joining us for either of our classes:
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Design/Build Professionalism — Learn how to become a better designer, business person and contractor through our workshop. We cover landscape design traditions and techniques, smart contracting management methods, customer psychology, and most important — The Kinman Process of professional practice. This course has many alumni who have changed their businesses dramatically – for the better!
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Design & Construction Techniques — Fine-tune your landscape design capabilities by understanding construction better. Once you know what is possible, you can become more creative and offer your clients more unique and exciting designs. In this class, you’ll study a variety of construction techniques and materials, and learn how to become more creative in your designs.
These seminars are scheduled for late 2009 and early 2010 – in time for you to impact your 2010 business. Classes will be held in Columbus (Dublin), Ohio at the Kinman Institute Conference Facility, unless otherwise noted:
October 22 & 23, 2009 — Design & Construction Techniques Class
January 27, 2010 — Gary Kinman presentation at CENTS: "Making Brick Paver Designs 'Gucci'"
January 28 & 29, 2010 — Design & Construction Techniques Class
(Immediately following CENTS 2010)
February 25 & 26, 2010 — Design/Build Professionalism Class
Class specifics at: http://www.kinmaninstitute.com/fop/index.htm
For more information on the Kinman Institute classes and results, please contact us at:
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Past Articles
Check out these articles from previous issues of Design Build Revolution.
• Don’t Cut Back on Training!
• Manipulating the Eye 1: The Power of Lines in Design
• A New Angle on Pavers
• Inspiration is Everywhere
• Challenge Yourself to Design Better
• The Value of Networking, and Why We Should Network with ‘True’ Peers
• Travel Inspires Us All
• Buy my bushes, please!
• What You Don’t Know Can Help You
• How to Lead Your Business Through Uncertain Times
• Get Paid for Design
Class Schedule
» October 22 & 23, 2009 — Design & Construction Techniques Class
» January 27, 2010 — Gary Kinman presentation at CENTS: "Making Brick Paver Designs 'Gucci'"
» January 28 & 29, 2010 — Design & Construction Techniques Class
(Immediately following CENTS 2010)
» February 25 & 26, 2010 — Design/Build Professionalism Class
Details on the classes are available here.
For more information on the Kinman Institute classes and results, please contact us at:
The Kinman Institute
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