An initial consultation provides valuable benefits for both the client and the designer. For us, it’s a chance to see the space in person and assess important factors such as yard size, existing features like pools or grading, and other site conditions that affect the scope and cost of design services. It’s also an opportunity to better understand your goals and preferences—whether that’s creating space for entertaining, adding shade, or incorporating planting, lighting, and other elements into your ideal outdoor space.

As the client, you’ll receive at least an hour of expert guidance tailored to your property and questions. We bring an aerial image of your site to mark up with notes and recommendations, which you keep as a takeaway. During the visit, we’re happy to discuss anything from tree care and plant selection to irrigation timers or local resources. We aim to make the consultation informative, collaborative, and a valuable first step toward a successful design.

We take our consultations seriously, and the fee reflects the time, expertise, and value we provide during these visits. Because we understand this may be an investment without having met us in person, we make every effort to ensure the experience is worthwhile. Each consultation includes at least an hour of focused, expert guidance tailored to your landscape and your questions—whether it’s about plant selection, layout ideas, irrigation, or vendor recommendations.

We also provide a printed aerial image of your property, which we use to take notes during the visit. You’ll leave with this marked-up plan as a practical takeaway. For some clients, this consultation is all they need to move forward on their own. For others, it’s the first step in a larger design process. Either way, we’re here to offer honest, helpful input—without pushing services that don’t suit your goals or budget.

The right choice depends on your goals, timeline, and how much detail you want from the design process. While both options provide valuable guidance, we recommend one over the other based on the scope and stage of your project.

A Concept Sketch is often a good fit if you:

– Are in the early stages of planning and want ideas to get started

– Have a general vision and just need professional input to refine it

– Are focusing on a small area or phased approach

– Are comfortable with less detailed guidance

A Landscape Master Plan is better suited for projects that:

– Are larger in scope and ready to move into installation

– Require more detailed planning, including plant lists and materials

– Involve multiple elements like patios, lighting, and grading

– Benefit from collaborative review and revisions

– Will be bid out to contractors for professional installation

We’re happy to help you decide which approach makes the most sense for your needs.

While there might be some select cases where starting with a Concept Sketch makes sense, these two services are designed as standalone options. The Concept Sketch is a streamlined offering that allows us to keep the process efficient and affordable. It includes high-level recommendations and general design notes, but does not include project review meetings or detailed plan revisions.

In contrast, the Landscape Master Plan is a full-service design process with multiple meetings, specific material and plant selections, and opportunities for feedback and revisions. If you're interested in a phased approach or want to explore combining elements of both, we’re happy to discuss a custom solution that fits your project and goals.

At Eighty-Eight Acres, we focus solely on design because it allows us to act as your advocate throughout the planning process. Unlike a design-build contractor whose recommendations may be influenced by other goals. This separation ensures the design serves your needs—not the limitations or priorities of an in-house build team.

We understand that managing design and installation separately may require more coordination, but it often leads to a better outcome—especially for projects with environmental goals. Rather than managing installation ourselves, we prefer to collaborate with contractors who are open to implementing sustainable techniques. This structure gives you flexibility in choosing the right builder for your needs while ensuring the design intent is clearly defined and achievable.