Hi - Over two weeks ago I invited a garden designer to take a look at an area in my garden that I wanted her to prepare a planting plan for. This person is someone I have met on courses and has appeared very knowledgable and capable. She happily visited me two weekends ago, and took a look at the area of garden we are thinking of re-doing, she took notes and did a few sketches -all was going well. Before she left - I obviously asked her what the planting plan was going to cost me? I have never used a garden designer before, and have no idea what it was going to cost me. She happily said she would give me a quote soon and would only start the work once I had agreed to the quote. All well and good I thought -this is exaclty the way I do business as an Interior Designer - Meet the client, take the brief, quote for the work and the carry out the job once the quote is accepted.

BUT here the similarities end, because two weeks later I am still waiting for the quote! Now, call me demanding, but I wanted that quote a few days after the visit -whilst I was still fired up about having the garden designed! Now I am not really that bothered as the moment has passed! I am tempted just to head out to my local garden centre and buy a load of plants I like the look of! So this is a lesson I think we need to take note of - " Strike whilst the iron is hot" Even if you are not able to complete the work for a week or so -get the quote out to the client! That way they are more likely to agree to it whilst your visit is fresh in their minds -whilst they are enthused about the idea, and whilst it is still a burning issue for them! You can always call them to let them know that you are busy and that their design will be a couple of weeks before it is ready, but they will be happy to know that their work is in the queue!

Now perhaps this designer hasnt sent me a quote because she doesnt want to do the planting plan for me -it is a pretty small job after all compared to some of the work she does. However - in my work as an interior designer I OFTEN get asked if I know of a garden designer I can recommend! Well I can hardly recommend her now can I?? But if she had been upfront with me from the start and told me the job was too small, or that she was snowed under with work and wouldnt be able to take it on I would still have respected her and maybe passed her number on to others.

So lets remember to be upfront about our work -and what we are willing to take on, be honest and open and to treat our clients as we ourselves would want to be treated. A lot of work comes to us via recommendations and word of mouth so we need to conduct ourselves professionally for all jobs whatever the size.