Sam Cox Landscape

Process and Fees

Stage 1 — Onsite consultation

Sam meets with you onsite to walk through the landscape and discuss priorities, project constraints, broad budget expectations, and staging.

Standard fee: $440 (incl. GST)
In some cases, projects outside metropolitan Melbourne may incur additional travel time. If so, we’ll confirm this with you before booking.

Stage 2 — Feasibility + indicative budget

We undertake a feasibility review of the site, define the project parameters, and prepare an indicative budget range for your finished landscape based on the information available.
Where applicable, we also outline likely external costs such as survey, arborist reporting, BAL assessment, engineering, or planning advice.

Standard fee: $660 (incl. GST)
Additional charges may apply where feasibility requires extended investigations due to project complexity (for example, planning overlays/permit pathway, BAL constraints, arborist constraints, or significant access/logistics limitations). Any additional cost will be confirmed in advance.

Stage 3 — Concept design (design fee based on approved construction budget)

If you wish to proceed, we develop a concept plan.

  • Our total design fee is typically 10% of the approved landscape construction budget (excluding external consultants, reports, authority fees and approvals).
  • Where the project is complex, the design fee percentage may be 12–15%. The applicable design fee percentage is confirmed at the completion of Stage 2 (Feasibility).
  • At concept stage, we invoice:
    Concept design invoice = 5% of the approved landscape construction budget, minus $1,100 (Stage 1 and Stage 2 fees already paid).

Examples of complexity: restricted access/logistics; significant levels/retaining/drainage and engineering coordination; bushfire (BAL/defendable space) constraints; planning overlays/permit pathway requiring design response; arborist constraints affecting method or layout; remote location/staged works; additional concept options or revision rounds beyond standard.

On completion of the concept stage, your project is placed into our construction schedule. We provide an approximate start window rather than a fixed date, as timing is influenced by approvals, site readiness and the progress of current projects.

Stage 4 — Construction commencement payment (25%)

If you choose to proceed with construction, a 25% deposit will be invoiced shortly before works commence. We then schedule a start date and confirm the construction program.

Stage 5 — Construction invoicing & completion of design fees

Progress payments and final invoicing are detailed depending on the scale of the project. The balance of the design fee is incorporated and recovered progressively through construction invoicing.

Design documentation and use

Design documentation remains the property of Sam Cox Landscape until completion of the project.