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About Sean J Murphy, LA
Expertise
I can answer almost any question related to design, installation, pricing of landscaping and hardscaping. I am not a horticulturist though so I can not answer questions on pests or diseases of plants. I also can answer questions related to pools, water features, ponds, lighting, grading, drainage, walls, patios, decks and much more.
Experience
I have been doing landscaping since I was 8 years old. My family owned a nursery in Florida when I was a teen and I owned and operated several lawn and landscape companies over the years. I have since completed 6 years of in Landscape Architecture at Purdue University and have a Bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture. I have been practicing professionally for 13 years in Atlanta and the south east US. I have worked for some of the best and most well know firms and personalities in landscaping and my work has won many awards. I have worked for the likes of Disney, the 1996 Olympic games, and REIT Post Properties(Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, NY, Tampa, Orlando). I know many of the plants in Georgia and Florida plus surrounding states. I have passed the Georgia Landscape Architects Licensure Exam and can legally call myself a Landscape Architect Lisc. # 001156
I am currently the Department Manager of the Planning and Landscape Architecture Department of a local Multi-Disciplinary firm and used to own and operate Amenity Architects LLC. you may preview our work at www.amenityarchitects.com. My new employer is SoutheasternEngineering, Inc. see www.seenginering.com
I am also part owner in the family business Murphy's Garden Art also see at www.murphysgardenart.com.
Organizations
American Society of Landscape Architects,
Keep Smyrna Beautiful,
ULI,
Smyrna Downtown Development Authority,
Smyrna Downtown Task Force,
Publications
Landscape Architect and Specifier News,
Atlanta Homes Magazine,
Landscape Architecture Magazine,
Coastal Living, Magazine
Education/Credentials
Pinellas County Center for the Arts 1984 - 1988,
Bachelors Degree in Landscape Architecture - Purdue University, 1994,
Mike Lynn Graphics Workshop 1994,
University of Georgia Wetland Delineation Certification 1995,
Post University Mini MBA 2000,
Edinburgh College of Art - 1 year co-op 1993,
Intern Smallwood Reynolds Stewart and Stewart Architects Atlanta1993,
Awards and Honors
ASLA Merit Award 1994 Mined Land Project IN,
ACI 1st Place for Hardscape Design / Installation 1999 Biltmore Atlanta.
Coastal Living Idea House Design 2005/2006.
South Eastern Flower Show People's Choice Award for best garden design,
Many more!!! too many to list here
Past/Present clients
Georgia Governor Roy Barnes,
The State of Georgia,
City of Powdersprings,
City of Stockbridge,
Post Properties,
Bayfair Homes,
John Willis Homes,
Pulty Homes,
Serenbe Development,
Mayor of Smyrna-Georgia Max Bacon,
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You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Exterior Decorating > Landscaping & Design > Landscaper's Markup
Expert: Sean J Murphy, LA - 8/27/2008
Question
We recently moved into a new home and am in the process of getting bids from Landscapers. We receivd one bid that was divided into three sections: material costs, labor costs, and commission for the landscaper in the amount of 25%. Is this % acceptable? What is an average comission for landscapers? Is there an acceptable range for this cost?
Answer
Landscapers usually don't work on commissions. A sales person works on a commission. A landscape designer may work on a commission too. In that case the typical would be a small% of the gross sale price of the job, that is unless they are the ones managing and paying for the labor and materials for the construction up front, in which case they would probably want something like 20-25% as the general contractor. This would also mean that they would or should also carry the proper insurances, etc.
Most landscapers work on profit margins. Their profit margin would be typical between 10 and 35%. Anything over 20 -25% would be on the high side but not unheard of. Some I have worked on get a 35% margin. But that is very high end and not competitive.
If you have three bids though, you need to request they all be in the same format. We usually ask for line item bids with labor, materials, profit, warranty costs, admin costs, etc all lumped in to unit cost for each item in the bid. This way we can compare apples to apples.
Best of Luck.
Sean
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