07/23/2026
One issue we see too often is the race to the bottom. Companies trying to be the cheapest in order to get your project.
The issue with that:
There are reasons companies do projects extremely cheap. They are using cheaper materials. We frequently see cheaper plant materials and smaller plants used to reduce costs. In order to cut costs they are not doing projects according to industry standards. Quality is lost in order to save money on projects. Low costs are frequently associated with low quality. Sometimes projects are not done according to the original design.
In some instances cost savings are associated with lack of knowledge and experience. This means the installers or builders are taking on projects they don't know how to do properly. They are learning on your project.
In order to do projects extremely cheap, that cost savings is coming from somewhere. Don't expect a quality project from a bid that is substantially cheaper than others.
Extreme example:
We encountered a large complex of retaining walls on a site this spring. We were told the cost of the walls. The client paid 1/3 of the going rate for these walls. What they paid is less than the materials should have cost. Substandard materials were used. Some materials that should have been used were left out of the project. Corners were cut everywhere. The cost savings came from improper install, inadequate materials, and crucial materials not being used.
These walls were built in November of last year. They are already showing signs of failure. These walls were a prime example of how not to build retaining walls. Walls that should have a 30+ year lifespan are expected to fail in less than 5 years. Should these walls fail before they are replaced, the costs associated with rebuilding, cleaning up the damage, and rebuilding everything damaged by the failure could cost 4 or 5 times what the original install should have cost.
Yes, you saved money on the original install. Yet, the longer term costs to get the project done right is far more than the amount saved on the original project.
We see this too frequently. We see similar (less extreme examples) on a regular basis.
How do you avoid this:
Compare bids in-depth. Look at the materials they are using. Are they following a design? What materials are being used? Are the bids based on the same specifications and materials? Look into the company doing the work. Check their references. Has the company done similar projects before? How much experience does the company have? How long has the owner been in the industry? Always check reviews.
One thing to remember - a company can put whatever warranty they want on a project. Yet, that warranty is only good if the company remains in business. Companies will go out if business voiding any warranty. You cannot get warranty coverage from a company that has shut down.
At Dogwood Designs:
We are extremely particular about the companies we work with. The companies we partner with are a reflection of Dogwood Design. If an install goes wrong it caused issues for us and costs Dogwood Designs money in the long term. We only work with reputable and experienced installers. Our installers are very particular about their quality of work. We do not refer installers to projects they don't have a track record of doing successfully.
Our network of installers will rarely be the cheapest because they use the proper materials - not cheap materials, they follow or exceed industry, their quality is amazing. Dogwood Designs and our network of installers are not afraid to walk away from projects we cannot do top quality work on. If we get bad reviews from clients about our installers, we end the relationship with that installer.
If you receive a bid for your project that is extremely lower than competing bids this is a red flag. Make sure you ask why it's so much lower. What are the true costs of the low bid? Do you really want the cheapest company doing the work work on your property?
