“Free Design”; is rarely free. It often means lighter concepts, assumptions instead of verified site data, and fewer revision cycles because the design team is spread thin. Our Paid Design Phase gives you a real plan (2D + 3D) built from RTK-verified site capture, with a clear revision structure, so you can make confident decisions before you commit to construction.
“Free Design” Isn’t Free, Here’s What It Really Costs
If you’re planning a pool or outdoor living project in Kansas City, you’ve probably heard it:
“We do the design for free.”
It sounds like a win, until you ask the more important question:
How much focused time will actually be spent designing yours, with real site data and real decisions?
At Hinkle Outdoor Living, we run a different process because we’re protecting something bigger than a sketch. We’re protecting your outcome, your budget, your timeline, and your experience.
That’s why we use a Paid Design Phase, so you can decide without guessing.
The Hidden Problem With “Free Design”
Design is not a giveaway. It’s real work that takes focused time, skill, and iteration.
When a company offers free design to everyone who asks, they end up designing for:
- Homeowners who are just browsing
- Projects that aren’t a fit
- Budgets that will never align
- People who will never build
That time has to come from somewhere, and it usually comes from the clients who are actually ready to move forward.
What “Free” Can Cost You
Most homeowners aren’t afraid to pay for design. They’re afraid of paying for the wrong thing.
The bigger risk is making big decisions from a light concept that hasn’t been fully thought through with you.
Here’s what that often leads to:
1) Fewer layout options explored
Great design is rarely the first draft. It takes time to test layouts, circulation, elevations, and how the space will actually be used for entertaining.
2) Vague selections that create budget surprises
Pools, outdoor kitchens, structures, lighting, hardscape, drainage, and finishes all affect cost and long-term performance. If selections stay vague, pricing stays vague, and surprises show up later.
3) Must-haves discovered too late
When must-haves show up late, they become compromises, change orders, or “we can do that, but…” moments.
4) Pricing built on assumptions
If the design work is rushed or incomplete, estimates rely on allowances and guesswork. That’s where budgets break and timelines slip.
Why We Charge for Design (Plain English)
We charge for design because it’s the work that makes the build predictable.
- A strong design phase does four things:
- Creates clarity before commitment
- Reduces risk (site conditions, drainage, elevations, utilities, access)
- Protects your investment
- Delivers a calm, guided process (not reactive, not rushed)
Paid design also creates something “free design” usually cannot: true collaboration time. Time to align on layout, materials, priorities, and the experience you want your space to deliver.
Our Simple Plan (So You Know What Happens Next)
1. Design Discovery Call
We clarify goals, scope, timing, and investment range.
2. Paid Design Phase
We come on-site, capture the property accurately, and produce real design deliverables.
3. Build
Turnkey execution with dependable communication and a clean closeout.
Paid Design Phase policy snapshot
Our Paid Design Phase (Outdoor Living + Pools)
- Includes: On-site design meeting (all decision-makers), RTK scan + site capture, photos, 2D concept plan, 3D model review, and a design review meeting within 5 to 7 business days (with timely access and feedback).
- Revisions: One (1) revision round included (one consolidated feedback list, one updated concept, one follow-up review). Additional revisions are $150/hr, approved in writing before work begins.
- Fee: 3% of the project budget (separate professional service fee).
- Deposit: $1,500 due before scheduling the on-site meeting, applied toward the design fee.
- If you build with us: remaining design fee is included as a separate line item in the construction agreement and collected in the first construction draw.
- If you do not build with us: design fee must be paid in full (less deposit) before deliverables are released.
- Cancellation: deposit is refundable if you cancel before the on-site meeting begins, non-refundable after the on-site meeting occurs.
“But Other Companies Do It for Free”
Some companies bake design into the build price. Some provide lighter concepts without verified site data. Some use “free design” as a foot in the door before details, standards, and expectations are clear.
We prefer a straightforward approach:
Do the work up front. Make decisions with clarity. Then build with confidence.
FAQ
Is “free design” really free?
Usually it just means the cost shows up somewhere else, either in the build price, in lighter concepts based on assumptions, or in a process where the design team has limited time per project. The real question is how much focused time and verified site data goes into your design.
Why do you charge for design?
We charge because design is professional work, and it’s the phase that makes the build predictable. It lets us design from verified site data (RTK capture), make real material and feature decisions, and price from clarity instead of guesses.
What do we get in your Paid Design Phase?
An on-site design meeting (all decision-makers), RTK scan and site capture, photos, a 2D concept plan, and a 3D model review. We then hold a design review meeting within 5 to 7 business days, assuming timely access and feedback.
How long does the design phase take?
Typically, we schedule a design review meeting within 5 to 7 business days after the on-site design meeting, assuming timely access and feedback.
How many revisions are included?
One (1) revision round is included. That means one consolidated feedback list, one updated concept, and one follow-up review. Additional revisions are billed at $150/hr, approved in writing before work begins.
How much is the Paid Design Fee?
The Paid Design Fee is 3% of the project budget. It is a separate professional service fee.
What is the deposit, and when is it due?
A $1,500 deposit is due before we schedule and perform the on-site design meeting. That deposit is applied toward the Paid Design Fee.
If we build with you, how is the design fee handled?
The remaining design fee balance (design fee less the deposit) is included as a separate line item in the construction agreement and collected in the first construction draw.
If we do not build with you, do we still get the deliverables?
Yes, if you want the final design deliverables, the design fee must be paid in full (less the deposit already paid) before deliverables are released.
What happens if we cancel?
The deposit is fully refundable if you cancel before the on-site design meeting begins. If the on-site design meeting has occurred, the deposit becomes non-refundable due to site work and design time performed.
Book a Design Discovery Call
We’ll clarify goals, scope, timing, and investment range. If it’s a fit, we’ll outline our Paid Design Phase so you can decide without guessing.
Last updated: February 17, 2026
