A custom landscape lighting design plan is a professionally drafted PDF document that specifies every fixture, cable run, transformer, and control for a property. For Oakland County homes, our plans cost $450 to $1,200 and include an aerial site map, fixture schedule with model numbers, wattage budget, zone diagram, and written lighting intent. The deliverable is install-ready. You can hand it to any qualified installer, or tackle the job yourself on low-voltage systems.
Who Orders a Design-Only Plan?
- DIY-minded homeowners who want to install low-voltage lighting themselves but need a professional plan to avoid the classic amateur mistakes (undersized transformer, too-few zones, wrong fixture choices).
- Homeowners with an existing electrician or landscape crew who will do the install but lack lighting design skill.
- Real estate investors staging a home for sale who need lighting improvements fast with documentation for the buyer.
- Builders and general contractors adding landscape lighting as a new-build package without in-house design capability.
- Comparing bids. Homeowners use our design as the reference spec to collect apples-to-apples quotes from multiple installers.
What's in the Plan
Our standard residential design package is a 6 to 12 page PDF containing:
- Aerial site map. Overhead view of the property with every fixture location marked, keyed to the schedule.
- Fixture schedule. Table listing each fixture: type (uplight, path, wall wash, etc.), manufacturer, model number, lumen output, beam spread, color temperature, and quantity.
- Cable run and hub diagram. Shows main cable runs from the transformer, with hub locations and home runs to each fixture group.
- Zone assignment. Which fixtures are on which transformer tap, so you can dim or switch zones independently.
- Transformer sizing. Total wattage load with 20 percent headroom, recommended transformer model.
- Control plan. Photocell, timer, or smart module recommendations with model numbers.
- Written lighting intent. One to two pages explaining the design approach: what the plan is trying to achieve, how zones layer for depth, why specific fixtures were chosen for specific features.
- Optional install notes. Sequencing, tools, and gotchas if the plan will be DIY installed.
Pricing
| Scope | Fixture Count | Plan Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Small residential | Up to 15 fixtures | $450 |
| Mid-range residential | 16 to 30 fixtures | $650 |
| Large residential | 31 to 60 fixtures | $900 |
| Estate | 60+ fixtures | $1,200+ |
| Commercial | Any | Quoted per project |
If you hire us for installation within 6 months of plan delivery, the full plan fee is credited back against your install quote.
Why this model exists
Most landscape lighting firms bundle design into the install and refuse to sell plans standalone. We do both. Some of our best customers are DIY-capable Oakland County homeowners who want the design done right and are happy to pull cable themselves on a weekend.
How the Process Works
- Phone intake (15 minutes). We learn about the property, what you want to light, and whether a design-only or full design-build fit makes more sense.
- On-site walk (30 to 45 minutes). We walk the property at dusk or in the evening, take measurements, photograph features, and sketch a rough plan.
- Follow-up call (10 minutes). We confirm goals and answer questions from the walk.
- Draft delivery (5 to 7 business days from walk). PDF arrives by email. One round of revisions included.
- Final plan. Yours to keep. If you decide to have us install later, the plan fee credits back in full.
Related Services
If you want full design-build service, see the outdoor lighting page for residential or the commercial page for HOA and business properties. For DIY installers, the install guide walks through the hands-on work. Unsure which system to specify? See our low vs high voltage guide.