Especially if you're just breaking into the outdoor AV market, you might be hesistant to start your first big landscape system install. 

Luckily, Frank Giuffre of Coastal AV is sharing four tips for landscape install newbies so you don't get tricked up on your first (or eighth) attempt.

Know a Guy (or a Company)

It's good to start doing, or find someone who does, low-voltage landscape lighting. During installs, those guys are laying sleeves for cable. Collaborate with him and use the same conduit, because that's one less thing you have to do. 

But the best connection for getting landscape system jobs is a pool company. And if you go with a high-end pool company, you're also pre-qualifying your customer. If someone is building a $600,000 pool, you know what type of system they need for it. Get with a pool company or someone who does outdoor living areas; that's when you get the ball rolling.

Get In on the Ground Floor

Be in with a landscape design company who already has the ball rolling. If you're not, customers tend to finish an area, and then want a sound system. When you get there, the place is beautiful and you mention having to get under the walkway and move plants. They get scared away. 

We always try to have access to areas as they're being built. Be ahead of pavers, because once you lay down concrete, it's hard to get around.

Split Zones for More Profit

Sometimes we split up landscape systems to play as separate zones. If your customer is at a fire pit, it's nighttime, and they don’t want music playing through the entire yard, just in a little area.

Add a second zone, and you've taken one big area and sold two systems.

Protect Your Wires

We always protect wires with conduit when they’re going in and out of flowerbeds or into grassy areas – so they're protected from edgers or weed wackers. 

We used to get calls that speakers on one side weren’t working, and we go and see that the landscaper clipped the wires with an edger.

Start your outdoor landscape install today.

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