These are samples of the series of three auto-responder messages that Clearwater Landscape Design sends out when site visitors become active sales prospects by answering the on-site "Client Questionnaire."

Please note - each letter's salutation is personalized if the potential client enters their name in the questionnaire.

Autoresponse letter #1 sent within 24 hours

Hi Friend,

Greetings from the office of Clearwater Landscape Design...and thanks for submitting the Client Questionnaire.

Please review the services and costs outlined at the link below and let me know how I can best serve your design needs... you can customize our services according to your specific desires and budget.

To begin the design process, you'll receive complete instructions for developing your site plan and for photographing your design areas - we'll also share more information by email, fax and phone.

You and I will be working interactively "on the same page" as we develop your new landscape design.

During our design process you will:

(1). Work in the privacy and comfort of your home to interactively create your ideal gardens. Visualize your mature landscape and help create an accurate, scaled planting plan.

(2). Avoid costly mistakes by relying on our professional design and installation recommendations - based on over thirty years of landscaping experience. Your investment in design and planning returns a successful, unified landscape which adds beauty and value to your home.

(3). Select the plant material which meets your preferences and is suitable for your site and zone - we cross reference several databases, consult with local sources and draw on our own experience to choose the most appropriate options.

(4). Enjoy the satisfaction - and fun! - of being involved in the design process...with a click of the mouse, you open your private, online web pages to view the ongoing design work.

(5). Experience true involvement and interactivity by making suggestions for additions and revisions - watch as these are promptly executed and presented for your further comments.

The product of our interactive process is the union of your personal preferences and desires with our design skills and experience.

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RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS for creating your site analysis by sending us a blank email: mailto:site@clearwaterlandscapes.com

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Description of Services and Pricing: http://clearwaterlandscapes.com/agreement.htm" > http://clearwaterlandscapes.com/agreement.htm

AOL Users Click Here

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If you have any questions or concerns regarding our services, pricing, or your design needs, feel free to contact me by email or phone.

Thanks again for considering Clearwater Landscape Design as your landscaping partner; I look forward to working with you!

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Best Regards, Dan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dan Eskelson Clearwater Landscape Design Priest River, Idaho, USA Phone: 208/263-0715 Fax: 1-530/684-6041 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visualize and Plan Your New Landscape Online http://clearwaterlandscapes.com mailto:dan@clearwaterlandscapes.com

Learn professional landscaping tips, from "hands on" gardening technique to design theory, in our free monthly e-newsletter.Subscribe Here: http://clearwaterlandscapes.com/mailto/newsletter request.html

To be removed from this message list, simply click once on the link below. http://www.clearwaterlandscapes.com/cgi/arplus/un.pl?c=1460
p=4306

Autoresponse letter #2 sent 3 days after #1

Hi Friend,

Just a quick note to follow up on the questionnaire you submitted to Clearwater Landscape Design. Whether or not you take advantage of our design services, the following basic landscaping considerations should help you in your planning process.

The NUMBER ONE ERROR I have observed in homeowner planning of new landscapes is underestimating the cost and effort required to achieve the desired results. This is understandable for several reasons: (1)the knowledge is not generally available, (2)there are relatively few qualified landscape contractors and (3)landscape installation is often the last step in new construction - after budget overruns in other areas.

Consider this national (U.S.) statistic: the average cost of a *complete*, contracted landscape installation is ten percent of the value of the home - of course, if you provide the labor, this cost can be cut up to one-half. Often, the most affordable way to complete the landscaping properly is to break it down into a three to five year project.

The important point to grasp here is DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME! Landscaping is hard and expensive work - but very satisfying work for the long run, if done properly. In addition to personal satisfaction, a well designed and installed landscape will raise your property value fourteen to seventeen percent!

Start with soil considerations: do you need to till in amendments, create land forms (hills or berms), trench for irrigation, install hardscapes (ponds, walks, etc.)? Perhaps this rough shaping could be the first year's project - sometimes the planting plan will change after seeing the results of the major earth work.

By taking one step at a time, you'll do a better job and be able to alter the details as the project takes shape. If you will be hiring an installation contractor to install your landscape, be sure to ask for references and check out the company's previous jobs.

Thanks again for contacting Clearwater Landscape Design. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Letter ends with same signature and opt-out link as the first one

Final autoresponse letter sent 3 days after #2

Hi Prospective Client

Greetings From the office of Clearwater Landscape Design. This is the final follow-up message to you...thanks again for your interest in our design services. I'd like to share some interesting landscape information I recently came across:

Researchers at Clemson University conducted a study of home sale prices and compared the results based on varying levels of landscape quality. Not only were the type, size and condition of plantings considered, but also the overall design. Landscapes were rated "poor," "average," "good," or "excellent."

Results concluded that those homes with good and excellent landscapes had a fourteen to seventeen percent higher sale value than those in the poor and average categories. That's an impressive return on investment!

In a similar vein, Money magazine reported that landscaping as a home improvement project has a recovery value of 100 - 200 percent if it is well done and harmonizes with nearby foliage. This compares to a recovery value of a kitchen overhaul of 75 -125 percent or a bathroom redesign of 80 - 120 percent.

So whatever strategies and methods you employ for your landscape design and installation, be sure your results are of the highest quality...it's money in the bank!

If you're considering Clearwater Landscapes' design services, take advantage of our current special; when ordering a complete design package, you'll receive hard copies of your photo images at no cost - these are high resolution images of your proposed landscape printed on glossy, photo quality paper.

Start the design process now and save...if you have any questions about completing your site analysis, feel free to call or email.

Thanks again for your time, and your interest in our services...you won't receive any more mail from us unless you've subscribed to our newsletter.

Letter ends with same signature as before.