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Replies
If not it's good advertising.
If your busy charge enough so it does not cost you if you feel the need.
charge a site visit fee (very basic hour rate with fuel cost as its only advise at the end of the day) which can then if a quote for the job is requested and excepted be written off
this way if you get a bit of work out of the call you win and if not your not going to end up out of pocket
As Neal suggests, charge her a simple, fair rate consultation fee payable what ever future decision she may make.
Be upfront, document it via a Quote, ensure she knows and agrees to it and consider whether you may wish to offset this cost against any future works she may commission. If so, make sure it is contained in the Quote.
Be wary about giving time away free to gain work. It sets an expectation with future clients that it is hard to break out of. Remember it's your "intellectual property" she is after and that is not something to give way free without a good return-on-investment.
Finally, search LJN as this type if issue has come up from people (esp. Designers) before....
Good Luck
I would pay her a visit as per a normal 'free estimate'. Walk the garden, not giving anything away and you will get a feel of whether you will be asked to carry out the work. If so, it's an easy quote(again no details), which will of course include your expertise. If it's just advice, just tell her your fee - only you know the size of the task.
I'd offer a garden consultation, at £45 or whatever you think would cover your time. Offer to send an email in the evening summarising the discussion.
Or agree to do a basic plan for £x, again without giving anything away during site visit.
As someone who does this regularly all the time (as well as advising landscape professionals onn various issues) I fully agree and endorse Gary RK's views above
Hourly rate or a set fee for the visit and an hourly rate or set fee for writing up anything.
I would not do it for free as it has no value as marketing. No one may ever hear of this free service. If someone does hear they may flock to you because you did the job for free, and expect the same.
I offer an advice and consultancy service as part of my business. Often this is a 'soil up' thing, with customers wanting to ask about all sorts of plants from bulbs right up to trees, p&d problems etc. My normal day rate is £140, and I price consultancy on the same basis with a minimum four hour session charged (by the time you've drunk their tea and got to grips with a garden it's pretty well four hours).