Does a Wellington business cover the Hutt and Kapiti?
Many do, but the further ends of the region carry travel time and it shows in the quote. NovaPay asks businesses covering your end first — the Kapiti Coast in particular is served by its own trades rather than by the city.
Why do Wellington quotes ask about access and steps?
Because they are most of the labour. Carrying materials up sixty steps or working off a boundary with no parking is genuinely a different job to the same work on a flat Hamilton section, and a quote that ignores it is the one that gets revised on the day.
Do I need a design first?
For a whole section, usually yes, and some landscapers do design and build together while others price from a plan you already have. Say which you want, because it changes who is the right person to ask.
When is the best time to plant?
Autumn and early spring for most of New Zealand, so roots establish before summer. Hard landscaping such as paving and decking can be done year round, weather permitting.
Can it be done in stages?
Often, and it is how most people afford a big section. Ask for the work broken into stages with prices, so you can do the structure now and the planting later without paying twice for access.
Who moves the spoil?
Ask, because it is a common gap between quotes. Excavation produces more material than people expect and disposal is a real cost, so it should be stated rather than assumed.