How to Choose a Landscaper

A beautiful well-kept landscape adds value to
your home as well as your immediate neighbor’s homes. Well designed landscaping,
like a newly remodeled kitchen and bathroom, can increase the value of your home
dramatically. When it comes to selling your home, your front yard landscape is
at the core of what “curb appeal” is all about – it’s the first impression
people will have when they see your home.

A landscaping service or landscape contractor can provide a variety of
services. Some may just do monthly maintenance, others may do installation of
sprinkler systems, walkways and decks, and others may strictly do landscape
design or landscape architecture (design/build companies). And many companies
provide some combination of these services.

Here are steps that will help you as you move forward in choosing a
landscaping service.

1. Define Your Needs and Your Budget

   Are you looking for someone to just help you with the mowing of your lawn and
   weeding twice a month or are you looking at replacing a cracked walkway or
   replace your lawn completely? Or are you ready to act on your latest and
   greatest landscaping inspiration and totally level your existing yard in favor
   of your new ideas. Know in advance what you want to do, and “why” you want to do
   it. Also, clearly define your budget. Unless you’re rolling in dough and money
   is no object, you need to draw a line in the sand and do your absolute best to
   stick to it. It’s very easy to start a project with a certain figure in mind and
   have that balloon to an astronomical number as you talk with a designer or
   professional landscaper. Also find out what method of payment they accept.

2. Do Some Inspirational Research

   If you haven’t already done it, spend some time looking through various
   landscape design books at your library or purchase some to browse through. Take
   time to drive around your neighborhood and check out what your neighbors have
   done in their yards. Look at layouts, color combinations, walkway and driveway
   patterns, types of trees and flowers, etc. You may think you know exactly what
   you want but the more you see, the more research you do, the more comfortable
   you will feel with your final decision moving forward.

3. Roughly Plan Your Timeline

   Once you find a landscaper, they may be busy two weeks out, six weeks out, or
   six months out. Their schedule needs to coincide with your schedule. If you’re
   using multiple services, i.e. a designer and an installer, and you’re doing the
   sub-contracting, there are multiple schedules you will need to juggle.

   Ideally, depending on where you live, you want to have the work done outside
   the rainy season so plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time. If you’re
   planting new flower beds and foliage, you may want to find out when the best
   time of year to plant those items are and consider that in the equation as well.
   You don’t want to rush things unless it’s imperative, i.e. you need to sell your
   house within the next couple of months. That decision alone will will play a
   part in who you select as your landscaper. While everyone wants their projects
   finished as quickly as possible, patience and careful planning will clearly
   cause the least amount of stress.

   Lastly, find out how many other outside jobs they’ll be working on at the
   same time they’re doing your job. Ideally, you want them on your job from start
   to finish but sometimes this can’t be helped. If they juggle too many jobs at
   once though, you may see them only a couple of days per week and the job could
   drag on for weeks, or worse…months. Express your concerns to them regarding
   delays.

4. Research Landscaping Services

   There are many ways to research landscapers…from online directories like
   this one, to the yellow pages, to asking friends and family. Over 40% of
   landscapers or services are chosen based on referrals. The second largest piece
   of research pie is done via the Internet (a close second), with the yellow pages
   and direct mail a distant third. Wherever you begin, it’s important that you
   shop around.

   Key Factors in Your Research Include…

   1. How long has a company been in business
   2. How many employees do they have and how many of them will be working on your
      job
   3. What languages do they speak (very important that you are able to
      communicate clearly with the lead contractor and/or employees)
   4. What services do they provide and what are their specialties
   5. Find out their contact information, hours of business and the best time to
      reach them.
   6. What professional affiliations they belong too (i.e. BBB, national or state
      landscaping associations, etc)
   7. Are they licensed. Being certified by the state will mean that the service
      is accountable to you and operating legally. And it normally implies that the
      employees have passed tests which prove a higher level of education,
      professionalism, and quality of work.
   8. Are they insured. VERY important. If not insured properly, you could be
      liable for accidents or injuries during their time on your property. Make sure
      you check for proof of insurance (make a photo copy if need be). Make sure the
      company’s name is on the policy, make note of what the policy number is,
      expiration date, insurance company’s phone number, etc. It is wise to call the
      insurance company ahead of time and verify that the policy is valid.
   9. What guarantees do they have, what specifically is covered and the length of
      the guarantee.
   10. Get at least three references from them. Drive by the locations if at all
       possible and/or look at photographs of their work. Take notes if necessary. If
       you feel comfortable, contact the people they did work for and ask questions
       regarding their overall satisfaction, quality, and if they did what they agreed
       to do and in a timely manner.
   11. Make sure the company provides a written contract with details of your
       project clearly laid out and prices for each detail. If you can get a detailed
       graphical layout of the work as well, do so. Also get a quote on changes or
       possible problems or unseen factors that may arise during the job.
5. Last But Not Least…

   Make sure that you’re there for the majority of the work in process. It’s
   important that you constantly examine the quality of work, that they’re doing
   exactly what you asked them to do, and that they are there when they’re
   scheduled to be there. When the job is completed, make one last walkthrough with
   the lead contractor, possibly with the contract in hand making sure that the job
   is completed to your satisfaction.