Landscapers... What are good questions to ask when getting quotes for landscaping and gardening.?
Question:I'm just starting to get quotes to build curb appeal at my property. I've gotten quotes from $250 to $750 what am I missing? Is there anything I can ask that would make me look like an informed buyer
Answers:
Hi
When you are in search of a landscape service for your home, there are quite a few things that you should keep in mind. After all, not all landscape services are created equal. Care for your yard should be something that you take seriously. After all, it provides enjoyment, beauty, and can even save you money on energy and food costs. If you decide to hire a landscape service, make sure you get the right one for you.
Different homeowners have different needs for their landscapes. Not everyone is looking for a landscape service that does everything. Some people simply want someone who will mow the lawn and fertilize it on occasion. Others want perfect yards with topiary shrubs and weed-free flowerbeds. If all you are looking for is basic lawn mowing and maybe some leaf raking and debris clean up, then the neighborhood kid who mows lawns is probably landscape service enough for you. And that is just fine. It helps a young kid learn the value of working for her or his money, and you have an easier time of caring for your lawn. If you like to have a nice yard, but do not want to do anything with it yourself, then a more full-service operation is probably what you need in the way of landscape maintenance.
When choosing who will take care of your landscape maintenance needs, the first thing you should do is seek out a reputable company. A reputable company is one that has reliable references, and one that has a satisfied customer base. If you notice a certain company taking care of the landscape surrounding a house in your neighborhood, go ask your neighbor about the company. That will allow you to find out from someone you are acquainted with whether or not the service is a good one.
Another thing to look for in a landscape maintenance service is the equipment. Does it look to be in good shape? You want a company that takes good care of its equipment; that shows that they are more likely to take good care of your yard. Additionally, you want to make sure they are using the right equipment. Find out what they plan to use to perform various tasks in your yard. Even if you are not doing the yard work yourself, you should have at least a basic understanding of what your yard needs. That way you will be able to tell if you are being hoodwinked.
Do not necessarily go with the cheapest service. You can find out if various services offer to care for your yard for a week at a time to see how each service does. The cheapest may not always be the best deal. If you are habitually dissatisfied with the cheaper work, that may affect you in ways that make it worth it to pay an extra $20 per month for landscape maintenance that is of higher quality. Shop around and compare the work done by various companies. Then hire the best company that you can afford for your budget. You may not be able to afford the absolute best town, but you should hire the best that fits into your landscape budget. Get price quotes in writing so that when you decide to go with one company, and they hike your cost, you have a written quote to back you up.
Find a company that cares about customer service. Make sure you find out what their policy is on redoing work that does not meet your satisfaction. You want to be sure that your specifications are met. Make sure that your landscaping maintenance service is willing to fix mistakes and that they are willing to do a little extra pruning if they missed a few branches. Companies that do not care about customer service will probably not do a good job on your yard. You should look for a service that takes pride in its work. If the company says it specializes in lawn care (creating a greener, lusher, healthier lawn) and offers fertilization services, make sure that you choose a company that offers a guarantee. You do not want one of their employees to over-fertilize the lawn and then leave you paying the bill for a dead lawn that needs to be replaced.
Hope that helps.
Take care
Paul
You would want a good landscape design on paper with a materials list. You will want to see what it will look like when it is finished before you commit to any one design. Ask about mature growth ( full size) of the plants they intend to plant in the design. I find far to often they tend to over plant with plant materials to boost profit. Such as putting five of one type of plant in a grouping, when a grouping of three would have been enough when mature. Always consider mature plant size when landscaping. Labor charges are general based on a percentage of plant material cost. At least they were when I did landscaping. Ask what kind of maintenance the plants they plan on installing will need. Make sure they are licensed and insured before allowing them to work on your property. Find out what guarantees they give on the plant materials and labor costs if any plants do not survive the first year. Last but not least; ask for references and if possible go out and look at jobs they have completed in your area.
I do my own "curb appeal" landscaping; it's cheaper and it's fun. Ask for references, photos of past work (some landscapers have websites), and a diagram of what the landscaper will do; a good landscaper will visit your property and ask questions about drainage, sun, and soil quality. Quotes may indeed vary dramatically; if you tell three different landscapers, "I want rocks and plants" some of them may think "big round boulders and bushes" and some may think "gravel and monkey grass". Good luck!
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