Knowing what to ask landscape contractors is so important for any business looking to hire professionals to maintain their outdoor space. Whether you have a large lawn or a courtyard, expert landscapers and garden maintenance specialists offer a hugely valuable service – but it’s so important to choose the right company.
Whether you’re looking for simple lawn maintenance and care or full landscaping services that keep your commercial building’s garden looking great throughout the year, remember to ask these eight questions before hiring a contractor.
How Extensive Is Your Company’s Experience?
The first thing to consider is experience. While new contractors may be perfectly capable of doing the job, trusting long-established local professionals ensures you get the best possible service from somebody who really knows what they’re doing.
This is something we value at Earth Development. We have decades of experience providing businesses with access to a variety of outdoor maintenance services, and we’re proud to connect businesses across the Midwest and beyond with experienced local lawn maintenance and landscaping professionals.
So, always ask a potential contractor…how much experience do you have?
Are You Certified?
Before hiring a landscape contractor, you should also ask if they are certified. A company with certificates and qualifications will always tell you about them. Any contractor that knows the value of these certifications will typically feature them on your website, or present them at your request.
It’s always important to make sure you’re dealing with reputable, qualified professionals. Companies that are qualified will use best practices to deliver top results for your garden, while never putting your property at risk. Asking this simple question is a worthwhile investment for your business.
Do You Have a Portfolio?
As you would with any other professional offering a service, you should always ask to see if a contractor has a portfolio of work you can see. You may even ask if they work with some well-known clients, whose properties you may have seen in your local region.
At Earth Development, for instance, we provide lawn maintenance and care for big-name companies, including Target, Walmart, CVS, and The Home Depot. We’re proud to tell potential customers about our work with these companies, and always eager to show you what we can do for your commercial building’s outdoor space.
Examine a portfolio of work and look for similar gardens to yours, and make sure you’re happy with the quality of work you see.
Do You Submit Design Plans?
If a contractor provides a scaled design plan, then you know you’re talking to the right person. This is a coloured drawing of your garden, courtyard, or other outdoor space that includes the changes either recommended by the landscape expert or requested by you.
A design plan details the changes that can be made, or improvements to your lawn and flower beds, to deliver something that truly portrays your commercial property in the best light. When you see a design plan, you know you’re dealing with a professional.
What Is Customer Support Like?
If a company is performing regular lawn care and maintenance or attending your property in the months in the run-up to spring, you’ll want to make sure you can easily make contact with the team.
Ask a contractor what their customer and technical support is like, and always go for the most responsive team. Good contractors care about your ability to reach out and ask questions whenever you need to.
Are You Fully Insured?
Whenever anybody performs maintenance work on your property, whether it’s simple lawn maintenance, or more extensive stone replacement and landscaping work, it poses a risk of damage.
Reliable and reputable contractors are fully insured for any damage that may take place or injuries that may occur on the property during that work. To protect yourself, you should always inquire about a contractor’s insurance.
For the record, at Earth Development, our teams of contractors throughout the Midwest and beyond are all fully insured. We don’t ever deploy a team without it!
Do You Offer Warranties?
Good landscaping contractors also offer warranties for their services. These will vary depending on the company you choose, but you should always expect clarity on this issue. Make sure you know what is and is not covered before you move forward with hiring the contractor, and ensure you know the duration of the coverage they offer.
Transparency is key, and good landscaping contractors are always transparent with you!
Will I Have a Dedicated Contact?
Finally, always be sure to ask whether you will have a dedicated contact and specific contractor working on your project. Knowing who is working on your outdoor space is important for many reasons, from establishing a relationship of trust to knowing what to expect every week.
Ask your contractor whether the team alternates, or whether one person (or one specific team) will be working on your garden throughout the season.
Conclusion
Now we’ve talked about how to hire a landscape contractor, we want to tell you more about the amazing work we do at Earth Development.
With years of experience in commercial landscaping in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and beyond, we’re confident we can offer everything you need and more. With excellent customer service, transparency, reliability, and an eye for detail, our teams can keep your commercial premises looking fantastic all year round.
To find out more about our lawn care and landscaping services in the Midwest, and how we can save your business a whole load of hassle, don’t hesitate to call today. We’ll start with a free consultation and no-obligation quote, and go from there!