How to Choose a Landscape Professional
What you should know
Selecting a landscape professional should be an involved, thought out decision. Hiring a landscape professional should be no different than any other professional trade. You want to have the confidence the job will be done right the first time, on time, by a reputable professional, for a reasonable cost.
Following is list of questions to ask or consider, in ensuring you have the right professional working for you!
- What makes them qualified to do the job
- Are they educated in the field, or do they "learn by trial and error"
- What industry certifications or accreditations do they have
- Do they belong to any industry related associations
- Do they have a WCB coverage in case of an injury on the job
- Do they have business insurance in case of damage to your property
- Do they have their own equipment or do they rent everything other than basic tools
- Will they allow you to visit similar projects they have completed in the past
- Do they have a portfolio of previously completed projects for you to view
- Can they provide references or testimonials of past clients
- How long have they been in business
- How many years related experience do they have as an individual, and collectively as a company
- What parts of the job do they do with in-house staff and what do they subcontract out
- Do they offer any type of warranty
- Do they have a comprehensive contract or agreement in place that's easy to understand
- Who are their suppliers and business partners, and are they in good standing with them.
In summary, you want to ensure a knowledgeable, qualified landscape professional will be working on your property. If in doubt, just remember, you get what you pay for...