If you want to improve your outdoor living space, boost curb appeal and add value to your home, consider investing in professional landscaping services. When hiring a company to help you with your landscaping, it is important to hire a contractor that offers the services you need and that has a proven reputation for quality work and good customer service.
Know the difference between landscaping vs lawncare companies.
There is a difference between a landscaping contractor and a lawn and yard care company. Lawncare companies generally help with the upkeep and maintenance of your current landscape by providing mowing, weeding, fertilizing and other maintenance services. The best landscapers in Edmonton can help create a landscape design for your yard and install features like retaining walls, planters, ponds, patios, walkways and flower beds.
Research landscaping companies.
Start researching landscapers in your area. You can ask friends and family to refer you to a company that they’ve had a good experience with or start a short list from online research. Make sure the company offers the services that you want and check to see if they are a member of any third-party organization like the Better Business Bureau or RenovationFind. Reading online reviews can give you an impression of the company, but do not put too much stock in them as they are not always accurate.
Ask lots of questions.
When you start to call landscapers about your project, be prepared to ask them the right questions.
- Have they worked on similar projects?
- Can they provide proof of a business licence and insurance?
- Can they provide an estimate for the project?
- Do they provide full design services?
- Can they provide references of past or current clients?
Never hire a landscape contractor that cannot provide proof of insurance or a business license. It’s also important to remember that hiring the cheapest landscaper isn’t necessarily the best option. A cheap quote usually means they will be inexperienced and you might have to hire someone again to fix any shoddy work.
Check references.
Once you’ve chosen a landscaper, call their references. You can ask if they had a good experience working with the company, if they’re happy with the result, if they felt the price for the work was reasonable, etc. You can also ask the landscaper if you can drive by some of the yards they’ve worked on, so you can get a good idea of the quality and if it is what you want.
Get a detailed, written contract.
A reputable landscaper will provide you with a contract that will lay out all the details of the project. Your contract should have detailed pricing including the cost of materials, labour, permits and other costs that might come up. It should also outline a schedule of the work and be clear on the payment plan. Do not pay for the entire job upfront. Most companies will ask for a deposit and then have a payment schedule throughout the project. If they want you to pay for the entire job before they start, it’s usually not a good sign.
