Are you considering working with a new landscaping contractor but are having trouble making the decision? Here are some considerations that may help you decide which company is right for you:
First and foremost, look for a partner not just a contractor. When that relationship feels like a partnership, the final result, and the journey to achieve that result is more enjoyable and more personal.
Regardless of the industry, the best businesses consistently look out for their clients’ best interests first and foremost, not theirs. When this sentiment is forgotten both service and value suffer. Never settle for being just another number on some random spreadsheet instead, understand that you and those you represent are important and should be treated as such.
The best landscaping projects happen when the client and provider work together in a relationship that is both respectful and mutually beneficial. You want someone who takes the time to understand your goals and your vision and then be able to formulate a value driven plan on how to make it a reality.
Pay Attention to Communication
One simple way to judge a company is by how they communicate with you early on.
If phone calls are not returned or questions go unanswered at the beginning of a project, it can be a sign of what the experience will look like later. A landscaper who values their clients will also value their time. They will take the time to respond to inquiries promptly, and believe in proactive, and open, communication.
This type of communication leads to smoother running projects, strong relationships, better value for your money and more smiles for everyone!
Make Sure They Are Properly Licensed and Insured
For your protection, it is extremely important to make sure the company you hire is qualified and protected to work on your property.
A legally operating landscaping company, that operates in New Jersey is required by law to carry an NJ Home Improvement license along with both liability and workers compensation insurance. Workers compensation is especially important because it protects you as the homeowner if someone were injured while working on your property. In short, it helps keep you from being sued for something that was not your fault.
In New Jersey, additional licenses are mandatory for items such as lawn fertilization, almost any type of weed control and applications of insecticides and fungicides to any plant material. Additionally, in order to work on an irrigation system in New Jersey, the contractor must be a NJ licensed irrigation contractor.
Taking a few minutes to confirm that the contractor who offers these services, understands the products that they are using and offers protection for your friends, family and coworkers. Again, this is all for your protection!
Experience Matters
Professional landscaping, a service where you add value to your investment, is more than just running a lawnmower over a lawn at full speed or literally just throwing mulch down on the ground. A landscape is a living mosaic, shaped by the interplay of land, water, plants, animals, and human presence with each element connected to the others in a complex and ever-changing system. A professional landscaper understands and respects these types of relationships and works to bring landscaping balance while simultaneously meeting their client’s needs.
By possessing this skill, a professional landscaper can help guide you down the correct road to success, at your pace, helping to get you from where you are to where you want to be in a manner that meets your needs while still being sensitive to our shared earth. That kind of knowledge turns a good project into a great project and will provide a lasting investment in your family and in your home.
A Landscape That Grows With You
If you have been standing in your yard lately thinking something could be better, this is the time to explore those possibilities. With thoughtful planning and the right partner guiding the process, your landscape can become a space that feels welcoming, balanced, and lasting.
And when it is done right, your property value will increase and, perhaps more importantly, your landscape will bring long-lasting joy and happiness to you and your family, for many years to come.
If you’d like to talk about your lawn, plantings, or your landscape in general, feel free to reach out. We would love to be your partner of choice to help make your dream become a reality!