The first step in finding the right landscape contractor is to refine your thinking about why you are considering hiring one. Ask yourself whether you are seeking a landscape contractor to:
- Maintain or restore an existing outdoor space;
- Redesign or rebuild an existing outdoor space; or
- Design and build a completely new outdoor space.
To help guide you in finding the right landscape contractor we recommend dedicating time to perusing landscape design and gardening magazines, as well as googling to stir your imagination. Also consider driving around your region to find properties with landscapes that speak to you. This will help you see the types of landscape designs, outdoor space features and plantings that are realistic in your climate zone and community. What looks great in Miami might be a disaster in the Waterloo Region.
As you do the above, try answering these questions:
- What will you use your landscape for?
- What specific challenges does your site present?
- Will your plantings be functional or just decorative?
- Do you want water features?
- Are you willing to move in a lot of soil or do major earth moving?
- What are your timelines?
- How much money are you willing to spend?
Ideally, after completing this exercise you should develop a wish list for your outdoor space and come to a firm understanding of your comfort zone with respect to costs.
Once you have a sense of what you’re looking for you might check online for reviews of local landscape contractors or talk with friends, neighbours and colleagues about their experiences. You might even consider knocking on the doors of properties that you particularly admire to see whether they have any contractor recommendations.
After compiling a list of potential landscape contractors for your project, weigh the pluses and minuses of each and ask a few more questions:
- How long has the company been in business?
- Are they members of any associations?
- If your project is big, does the company have the capacity to take on such as project? And if it’s small, might they be disinclined?
- Do they have workers’ compensation and liability insurance?
- Do they have the equipment necessary to complete the job?
- Can they give you references or customer reviews?
- Does their website offer compelling photographs of previous projects and testimonials that give you confidence?
- Are they willing to engage in meaningful dialog over the phone and, in a subsequent session, go to your property for a more detailed assessment?
Be very wary of any contractor who tells you they can perform miracles on a shoestring budget. The old adage, “You get what you pay for,” generally holds true in the field of landscaping as well.
Ongoing Communications
After determining what your goals are, in finding the right landscape contractor speaking with a landscape contractor and meeting with them onsite for a more detailed assessment of your project, the ball goes back in your court. Now it’s time to ask yourself:
- Did they do most of the talking or did they listen and learn about me and what I envision?
- Am I going to be able to relate to them, and them to me, on an ongoing basis? Are we in sync? Do I like engaging in dialog and working with them?
- Are they creative?
- Do they have the requisite technical competence in areas such as design, masonry, carpentry, horticulture, lighting, maintenance, restoration and irrigation?
- Are they flexible and patient?
Maintenance
In an ideal world the contractor you engage to design and build your outdoor space will be able to work with you to keep your outdoor space in tip-top shape for years to come. Does the landscape contractor you are considering offer those services?
Contact
If you are interested in the services of Landscape Plus for your landscaping project, click here to call or email to book an appointment. We’d be honoured to hear from you.
