Although professional landscape care will provide numerous advantages, it’s important to hire the right company for the job. Hiring someone who can’t take care of your landscape needs will cost you a lot of money, time and aggravation that you can’t get back. Before you hire a professional, take a look at three costly mistakes that you should avoid.
1. Don’t Hire an Inexperienced Company
When hiring a professional in most fields, experience goes hand-in-hand with knowledge. A landscaping service in Virginia with 20 years of professional experience will have much more knowledge and skill than someone with just a few years in business. An experienced landscape professional will have extensive and diverse knowledge in plant care and maintenance, soil types, irrigation and drainage issues, pruning and planting times, fertilization schedules, organic landscape products and pest control.
For quality landscape care, efficient services and the best long-term results, make sure you hire an experienced professional who can properly service your property. By doing some research before you hire a landscape professional, you can gain valuable information to ensure you make the right choice.
Website Search
Most reputable businesses have a professional website that promotes their services. By reviewing a business website, you can find out important information about the company’s history, services they provide, photos of existing work and client testimonials and referrals.
Referrals
A personal referral from neighbors, friends and family members is a great way to find a good landscape professional. When a company does good or bad work, their reputation usually gets around quickly, especially in the areas where they do business. A personal referral is one of the best ways to find the best person for the job.
Business History
A company that’s been in the landscaping business for over 20 years is likely doing great work. A long business history is a good indicator of successful business practices and happy clients. A larger company will have more employees to handle landscape work and customer service issues promptly.
2. Don’t Hire a Company Without a Property Assessment
Every property is different in size, landscape conditions, existing problems and property needs. Before you hire a landscape professional, schedule a site visit to your home to get an accurate property assessment. Without it, you may be paying for services you don’t need and going without services that are essential for proper landscape care and maintenance.
During a site visit, you can discuss your property needs and your budget. The landscape professional can walk around your property to assess your landscape needs and any existing problems that should be addressed. A site visit will give you a chance to discuss your landscape concerns and work out a care and maintenance plan that’s best for your landscape and your budget. Some important things to talk about are:
Landscape Care and Maintenance
One of the biggest advantages of professional landscaping services in Virginia is regular care and maintenance. Typically, a crew is assigned to your home on a weekly basis for landscape services including:
- Lawn mowing
- Weeding
- Border edging for driveways and walkways
- Cleaning of hardscape surfaces
- Yard cleanup in the spring
- Yard cleanup in the fall
Additional Landscape Services
In addition to regular, weekly care and maintenance, the best landscape companies also offer other valuable landscaping services including:
- Lawn and garden renovations
- Garden design
- Seasonal planting of shrubs, plants and flowers
- Seasonal pruning of trees and shrubs
- Fertilization
- Mulching
- Lawn aeration
- Organic landscape care
- Pest control
- Irrigation systems
Without the right landscaping professional, you may get basic lawn mowing and trimming services, but you’ll be missing out on so many other valuable services that are offered through a top professional.
3. Don’t Forget to Consider Your Long-Term Goals
Although there are many companies and individuals that provide landscaping services in Virginia, their qualifications, services and prices may vary significantly. Before you hire someone to service your property, consider your long-term landscaping goals and make sure the company that you hire can handle them.
As a homeowner, you want your landscape to be healthy and well-maintained year-round, so basic services are essential. However, what if you want to add a beautiful rose garden, a backyard pavilion, a retaining wall, a new stone patio or a swimming pool and spa? A landscaper who provides only basic lawn care can’t help you with these types of projects. A landscape professional who provides design and build services often has a background in landscape architecture and is qualified to build and install various outdoor features including:
- Driveways and outdoor walkways
- Patios and terraces
- Outdoor kitchens
- Outdoor waterfalls and fountains
- Backyard ponds
- Outdoor spas and hot tubs
- Swimming pools
- Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits
- Retaining walls
- French drains
- Landscape lighting
Although your immediate landscaping needs and budget may not include great outdoor features, it’s important to consider your long-term goals and hire a landscape professional who can help you when you’re ready. Many Virginia homeowners spend 20 to 30 years in the same home and landscape needs and goals are sure to change over time.
Hire a Landscape Professional in Virginia You Like and Trust
In addition to hiring a landscape professional who is experienced, knowledgeable and efficient, hire a company that you like and trust. It helps to have a landscape professional who shares and understands your immediate needs, as well as your long-term goals and visions for your landscape. If problems arise, you want a company that’s easily reachable and responds to the problems in a timely manner.
To make your landscaping service Virginia the best possible experience, choose a landscape professional that you like working with, communicate easily with and trust their professional advice.
