Tips for hiring a landscaping service

Most property owners want a healthy, well-landscaped lawn, but that might require the help of a professional. In 2017, BBB received over 1.5 million requests for landscaping services. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) ​​in central east Texas urges consumers to find a landscaper to make sure you don’t want to hide your curb appeal.

“Your lawn is the first thing people notice when they see your home,” said Mechele Agbayani Mills, BBB president and CEO for Central East Texas. “So it’s important to do a thorough research to make sure you’re hiring the right landscaper for the job.”

BBB offers the following tips before hiring a landscaper:

• Research the business. Go to org to review a landscaping company’s business profile before hiring them. Always ask for references and check the company’s affiliations with national franchises or associations.
• Ask for a lawn inspection and estimate. Quality companies don’t offer a quote until they see what they’re working with. Lawn care companies that quote a price without seeing your lawn can’t be sure what you need. A landscaper needs to measure the area and consider access to the yard.
• Shopping spree. Get written estimates from at least three different companies. Note that the cheapest estimate is not necessarily the best option.
• Check the documentation. In Texas, general landscapers may not need a license unless they also apply to be landscape architects. Landscape Architects are licensed by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. You can check the licensing at tbae.state.tx.us. Also, check that the landscaper has the right insurance and make sure everything is up to date and in good condition.
• Get everything in writing. Make sure that all the details of the job are in a written contract. The contract should include the start and completion dates of the project, the materials used, and any itemized costs and fees. Ask the contractor to grant a lien waiver, especially for larger projects, to prevent you from being held responsible for paying the supplier if you have already paid the landscaper in full. Read everything carefully before you sign, and never sign a contract that is partially empty.
• Be at home when the work is done. If possible, try to be on site when the actual landscaping takes place, especially if it is a larger task.
• Remember the rule of thirds. Whenever you get a new patio, deck, or major landscaping, you pay a third to secure the contract, a third when the job is half done, and the last third only after the job is done and you are satisfied with the work.