Did you know that hiring the best landscaping company can cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000? This wide range depends greatly on the size of the project, types of landscaping services, insurance fees, and more. 

Not all professional landscapers are the same, after all. You’ll need to narrow down your list. Find one that not only has the skills and experience but also fits your budget. 

Fortunately, it’s not an impossible task to accomplish. We’ve listed several key questions you should ask when scouting for a landscaping company. Learn what to ask and why with our in-depth guide below:

Do You Run a Legal Business?

This question guarantees you’re working with legitimate, licensed landscapers. The last thing you want is to work with shady companies because they could end up as a phishing scam. They’ll take your cash and run away, leaving you without any work done.

Make sure the landscapers have a legal business permit. Landscapers don’t need a special license if they only offer basic lawn care. Some states, however, do require licenses for larger work.

California, for example, requires companies to have a C-27 license. Always check first your state’s specific laws and requirements. Follow up by checking if the landscaping company meets those requirements. 

What Are Your Certifications and Qualifications?

Having a legitimate business sometimes isn’t enough. For specific landscaping jobs, the company needs to have unique qualifications that prove they’re the right choice. Otherwise, you’re better off hiring other professional landscaping teams. 

Say for example you want a landscaping job that can renovate your garden to include a koi pond and fountain. Why hire a company that doesn’t have certifications proving they underwent training for this type of work? 

Ask about their qualifications for heavy equipment too. The more qualifications they have, the more they can do and under a faster turnaround too. You may have to pay more for professionals with these qualifications but you’ll get better results.

What Services Do You Offer?

Does the company offer residential landscaping? Do they focus more on commercial landscaping? Regardless of which specialty they prioritize, check which kind of landscaping services they offer.

One landscaping business might prioritize solely on lawn care. Another might focus on garden beautification. Others still might have permits and certifications to handle wildlife and could focus on ponds.

At the end of the day, you need a company that offers more than mowing the grass. 

Never hire a landscaping team that doesn’t offer the services you need. Forcing a group to do a job they have no experience in could lead to disastrous results.

Do You Offer Long-Term Maintenance Options?

A smart homeowner understands that landscaping is a long-term project. It could take hours to weeks to get the initial work done. Even when everything looks done and complete, you need to consider the fact maintenance is part of the endgame.

Take a multiple-tier garden wall with a patio, for example. It might take a day to design and a week to build. However, will the landscapers still be around half a year later when you need maintenance work done on the stone wall and the wood on the patio?

Maintenance is an even bigger concern when water and irrigation enter the picture. You have to consider the maintenance of the pipes, faucets, and drainage.

Can I Check Your Portfolio?

Always make it a habit to ask for a visual look at the landscaper’s previous works. Their portfolio will show you exactly the extent of their capabilities. 

If the landscaper says they can do the job you require, check their portfolio first. Look for samples from their previous jobs that showcase they know how to handle your requests. 

Their portfolio will also highlight how skilled the landscaping company is. If they cost a lot, you’ll be able to check if they are worth the investment. If the company seems too cheap, now you’ll be able to check if you’ll regret paying for a low-end team.

In-House Workers or Sub-Contractors?

The landscaping industry is a busy and constantly moving sector. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of job requests per month. One landscaping company might not be able to handle everything if they do it all in-house.

For this reason, some companies hire sub-contractors to handle specific job requests. They might also have in-house experts to work on the more difficult jobs. 

While some find it troublesome, it’s not a bad thing when a company works with sub-contractors. Landscaping companies only hire contractors who also undergo rigorous training and qualification certification. Working with sub-contractors doesn’t mean you’ll get low-quality results.

What Are Your Unique Specialties?

Visit the company’s website or give them a call. Not every landscaping business offers the same types of service. You need to make sure you’re working with one that offers exactly what you need.

If you live in a dry environment, you might need a company that focuses on improving the greenery of your garden, such as this service here. If you plan on adding a walkway and garden structures, you’ll need a company that specializes in building things like walls, stone pathways, and patios.

Knowing their specialty should be one of your main priorities. You’ll be able to eliminate all the other landscaping companies off your list. This will narrow your options to the ones you know can get the job done.

Are You Insured?

Even the best landscaping company can still encounter obstacles and difficulties.

Accidents can still happen, especially when you consider the frequent use of heavy equipment and sharp, metal tools. Even with the utmost care and obedience to protocol, someone could get hurt. Something could break.

Hire a landscaping company that has insurance. Liability insurance is the most important. This guarantees that even when something happens, you won’t be the one paying for the damages. 

On a similar note, ask for insurance and warranties covering the work they do. After all, you don’t want the contractors to complete the job only for it to fall apart one week after its completion. If it breaks down, the insurances and warranties guarantee that the company will come back to rework it.

Will You Provide a Visual Plan?

It’s important to ask if the company can provide a visual representation of the final project.

If you want them to work on a multi-tiered garden landscaping job, can they provide a miniature presentation on a table so you can see how it’ll look? Others might be able to provide a 3D representation through computer software or a top-down 2D representation on paper.

Does the company provide 3D models through tools like AutoCAD? Ask for a copy so you can review it at home. This ensures you can take all the time you need to go over every measurement, alteration, and design choice.

How Much Does This Cost?

Contact the landscaping contractors and ask for a quote. Most will run you through a series of questions to determine a baseline estimate. Expect that the final price tag will change on the day itself given how each job is different. 

Make sure there are no hidden fees. Ask about the cost of transporting the workers and equipment to the location too. Every expense should be in your initial discussion before you sign any dotted line.

Never hire a landscaping company that tries to hide fees from you!

May I Read Reviews/Client Testimonials?

After doing all of the steps listed above, it’s time to read through customer reviews and testimonials. Don’t fret, you can trust online reviews. These come from previous clients, after all.

The information from reviews will showcase whether or not the company is as good as they advertise. You’ll be able to gauge their skills, equipment, timeliness, and customer service. If possible, look for reviews that also feature photos or videos so you can verify the portfolio posted by the company.

Will You Provide a Contact Representative?

On a final note, ask if the landscaping company will provide a contact representative. Landscaping is a long and tedious job, so you’ll want someone you can communicate with before, during, and after the job.

Having to constantly call customer service can get annoying after some time. Providing one representative you can keep communicating with streamlines this process. This makes it a lot easier for both you and the landscaping business.

Hire the Best Landscaping Company

Now you know what it takes to find the best landscaping company for your specific needs. Always check their portfolio, specialties, prices, and read their reviews. Don’t hesitate to revisit this list whenever you need to go over other questions and find the best team in town.

But why stop here when we’ve got other informative business guides available? If you found this list entertaining and useful, read more of our articles today. We discuss all sorts of topics concerning home repair and property management!