3 Golden Rules for Hiring A Quality Landscape Professional
Have you always prided yourself on having a green thumb? Think you can handle anything your landscape throws at you? You may be surprised at how much time and effort goes into maintaining a picture-perfect lawn.
For property managers and homeowners, hiring a company that has the education and training to maintain your landscape is extremely important – no matter how big or small your property is. Professionals will know the requirements of each municipality and have the certifications and appropriate licenses to pull any necessary paperwork like permits or mitigation requirements.
So, what are some of the most important things to know in order to hire a quality landscape professional?
1. Evaluate Your Budget
Having a good budget plan can go a long way. That does not mean that every community needs to plan to spend a fortune on landscape services. Instead, be mindful of the type of services that are essential for maintaining your property. In some cases, all it takes is to reprioritize some of your current services to be able to shop for a company that delivers better efficiency and quality.
2. Request for Proposals
Whether you are a homeowner or a property manager, you must have a Request for Proposal (RFP). This document will help you list the items and criteria of all the services you might need. Do your research and be reasonable with your expectations according to your budget. With a thorough RFP you and your prospective landscaper will be able to lay out a plan that can maximize your investment.
Some companies will offer you an RFP. Some will charge you for it and some companies will give it in exchange for the opportunity to adjust after the bid. In any case, it is always advisable to have one.
Not sure what your RFP should look like? Download our FREE Request for Proposal
template to make sure you are covering all the basics when hiring a landscaper.
3. Make Sure They Provide You with A Written Agreement and Check for License and Insurance.
Some landscapers do business on a ‘‘verbal agreement’’ basis and even if they seem trustworthy you could run into trouble down the road. Make sure you hire a company that provides you with a written agreement about their services based on your RFP. Most importantly, check for their license and insurance. In Florida, you can visit www.sunbiz.org to make sure they have the proper documentation. The Broward County Tax Search or Miami Dade Tax Search to verify their license.
Do you want to learn how to set correct budget expectations for a landscaping company, how to establish an RFP and exactly what items you should list on it? Listen to our podcast below
Listen to “Cutters Edge show 4 part 1 – 12 Rules For Hiring A Landscape Professional” on Spreaker.
Listen to “Cutters Edge show 4 part 2 – 12 Rules For Hiring A Landscape Professional” on Spreaker.
