Most commercial property owners value a yard outside their property. A well-maintained yard adds to the aesthetic value of the property. With several companies offering commercial landscaping services, it can be challenging to pick one.
Here are a few tips on how to choose a commercial landscaping company:
Check If the Company Offers the Services You Need
Property owners often assume that all landscaping companies offer the same services. This is not true. It is important to speak to the potential landscaping company and ensure they offer the services you need.
Some of the common services offered by commercial landscaping companies include:
- Landscape Design
- Irrigation and Lighting
- Landscape Construction
- Landscape Maintenance
- Snow and Ice Management
Find Out About the Company’s Experience
Find out how long the company has been in business. Commercial landscape management is not an easy task. You want to choose someone who has years of experience in the job. Preferably, don’t choose a company with less than three years of experience in the industry.
While you may have to pay a higher cost for an experienced company, you can rest assured that you will get good results.
Check if the Company Follows Sustainable Practices
Most commercial property owners want to work with a landscaping company that follows sustainable and environment-friendly practices. If you are one of them, check with the company if their services are cost-effective, water-saving, and energy-efficient.
The kind of materials used by the company will also tell you if they are sustainable or not. You can ask the company the following questions to ensure they follow sustainable practices:
- Do they use native plants?
- Where do they acquire plant materials and supplies?
- Do they recycle old tree branches, dried leaves, and clippings?
- What kind of irrigation and lighting do they use?
- Do they use organic materials?
Ask to See Certifications and Qualifications
The landscaping sector is regulated by the Federal and State governments. Any company wanting to enter this field must prove that its employees are well-trained and have the necessary certifications to get operational licenses.
Ask the company to show these certifications and licenses. If the company doesn’t have these documents, then chances are they are illegal and don’t have trained workers.
Discuss Cost Beforehand
Landscaping companies will have different charges for different services. Speak to the potential company about the charges for the particular services you need. Be mindful of companies that charge way lesser than the market rate.
They are likely desperate for work and may offer poor services. At the same time, be careful not to pay exorbitant rates for the services. Do your research before discussing costs, and make sure you agree upon the amount before handing out the contract.
Make Sure the Company Has Insurance
No matter how careful the landscaping company is, an accident may occur when the team is working on your property. Ensure the landscaping company has liability insurance before hiring them if you don’t want to be held liable for these accidents and mishaps.
Also, check if the company has workers’ compensation insurance in case a team member gets injured while working, and they have to compensate them.
Ensure They Have Quality Equipment
Commercial landscaping is not a small task. It requires professional-grade equipment and machinery. Ensure the company you hire has high-quality, well-maintained equipment. Not having good equipment will delay the entire landscaping project and affect the quality of work.
Try Getting References
One of the best ways to choose a commercial landscaping company is to pick one that has worked with a family member or friend before. This way, you can be informed of their services, work style, and etiquette and know how the experience was.
Pick a Professional Company
Like any industry, professionalism goes a long way in commercial landscaping. When choosing a company for your commercial property, watch out for these things:
- Is the company a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals?
- Does the company have a variety of professional expertise on its staff?
- Does the company use a professional tone in all its communication, verbal or written?
- Does the company use branded trucks, trailers, and equipment?
- Are the employees uniformed?
- Does the company use visible safety standards?
A professional landscaping company like US Lawns will ensure your work gets done on time and will offer the highest quality of service. The company has a nationwide network of professional landscape management teams that help clients turn their landscape vision into reality.