It isn’t often that a homeowner shops for the services of a professional landscaper. When the need does arise, make sure you shop smart because a lot could be at stake if things go wrong. Hiring the wrong landscape company or a rock-bottom priced guy working out of an old truck could be costly and open you up to serious liabilities. Here are a few examples of things you risk when you hire the wrong landscaper for your next job.
- BEWARE OF UNINSURED CONTRACTORS: If your landscaper is uninsured, your homeowner insurance policy might not cover any “on the job” injuries they may incur. Worse yet, the uninsured might sue you even though you hired them! (Don’t just take our word for it. Try Googling -What can happen when innocent homeowners hire uninsured contractors?) If you do roll the dice and hire one, just know you could be exposing yourself to possible legal or financial liabilities should such an uninsured contractor be involved in an accident or become injured while working on your property. So beware the next time a “guy with a truck” knocks on your door offering landscaping services.
- AN UNLICENSED BUSINESS CAN BE A RED FLAG: If this doesn’t send up a red flag, then we don’t know what should! If a landscape contractor or landscape company doesn’t have a business licensed, BEWARE! They may not be who you think they are and they could easily take your deposit money and run. Furthermore, they also might not be licensed because they either lost it due to a violation or don’t qualify for one. Good luck tracking them down if they leave town with your deposit!
- LOWBALL PRICING CAN BE COSTLY: If the price is incredibly cheap, especially when compared to other professional landscaper bids, then chances are the work will be too. Remember the old adage, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”? Honest landscaping companies will give you the straight scope and can easily explain why they pricing things as they do, and they stand behind their work. Bottom line, unbelievably low priced landscaping bids usually area accompanied by fly-by-night contractors, street corner day laborers and shoddy landscape materials. All things that open you up to potential safety and liability risks, and a whole lot of wasted money.
Be a wise consumer. To help you better assess the professionalism and promises of a landscape company, consider asking the following questions during your interview and bid gathering process. Getting the answers to these questions will help guide you to the best candidate for your landscaping job, and enable you to buy with greater confidence.
If you’re shopping for a professional landscaper in Columbia, South Carolina, here’s a list of important questions to ask during the interview process. These questions will help ensure the credibility, experience and quality of any landscape company you may consider hiring.
- How long have you been in business?
- Are you fully licensed and insured?
- Are your workers employees or day laborers?
- Do you perform background checks on all workers?
- What kinds of guarantees do you offer?
- Can you provide me with several references for your work?
- Do you guarantee your plants?
- Who will manage my project?
- How will I be billed for your work?
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- How long should it take to complete my project?
- Will your proposals and estimates be submitted in writing?
- Who can I call if I have a concern or question about the work being performed?
- What can you tell me about your experience performing similar landscaping work?
- Will there be a final walk-through after all work is complete?