We know there are a lot of landscaping companies. In fact, you may even feel a bit overwhelmed with so many options that you wind up settling on someone without much research into their background. There are a lot of fly-by-night landscapers out there that could leave you high and dry; we want to urge the importance of doing adequate research when it comes to hiring a quality landscape maintenance professional.
Rock Water Farm provides complete landscape design and build services for properties throughout Northern Virginia. Our team creates custom pools, patios, decks, outdoor kitchens, pavilions, and landscapes as part of cohesive outdoor environments designed around each property. To contact a member of our team, call (703) 423-0101 today!
Below, we’ve put together a list of red flags to help you identify a bad landscaping company:
If a landscape company you’re looking into doesn’t have shirts with a company name or any sort of branding on their vehicle, a warning buzzer should go off in your head. Do they have a website or a company address? If not, this is probably a fly-by-night landscaper.
In fact, maybe one day they’re landscaping and the next they’re painting a house or doing general contracting. This kind of person could not have developed an expert skill set in landscaping and you should be leery about what you’ll get from them. Only use a company that looks like they are here to stay with branded trucks and uniforms.
Most landscape companies will likely take an upfront deposit on any project you agree to, but a landscaper that asks for the full amount upfront should be questioned. What’s to say they aren’t going to take your money and run? This is a definite red flag.
When you’re signing on for a project with a professional landscaping company, you should expect to receive a contract with terms and agreements. This is beneficial on both ends. The landscaper that wants to get started on your project without any contract is one to avoid. After all, what is holding that individual accountable for the work that they do when there is no signed documentation? Steer clear of verbal agreements. In this day and age, it’s simply not prudent.
If the landscape contractor you’re considering is taking a very high-pressure sales approach to get you to agree to work, you should tread cautiously. A company that is this desperate for work might have nothing else in the books and that doesn’t say a lot about the quality of their work. This may also be another circumstance where the individual could take your money and run. Don’t feel pressured into anything you’re not comfortable with.
If the landscaper you’re considering for a project can’t provide you an estimate of how much the work or design is going to cost, it's a red flag. This is either an individual who has never done this kind of project before (therefore he or she has no concept of what it will cost) or it is someone who knows how much it will cost, but is still worried it will scare you away.
Both are problematic. The truth is that a lot of people don’t have a realistic sense of how much a landscaping project will cost. You should seek out a professional who can provide you with an honest estimate. Not a company that plays games.
These are the “too good to be true” promotions that turn out to be, well, too good to be true. There is a big difference between promotions that are gimmicky and promotions that are downright sketchy. This is one of those scenarios where your gut instinct might come into play.
If the project isn’t even underway and you already feel like there’s a communication gap, you should be worried. Communication between the customer and the landscaping company is absolutely critical throughout the entire process and if you’re not feeling that they’re communicating well now (when they should be all about keeping you happy so that you hire them) they certainly aren’t going to communicate once the project is underway.
Sure, one bad review here or there shouldn’t be enough to steer you away from a landscape company. There are always going to be disgruntled customer cases that weren’t really fair to the company and of course there are always two sides to a story. However, if a company has repeatedly received bad online reviews that should be enough to scare you away.
Instead, choose a landscaper that has plenty of good online reviews with a rating of at least 4.5 stars. Clearly, a landscaping company that has this much online response takes time to make sure their clients are happy.
Does the landscape company you’re considering have examples of their past work? A reputable company is going to have a portfolio of their work to show off and will even be able to put you in touch with clients if you want. But if the company you’re considering doesn’t have any examples of their work, you have to question whether they’ve ever done a project like yours before.
One of the scariest possibilities is finding out that your landscaping company has no insurance coverage after they’ve already done major damage on your property. Landscape equipment can be quite dangerous and has the power to do a lot of damage. You want to be sure that the company you’re using is properly insured.
Even more scary, though, is the thought of someone getting hurt on your property and you being liable for that injury. A reputable landscape company will be able to show you proof that they are properly insured and that everything is up to date.
Choosing the right company for landscape maintenance starts with knowing what professionalism should look like. Clear communication, proven experience, proper insurance, and a strong record of completed work can give you greater confidence before you commit to a contractor. Rock Water Farm provides professional landscape services for properties throughout Northern Virginia, backed by an experienced team and a commitment to quality work. To contact a member of our team, call (703) 423-0101 today!