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A true landscape professional can help you design and install the landscape of your dreams. Hiring the wrong person can leave you with an undesirable result that could be designed and constructed poorly, which will ultimately cost you much more than expected. Do your due diligence before you hire any landscaping company. Here are some things to look for.
Who Is Whom?
There are a lot of different titles that landscapers go by. Here are some of the most important ones.
Landscape Architects design attractive and functional public parks, gardens, playgrounds, residential areas, college campuses, and public spaces. They also plan the locations of buildings, roads, walkways, flowers, shrubs, and trees within these environments. To become a registered landscape architect requires a degree in landscape architecture as well as passing state exams and continuing education. Most commercial projects require a registered landscape architect to stamp drawing documents.
Landscape Designers are not registered as landscape architects but do share some of the same responsibilities such as conceptual design, design development, material selection, and specification. Landscape designers often tend to work more on residential projects where a license is not required or as an apprentice of a registered landscape architect assisting in larger more complex projects.
Landscape Contractors install the landscape. They can have many different specialties from hardscapes and softscapes to irrigation, water features, and outdoor lighting. Some landscape contractors act as the General Contractor for all outdoor construction and organize a team of specialized subcontractors that install the total scope of the design.
Landscape Account Managers typically maintain the landscape. They manage the services of mowing, fertilizing, maintaining sprinklers and lighting systems as well as snow removal services. They are in charge of taking care of properties all year round.
Horticulturalists have a degree in horticultural science. They are the plant experts. If a plant is sick or looking scruffy, the horticulturalists can diagnose the problem and recommend a course of action. Horticulturalists are also a good resource for landscape design as they tend to know what plants work best in varying conditions.
Arborists care for the health and well-being of the trees. If you have a tree that is damaged or sick, the arborist can diagnose the problem and recommend a fix for it. Reputable arborists belong to the International Society of Arboriculture. Never let someone who knocks on your door touch your trees without verifying that they are a certified arborist.
Questions To Ask
The major way to differentiate a professional from an amateur is to ask lots of questions. A professional will be happy to discuss their credentials, insurance, licenses, and communications preferences. An amateur may try to avoid answering your questions directly, which could signal that they are not the landscaper for you.
How long have they been practicing their craft?
Experience matters. Most landscape professionals work for a company with more experienced professionals for several years before opening their own business. Ask how long the person has been a landscape professional and how old the business is. Everyone has to start somewhere, but you may not want it to be with your project, especially if it is complex and a large investment. There can be a lot of risk in hiring a large project, and it is best to find someone has done several similar projects before and has the knowledge and confidence to get it done right the first time.
What is their specialty?
You should get one of the titles mentioned above in reply. If they tell you they do everything, that should be a red flag. You may have a “Jack of all trades master of none” situation. You really want a landscape company that has at least one of the titles mentioned above, and knows what their specialty is and what sets them apart. The best professionals work as a team to take care of your project and landscape.
Do they have insurance?
A reputable company carries workman’s comp and general liability insurance. With the workman’s comp, if anyone working on the project gets injured, their medical treatment and the time off work are paid for. The general liability insurance will pay if the property is damaged during the project. Without these types of insurance, you are liable for injuries and damages and may have to pay out of pocket to deal with them.
Do they have a license?
In this state, there are certain things only licensed individuals can do. Different people on the team that does the design and maintenance for your landscape must have a license to do these things.
Do they have an online presence?
No serious company is totally offline. At a minimum, they should have a website and a presence on one or two social media sites. The website should look professionally done, not thrown together in a rush. If a company does not care enough to have a professional-looking website, can you trust that they will care enough to create a professional-looking landscape?. The company should also be on different review websites. Everyone gets a few bad reviews, but most of the reviews should be positive. If there are negative reviews, does the company reach out and try to make things right? What is the Better Business Bureau rating for the business?
Do they have a portfolio?
The business should have a portfolio of work they have done. Most companies post it on their website, or at least on their social media pages. Sometimes social media can be a place to see more of their work as it is easier to update than a website. Has the company done work similar to what you want? If you want a waterfall and do not see any waterfalls on any of their pages, you may need to talk to someone else.
Do they have referrals and testimonials from previous customers?
Another page on the website should have testimonials from satisfied customers. Ask if you can contact some of those customers and talk to them about what it is like to work with this company. Would the customer refer people to this business? If people the company sends you to are not enthusiastic about the company, that is a big red flag.
Other Things To Note
Interviewing a company for your landscape project is a two-way street. You should be asking questions to make sure they are the best fit for your needs, and they should be doing the same and trying to make sure that their services and approach to doing business are in sync with your expectations.
Do they communicate and do what they say they will do?
Does the company arrive on schedule, call you back promptly, provide you with the requested materials? If they do not communicate well or do what they say they will do as they are trying to win your business, you can be sure they will be a problem after you sign the contract. Communication should be a priority.
Do they clearly communicate the next steps at the end of meetings?
You do not want to be left hanging, unsure of what happens next. At the end of every meeting with a landscape company’s representative, you should be told what happens next and whose responsibility it is to make it happen. If they need something from you to proceed, you want to know to give it to them. If one of their employees is supposed to make the next move, you need to know that, too.
Do they value their time?
If the company charges for a consultation, don’t be offended. Years of training and experience go into the time and attention you get from them. You are really paying for this invaluable resource, not merely for the time they spend on your consult. People who do not value their time won’t value your time, either.
Do they have a backlog, or can they start tomorrow?
When can they start? Reputable businesses often have a bit of a wait to get your project started. This is because they are good, and their talents are in demand. You may have to wait weeks or even months for them to start if they are good at what they do, but someone who can start tomorrow may not have talents anyone wants. Ask how many projects they have now and how they will fit your project into their schedule.
In Conclusion
While finding a landscape professional can be tedious, you don’t have to look far. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping ticks all the boxes you want in a landscape design and installation company. We have a wide variety of landscape professionals working on each of our teams. You can be sure your landscape dream will come true with us. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping and book a consultation to start your landscaping journey.
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