Follow tips when considering hiring a lawn care professional
Abeautiful lawn can be both appealing and environmentally friendly, but it can take a lot of work and be a tricky project to do yourself. Caring for a yard under the best of circumstances can still be challenging; extended periods of extreme weather, dull lawnmower blades, bugs, pests, and heavy foot traffic can all lead to a lawn that needs extra care.
There are many things that your lawn might need depending on the season. This can include pH testing, aerating the soil, fertilization, filling in bald spots, trimming back overgrowth, and planting seasonal flowers and plants.
While many consumers choose to make lawn maintenance a do-it-yourself project, there are those that prefer to leave it to the professionals. Hiring a landscape contractor or lawn maintenance service gives homeowners the professional help they need.
The Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas offers the following tips when considering hiring a lawn care professional:
Research and gather information. Once you have decided what services you need and your budget, get recommendations from friends and neighbors with lawns you admire. You can search for a business’s BBB Business Profile at BBBHouston.org to get free information on their history of complaints, read customer reviews, and see if they are a BBB Accredited Business. Ask for references and pictures of other jobs they installed or maintained.
Ask for a lawn inspection. Services that quote a price without seeing your lawn cannot be sure what your lawn might need. Businesses will sometimes charge you to discuss specific landscaping ideas to protect themselves against clients who want to get their ideas and implement them themselves. If you contract with the business, they will often credit you back for the initial fee.
Have a clear scope of work before asking for estimates. This includes defining the area to be worked on and what you want done. When getting bids, don’t compare apples with oranges. Make sure that each business has included the same services. Also, be sure that each business breaks the cost down in the same way (per visit, month, year, etc.).
Get specifics on prices and be clear on what services are included. Are you paying for a specific project or ongoing maintenance? Do you pay by the mow or by the month? Many businesses allow you to pay after each treatment and may offer a discount if you pay the annual cost up front. What happens if it rains the day someone is supposed to come mow your lawn? Does mowing include edging? Who bags and disposes of the clippings and other refuse?
Ask about licensing. Certain companies offering services affecting your lawn may need licensing. In particular, pest control businesses are licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, and their licenses can be verified at www.texasagriculture.gov. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality licenses sprinkler repair companies and can be checked at www.tceq.texas.gov.
Get everything in writing. Make sure the contract contains all topics discussed and promises made. Document the duration and expected results of the lawn care service.
Some consumers are unaware that contracts can be open-ended, meaning they renew until the client specifically terminates. Ensure you understand how that works and how you can cancel.
Get receipts for any money paid. It’s better to pay by check or credit card, but if you make full payment in cash, be sure to obtain written verification from the business with a list of labor and material charges covered by the payment.