subject: Choosing The Best Of The Best Landscape Contractors [print this page] Landscape contractors can do more for you than what you think. They can give your home a perfect lift, especially your front yard, so you can make all the best first impressions. In fact, they can even help in raising your homes resale value. However, not all landscape contractors are the same, but with a little conscientiousness and patience on your part, nailing down the best should be easy.
Referrals and References
The best way to find a good landscape contractor has got to be asking friends, family members or colleagues about someone they might have hired and liked. No basis for hiring this professional could be better than the first-hand testimonials of people you trust. However, if this is not possible for any reason, you can always check the Internet. Theres loads of these landscape guys that you can consider. Of course, you have to be very, very careful when hiring someone youve met online. Again, the power of testimonials should work, so when you come down to their office, make sure to get names of past customers, their subcontractors and suppliers to look into the quality of their work and how they deal with their partners in business.
Discussing the Project
When you want your homes landscape to turn out exactly as you want, make sure the professional you hire thoroughly understands what you have in mind. For example, if the design you want is along the lines of concrete patios with lots of hanging flora, be specific about it in your instructions. Spell out every detail you want, especially concerning materials and other specifications, and then put everything in writing. If you dont, you may end up having to pay for each extra work that you ask them to do, and that could raise your bill unnecessarily. Different contractors will give you a different experience with the job they do, so make sure youve made a point-by-point comparison of, at least, three options before hiring anyone.
The Final Contract
Details can get very specific with each job that landscape contractors do, but there are basic components that your contract must contain in order to protect your interests fully. Among these are a detailed description of the job you want, including type and quality of materials to use, estimated start and completion dates, a penalty if these target dates are not met, a provision that lets you, as the client, terminate all agreements if things dont work out between you and the contractor, property lien provisions, a completion bond, total cost, terms of payment and a retention provision where you indicate that a specific percentage of the total cost be withheld until you are fully satisfied with the job theyve done for you.
Sometimes, what you had in mind before the start of the project could be subject to a little tweaking here and there. For example, you may not have planned on a concrete foundation for certain parts of your yard, but if you like that idea as suggested by your contractor, it should be fine. Just remember, the most important result here is your full satisfaction.
