If you don’t have the time to manage your landscaping, it may be time to look for a landscaping professional.
Where do you look?
Is it really worth the money?
How do you know you’re getting the best for your money?
We understand the idea of hiring a landscaping professional can be overwhelming, so we put together this article to help provide a little guidance. Whether you want help installing synthetic grass or help to update your yard with a few inexpensive landscaping ideas.
Here’s what you need to know about hiring a landscaping professional.
Hiring A Landscaping Professional
Okay, let’s get started …
You want your landscaping to look good and you don’t have the time or skill to do it yourself.
Landscaping professionals, sometimes called landscape designers or landscape architects depending on the scale of work, are available to help.
These pros often have years of experience working with a wide range of landscapes, including residential and commercial. Their knowledge of the climate, local plant life, and common challenges faced in your area make them the most qualified for the job.
With that said, there are a few things you want to keep in mind when hiring a pro.
We’re going to guide you through a few things to help make sure you hire a professional you can trust with your home.
Here we go!
1. Professionalism
When you hire a professional, you expect professionalism.
You want to pay a professional to do professional work, so it goes without saying that professionalism is one of those things you want to make sure you’re getting.
A landscaping professional will demonstrate punctuality, customer service, provide a quote upfront and honor that quote to the best of their ability.
- They will be available to speak or meet with you at the time agreed upon.
- They will listen to your concerns and guide you in the direction that serves you best (not them).
- They will provide a free quote.
And they will honor that quote to the best of their ability.
When you hire a landscaping professional to design, maintain, or revive your lawn, you know you’re getting a seasoned expert with the training and expertise to bring your vision to life. A landscape designer will listen to your ideas, then give you practical solutions to make your ideas a reality.
You won’t have to worry about whether or not your dream is feasible because a landscaper will know how to take even the most outlandish of ideas and turn them into their client’s dream yard! It can certainly be satisfying to complete certain DIY projects, but the peace and enjoyment you’ll have when your yard is perfectly landscaped will eclipse your untrained efforts.
Even if you have an apartment, they will still be able to work their magic.
A landscape designer will listen to your ideas, then give you practical solutions to make your ideas a reality.
Tip
- Ask for references from existing clients
2. Time Management
Deadlines work.
Sure, you may have told yourself you wanted to fix up your lawn a few weekends ago, but did you do it?
High five if you did!
If you’re like most of us, something came up and you rescheduled the project for next weekend.
Before you know it, it’s time to host a barbecue or get together at your house … and the yard isn’t in the best shape.
Professionals don’t do this.
Your professional is responsible for delivering services on time.
When reviewing professional, ask them about their previous experiencing with deadlines and project management. Do they have a good track record of delivering services on time and meeting deadlines?
Tip
- Ask your professional about their ability to meet deadlines
- Ask how long they estimate a specific project to take to complete
3. Savings on Materials
You want the best deal, right?
We all do!
One of the perks of hiring a landscape designer is you gain access to cheaper materials.
Landscaping professionals often have relationships with local suppliers, including everything from flowers to artificial grass.
Because of this, you may be able to get a better deal on materials.
This is something you want to ask about, as not all professionals have these relationships. Going with a pro who does will enable you to cut down on the cost of materials and use your landscaping more effectively.
Sounds good, right?
This is something that some pros use as a differentiation from other pros in your area.
Tips
- Ask if they work with local material suppliers
4. Experience & Insight
The more experience someone has in the landscaping field, the better.
They obtain a wide range of experience and insight over time due to their exposure to the local climate and various problems that may occur.
This is an important aspect of hiring a pro because it will help provide the best results.
Want an example?
You may walk through your local nursery and pick out a few plants for your own garden because of the way they look.
This can become a problem for your entire garden.
How?
Some plants require specific environments – light, shade, proximity to other plants, and other aspects will either help or stunt the chances of your plant’s survival.
In addition, planting a new flower in your garden may have a negative impact on the rest of your garden.
A professional will be able to guide you and provide options based on what works well.
Tips:
- Ask about their experience in your specific area
- Ask what they recommend for each season
- Ask them about their residential experience
5. Organization
Let’s keep it simple.
When working with a professional, you don’t have to worry about managing every aspect of your project.
They’ll take a care of scheduling their team, collecting resources, and making sure your project is completed on time.
This relieves you from having to hire multiple contractors for one job, as they usually have a team or network of other professionals they prefer to work with.
In addition, a professional will be able to keep your yard tidy during the process.
The last thing you want is a yard littered with tools and materials.
A professional will make sure everything is in the best place to keep the project running smoothly.
Tips
- Ask them about their team (if required)
- Ask them about equipment and material storage (if your project has a longer timeframe)
6. Sticking to Your Budget
You don’t want a permanent fixer-upper …
Whether we’re talking about remodeling a house, refurbishing a car, or upgrading your landscape, there’s a very real chance you may let deadlines slip and costs pile up.
We encourage you to explore your DIY side if you feel so inspired, but be careful.
DIY projects can quickly turn into bottomless money pits.
A professional will help prevent this.
You won’t have to worry about needing just one more tool, one more plant, or one more delivery of mulch – all the specifics will be overseen by your landscape designer.
Tip
- Ask your professional about their experience staying within the budget of similar projects
7. Seeing the Bigger Picture
You have a vision for your home.
It’s beautiful.
It’s comfortable and welcoming.
It’s where you spend time with your family and friends.
Maybe you want to create a yard capable of staying in shape all year long.
Whether you want to update your patio or replace your natural grass so your yard looks great for years to come, you can trust a professional to understand the bigger picture.
Professional landscapers will listen to your ideas and offer their insight regarding the best way to bring them to fruition.
You don’t need to provide them with the specifics.
Landscape design contractors and artificial turf are the perfect combinations to creating the yard of your dreams.
Tip:
- Ask for recommendations up front (this will give you an idea for the pro’s insight)
Conclusion
Whether you don’t have the time to dedicate to your yard right now or you’re looking for that professional touch, you can find it by going to a professional.
It may take a little time to find the right match for your project, as some professionals specialize in certain aspects of yard maintenance.
For example, some provide ongoing maintenance while others specialize in yard make-overs.
If you’re looking for the latter, feel free to reach out to us about your project. Our team of professionals will be happy to listen to your ideas and work with you to bring the vision of your landscape to life.
Just use the form below …
Before we go, we just want to say we hope this helps you on your journey to create a beautiful yard : )
