Avoiding Problems With Your Lawn Service
Spring is in the air in most parts of the country that means it’s time to start thinking about yard work. If you are one of the many Americans who don’t have the time or inclination to do your own yard work and instead prefer to hire a landscape professional or lawn service, it is important to choose a service carefully to avoid problems.
According to the Better Business Bureau, the receive over 4,000 complaints every year about landscape contractors and lawn maintenance services. What’s worse is about a third of these complaints were unable to be resolved. That’s a sure sign that there are a lot of unhappy customers out there.
Don’t take chances with you yard. Avoid becoming a statistic by choosing your landscaper or yard maintenance service carefully. First, before you start talking to potential service providers, think about what you want. Do you just want someone to mow the yard or do you want the landscaper to handle everything including fertilization, seeding, application of weed and pest control, and aerating? In addition to lawn care, what about caring for other landscape features such as waterscapes, ponds, flower beds and shrubs?
Discuss your desires with several lawn maintenance services and get their input on services offered. Each landscape professional may offer different packages of services that may or may not fit your needs. Talk to them about the types of products they use, especially if you are concerned about environmental impact.
Make sure each contractor has the necessary licenses for your area. Any contractor should have a business license and liability and workers compensation insurance. Depending on where you live and the services offered, there may be other licensing requirements such as for application of pesticides and fertilizers.
Compare competing proposals and choose the contractor that seems right for you. Before signing the contract, go over it carefully to make sure you understand what services you are getting and the total cost.