Thursday, July 7, 2016

How Do You Choose A Lawn Care Service?

If you are set on paying a company to cut your grass and maintain the lawn, you need to hire a top lawn care service to do it. It may not be the easiest task with so many lawn care providers operating in your area. Which is the best and most appropriate service for you? It is a tricky situation when it comes to the lawn care industry since the industry is highly decentralized. This has caused a massive variance between lawn care companies operating in your area. Some companies will be amazing while some others will be terrible. This is why you need to evaluate several companies before picking the right lawn care service to maintain your lawn. Here are some of the most important things to look for when hiring the best lawn care service in your town.

Look at Reviews


The reputation of the service provider always comes first. The internet has changed the way businesses are conducted in this day and age. A consumer can instantly read and review companies before picking the most suitable candidate for their projects. Review sites such as Yelp and Angie's List are good sites to start with. While sites like Yelp do not provide the whole story, they are a good place to have a glimpse of what you can expect from a lawn care service in the area. A company that has tons and tons of negative reviews should be avoided at all costs. Another way is to ask for neighbors for their personal recommendations on the lawn care services they use. Ask them what they think of the lawn care company they currently use. Are they in a position to recommend the service provider to you. This saves a lot of time as well as helps you hire a reliable service provider in your town.

Landscaping Services Offered


Once you have a few candidates on your list. You need to check for important aspects of the service provider. One aspect is to check what basic or special lawn services do they offer? Independent lawn care providers may just mow, blow, and move to the next yard. On the other hand, companies with multiple crews and franchise lawn care services may offer a full spectrum of lawn care services. It is helpful if you ask the potential service provider to present a list of services they offer. Most professional companies may have a printout listing all their services. But you should not base your selection on the fancy brochure itself.




Who Are You Talking To?


It is important that you find out the role played by your contact person when picking the best lawn care service in your town. Is he or she a salesman, supervisor, an estimator, administration guy or the owner/operator himself? Are they authorized to offer you a quotation? Are they knowledgeable and experienced to advise you on the services they offer? These are important factors to consider when looking for a reliable service provider. Check the qualifications and experience of the workers of the potential lawn care service. Who actually does the work and who supervises them? How much experience do they have? What kind of training have they undergone, any specialized areas? Do all the members of the crew speak your language? Will the same crew do the work consistently? Are you in a position to request for a different crew if you have a good reason to do so? Consider these things when choosing the best lawn care provider in your area.



Qualifications


Being licensed and insured is a must. You should never compromise on these aspects when hiring the Lawn Care Association of your state or the PLCAA (Professional Lawn Care Association of America) will show that the lawn care service takes a more professional approach to their business. In fact, the memberships of these organizations are optional, but it is better to look for a company that has even one of these memberships. Liability insurance is a must, which will help protect both you and the businessman's crew on site. This is very important in the event of any damage to your property or personal injuries to the crew or any member of your family. Not all lawn care services possess this. It is best to ask the company and hire a company that does have liability insurance. Make sure you check the validity of the policy by calling the insurance provider.
right lawn care provider. Lawn care companies need to maintain certain regulatory permits when operating within a state or locality. This can vary according to the requirements laid out by the state, county or city. There are some instances where a person who mows lawns extensively, without indulging in any other service, may be exempted from licensing requirements. You may call the local or state authority responsible for licensing businesses to get more information in this regard. In fact, a business license will not determine who qualified a service provider is. But you get to know that the person is dedicated to his life's work to being a professional. They are not trying to make a quick buck on the side.


Should You Sign a Contract?


A contract is essential when you are about to finalize the hiring of a potential lawn care company in the area. Verbal agreements are a thing of the past. A contract defies expectations of both parties and acts as a measuring tool to check the satisfactory performance of the service provider. You should insist on a contract if you want to avoid disappointments and surprises. It will also help protect yourself and your property in the long run. The contract can be a simple one as long as it includes all the services promised by the lawn care company. The contract should include what services are provided, how often, in what manner, and for what fees? This is a very important step in picking the right service provider to mow and maintain your lawn on a long-term basis. Here is a sample contract



Reliability


Even the most experienced lawn care service will not be able to serve you well unless they are reliable. Most homeowners complain about the failure of the lawn care service to communicate with them in a timely manner. Most crews do not show up when they say they will. This is where a reliable service provider comes in handy. Make sure you check the dependability of the service provider when hiring a lawn care company to maintain your lawn. Good customer service is usually not synonymous with lawn care companies. But you need to look for a company with a good customer service. Also, look for a company that is up-to-date on the latest technology. They should be reachable through email or social media. These aspects are very important to consider since you will be having a long-term relationship with the lawn mowing company.




In conclusion, choosing the best lawn care company in your area may not be an easy task after all. With hundreds of service providers operating in the region, you need to do your homework properly before hiring a reliable lawn care service. There are many important things to look for in a lawn care company before finalizing the agreement with them. Reputation, experience, latest technology, license, insurance, and customer service are some of the most important factors to consider when picking the right service provider to maintain your lawn on a long-term basis. The aforementioned article provides information on how to choose a lawn care company in your area.