5 Things to Look for in a Landscape Contractor in Chandler
by Matt
Like a newly refashioned bathroom and kitchen, well-designed landscaping can dramatically raise your home’s value. When it’s time to sell your home, the landscape in your front yard is central to your home’s curb appeal–it’s the very first impression folks will get when they come to your home.
A landscape contractor in Chandler or landscaping company can provide a range of services. Some just install decks, walkways and sprinkler systems; others may do monthly maintenance, and others might purely do landscape architecture or landscape design. And many companies offer a mix of these services.
Here are 5 things to look for before choosing a landscaping contractor in Chandler.
What Kind of Landscaper Are You Looking For?
The first thing you need to do is work out what sort of landscaping service you need to use. Here’s a rundown of the various landscapers you could be interested in.
A landscape contractor installs landscape features, including hardscapes like fences, stones, walkways, and water elements, as well as softscapes like vegetation and soil.
A landscape designer does the same job as a landscape architect, but he or she usually doesn’t have an academic degree as a landscape architect.
A landscape architect plans and designs landscapes. They’ll discuss your idea of landscape with you and help you pick the right materials and plants for your budget. They’ll look past the present season and design something that’ll stand out all year.
A landscape manager looks after your landscape. Landscaping is a project that should be maintained season after season. If you can’t handle regular maintenance on your own, you can enlist the help of a landscape manager.
A horticulturist is a plant expert. You may want to hire a horticulturist if you live in a very tough climate for vegetation, your plants aren’t doing well, or the leaves are being devoured by pests. A horticulturist also coordinates with a landscaping designer or architect to plan your front yard.
An arborist plants, prunes, uproots and looks after trees. He or she knows about nutritional needs, fertilization, as well as support, bracing, and cabling for new trees.
Determine Your Needs and Budget
Do you want someone to simply help you weed twice a month and move your lawn? Or do you want someone who can replace your lawn altogether or replace a cracked walkway? Or do you want to implement your greatest and latest landscaping vision and completely level your current yard to pave way for your inspiration?
You should know beforehand what you want to be done, as well as why you want it done. In addition, define your budget clearly. Talk to your landscaping expert, they might have some fantastic ideas that suit your budget.
Also, ask what mode of payment they take.
Research Some Ideas
If you’ve not yet done it, take some time to browse various landscape design books. You can buy some or use the ones at your library.
Spend some time driving around your area and take a look at what neighbors have in their yards. Check out the layouts, driveway and walkway patterns, types of flowers and trees, color combinations, etc.
You might think you know what you want for your yard but the more you look around, the more research you carry out, and the more comfortable you’ll be with your final decision.
Consider Your Timeline
How long do you want your yard worked on? Unfortunately, gardens don’t just grow overnight.
If you are installing a koi pond or concrete patio, your yard might need excavation before construction can start. This process can be quite long and some homeowners may be reluctant to go through it.
Create a Contract for Your Landscape Contractor in Chandler
To make sure that you and your landscape contractor understand each other perfectly, you must make a contract. The contract should encompass many things about the job and should at least answer the following questions.
What’s the start date?
And what’s the estimated completion date?
What type of work is included?
Try and be specific about every service. For instance, if you want your trees pruned, be clear that any useless branches within a specific diameter will be pruned.
Or if your contract is for recurring services, list the duties for each season.
What’s the breakdown of cost?
This might not be included in the contract (after all, unexpected situations can happen), but you’ll certainly want to include it somewhere. Each service in the landscaping contract needs an associated cost.
Are you paying by the hour or for the whole project? Who is buying the materials? Include a clause in your contract that ensures there’s a cap to what you’ll pay.
What’s the payment plan?
How much should you pay now and when should you clear the balance? Can they refund your deposit?
Define your terms of project completion clearly. You don’t want the landscape contractor in Chandler to pack up and leave when there’s more work to be done.
Who’s charged with getting permits?
More often than not, the landscaper is the one to get permits, but you should have this stipulated in your contract.
If you belong to a homeowner’s association, it’s your duty to ensure that your landscaping work fits your community’s guidelines. Get the green light before work starts!
Who is in charge of cleanup?
Expect messy business once your landscaping project gets underway. Whether you’re having a tree uprooted or something else, the contract should clearly define the cleanup duties of both you and the contractor.
Do you provide guarantees?
If something doesn’t work, doesn’t bloom, or breaks, what do you do?
Perhaps the landscaping contractor will replace a dead plant within 6 months or will agree to periodically check on your yard to make sure that everything is well-maintained, pest-free, and healthy.
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right landscape contractor in Chandler is essential if you want to make a success of your project.
Finding someone with the expertise and skills required to make your vision a reality can go a long way to ensuring that you have a smooth and stress-free experience.
If you’re looking for a landscaper in Chandler, contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Are you searching for a landscape design contractor in Chandler AZ? The experts at EDC can help you develop your outdoor space into relaxing backyard oasis!
Call Edgewater Design Company at (480) 397-0224 or schedule a free design consultation.