Hiring a professional landscaping service in Bergen County NJ will provide many benefits for your home. Professional services will keep your landscape green, healthy and well-manicured and give you more free time to spend with family and friends. A landscape professional will provide year-round care and maintenance services that protect your property and make your life easier.
Although professional landscape care will provide numerous advantages, it’s important to hire the right company for the job. Hiring someone who can’t take care of your landscape needs will cost you a lot of money, time and aggravation that you can’t get back. Before you hire a professional, take a look at three costly mistakes that you should avoid.
1. Don’t Hire an Inexperienced Company
When hiring a professional in most fields, experience goes hand-in-hand with knowledge. A landscaping service in Bergen County NJ with 20 years of professional experience will have much more knowledge and skill than someone with just a few years in business. An experienced landscape professional will have extensive and diverse knowledge in plant care and maintenance, soil types, irrigation and drainage issues, pruning and planting times, fertilization schedules, organic landscape products and pest control.
For quality landscape care, efficient services and the best long-term results, make sure you hire an experienced professional who can properly service your property. By doing some research before you hire a landscape professional, you can gain valuable information to ensure you make the right choice.
Website Search
Most reputable businesses have a professional website that promotes their services. By reviewing a business website, you can find out important information about the company’s history, services they provide, photos of existing work and client testimonials and referrals.
Referrals
A personal referral from neighbors, friends and family members is a great way to find a good landscape professional. When a company does good or bad work, their reputation usually gets around quickly, especially in the areas where they do business. A personal referral is one of the best ways to find the best person for the job.
Business History
A company that’s been in the landscaping business for over 20 years is likely doing great work. A long business history is a good indicator of successful business practices and happy clients. A larger company will have more employees to handle landscape work and customer service issues promptly.
Professional Affiliations
Professional affiliations are an important part of credibility and experience for landscaping services in Bergen County NJ. Check affiliations with some of the better national or northern NJ organizations that promote horticulture education and safe, ethical business practices. These include Professional Landscape Network (PLANET), American Society of Landscape Architects, New Jersey Association of Landsape Professionals (NALP), New Jersey Green Industry Council (NJGIC) and Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA).
2. Don’t Hire a Company Without a Property Assessment
2. Don’t Hire a Company Without a Property AssessmentEvery property is different in size, landscape conditions, existing problems and property needs. Before you hire a landscape professional, schedule a site visit to your home to get an accurate property assessment. Without it, you may be paying for services you don’t need and going without services that are essential for proper landscape care and maintenance.
During a site visit, you can discuss your property needs and your budget. The landscape professional can walk around your property to assess your landscape needs and any existing problems that should be addressed. A site visit will give you a chance to discuss your landscape concerns and work out a care and maintenance plan that’s best for your landscape and your budget. Some important things to talk about are:
Landscape Care and Maintenance
One of the biggest advantages of professional landscaping services in Bergen County NJ is regular care and maintenance. Typically, a crew is assigned to your home on a weekly basis for landscape services including:
- Lawn mowing
- Weeding
- Border edging for driveways and walkways
- Cleaning of hardscape surfaces
- Yard cleanup in the spring
- Yard cleanup in the fall
Additional Landscape Services
In addition to regular, weekly care and maintenance, the best landscape companies also offer other valuable landscaping services including:
- Lawn and garden renovations
- Garden design
- Seasonal planting of shrubs, plants and flowers
- Seasonal pruning of trees and shrubs
- Fertilization
- Mulching
- Lawn aeration
- Organic landscape care
- Pest control
- Irrigation systems
Without the right landscaping professional, you may get basic lawn mowing and trimming services, but you’ll be missing out on so many other valuable services that are offered through a top professional.
3. Don’t Forget to Consider Your Long-Term Goals
3. Don’t Forget to Consider Your Long-Term GoalsAlthough there are many companies and individuals that provide landscaping services in Bergen County NJ, their qualifications, services and prices may vary significantly. Before you hire someone to service your property, consider your long-term landscaping goals and make sure the company that you hire can handle them.
As a homeowner, you want your landscape to be healthy and well-maintained year-round, so basic services are essential. However, what if you want to add a beautiful rose garden, a backyard pavilion, a retaining wall, a new stone patio or a swimming pool and spa? A landscaper who provides only basic lawn care can’t help you with these types of projects. A landscape professional who provides design and build services often has a background in landscape architecture and is qualified to build and install various outdoor features including:
- Driveways and outdoor walkways
- Patios and terraces
- Outdoor kitchens
- Outdoor waterfalls and fountains
- Backyard ponds
- Outdoor spas and hot tubs
- Swimming pools
- Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits
- Retaining walls
- French drains
- Landscape lighting
Although your immediate landscaping needs and budget may not include great outdoor features, it’s important to consider your long-term goals and hire a landscape professional who can help you when you’re ready. Many Northern New Jersey homeowners spend 20 to 30 years in the same home and landscape needs and goals are sure to change over time.
Best Practices for Hiring a Landscaping Service in Bergen County NJ
Best Practices for Hiring a Landscaping Service in Bergen County NJBefore you hire a landscaping service Bergen County NJ, you may want to talk to several people to compare landscape services, prices and customer service. Here are some quick, easy tips that will help you find the right landscape professional for your home.
Get and Compare Estimates
You should get a cost estimate for services from each landscape company you talk to and be sure you read them carefully. It’s important to compare the services and costs of each company to make a good decision on which one to hire. Review estimates carefully and make sure you understand the scope of all landscape care and maintenance services listed in the estimate. If things are unclear, discuss them further with the landscape provider. Be careful of any hidden costs for extra services or products that are not clear in your estimate.
When you’re reviewing cost estimates, note that cheaper is not always better. Estimates that are significantly lower could be cutting labor costs by cutting services or manpower needed for the job. Keep in mind, you usually get what you pay for! The best landscaping service in Bergen County NJ will take the time to make sure you understand your estimate.
Sign a Contract
Most professional landscape companies do have a contract for their services. A contract will protect you, as well as the landscaping company. Before you sign a contract, make sure you fully understand the services and costs that are outlined. If you have any questions, discuss them prior to signing. You’ll want to review landscape schedules, services, products and labor costs that are included in the contract. Carefully review the scheduled landscape services, the contract terms and the length of the contract. Check to see if the contract has a cancellation clause and how problems will be resolved between you and the landscaping company, should any occur.
Services and contract terms may vary between companies, but most will require some sort of retainer or deposit to begin work. If you have financial concerns, talk to the landscape service company about payment options that may be available.
Hire a Landscape Professional You Like and Trust
In addition to hiring a landscape professional who is experienced, knowledgeable and efficient, hire a company that you like and trust. It helps to have a landscape professional who shares and understands your immediate needs, as well as your long-term goals and visions for your landscape. If problems arise, you want a company that’s easily reachable and responds to the problems in a timely manner. To make your landscaping service in Bergen County NJ the best possible experience, choose a landscape professional that you like working with, communicate easily with and trust their professional advice.