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Choosing Your Landscaping Contractor

April 2020
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A beautifully landscaped yard cannot only dramatically improve the appearance of your Hamilton or Burlington home, but it can also greatly increase the enjoyment you get from your property. We all know that spending time outdoors is good for us, and the right landscaping job just might help you to do more of that. But how do you choose the right landscaping contractor? This is an important question because the right contractor can make the difference in the final outcome of the project.

Before you hire a contractor, here are a few factors to consider:

1. Are they a design-build contractor, or are they a designer only?

A design-build contractor is a contractor that does both the design and execution of the landscape project. It may be one person working on both the design and build or there may be a separate designer that works for the same company. The advantage of design-build is that the work is seamless. There is no need to coordinate schedules of multiple contractors and/or sub-contractors.

That’s not to say that you can’t work with someone who is a designer only, but if you do, you will want to pay attention to who they work alongside to ensure the vision gets completed as planned.

2. Does the contractor own or rent their equipment?

For the most part, landscape contractors do own the equipment that they use regularly. A landscape contractor who rents their equipment is most likely doing landscape work as a side gig, or they are a newer, less established business. Renting rather than owning may also sometimes be a clue that the contractor is not yet fully committed to the business.

Whether the contractor owns or rents their equipment, however, you also want to ensure that the equipment that they do have is suitable for the job. Otherwise, you could be paying for a lot of extra hours that are being put in because the contractor doesn’t have the right equipment to get the job done efficiently.

3. What kind of warranties does the contractor offer?

You probably wouldn’t purchase a new TV or computer that didn’t come with a warranty, and yet many people don’t often think about the warranties within their landscaping contracts. When you get a quote from a potential landscaping contractor in Hamilton or Burlington, that quote should include what is covered by their warranty. Softscape and hardscape warranties should be separate and have different scopes. For example, trees and perennials might have a one-year warranty, and a new deck installation or stone pavers might have a warranty of two years or more.

If you are considering a landscaping project for your Hamilton or Burlington home this year, it all starts with finding the right contractor for the job. At Envision Landscapes, we are a design-build landscaper, and we will work with you to design a space that aligns with your vision and your budget. Contact us today for a consultation and a quote.