If you own a home or commercial property, you’ll know just how vital good landscaping can be. In fact, spending as little as 5% of your home’s value on landscaping may translate to an ROI of up to 150% at selling time. But just as excellent landscaping can significantly increase your property’s value, bad landscaping can make it tough for you to raise or even maintain this value. And while personal preferences are subjective, there are certain things no reputable landscaping company should ever do.
Of course, it helps to spot the signs of bad landscapers before they ever touch your property. But how can you recognize whether a Plano landscaping company will produce great results or whether they’ll end up doing more harm than good? If any of these red flags come up during your search, you’ll want to move on and continue looking for landscapers who can truly bring your unique landscape design ideas to life.
Bad Reviews
In today’s digital world, it’s easier than ever for homeowners to learn about their landscaping company. Word-of-mouth recommendations are still important, but there’s a lot you can learn from complete strangers online. Be sure to conduct an internet search on your landscapers to find out more about their reputation, the results produced for clients, and the overall customer experience. One bad review might not indicate a major problem, as it could be chalked up to a disgruntled and difficult customer. However, if you start to see more negative reviews than positive ones — or you don’t see any reviews at all — you’ll want to keep looking.
Poor Communication
Your landscaping company needn’t be at your beck and call 24/7 to transform your yard in the way you’ve envisioned. But if you can’t seem to get ahold of anyone in the office (either via phone or email) or you’re kept waiting for hours when an appointment has been scheduled, you probably shouldn’t waste much more of your time on the company in question. Keep in mind that if you’re experiencing communication issues before the project even begins, conditions aren’t likely to improve once you’ve officially hired this landscaping provider. Whether these problems are due to too many clients and too few workers or an inability to follow through, you’ll want to work with someone who can give your landscaping project the attention it deserves.
Negative Attitudes
Keep in mind that there’s more to hiring a landscaping company than assessing whether they’re capable of doing the job you have in mind. In many cases, you’ll want to make sure that this working relationship will be a good fit. For example, a landscaping contractor who is unprofessional and gruff or who won’t let you get a word in edgewise may not be the best option if you want your vision to be carried out as you see fit. Likewise, a landscaping company that refuses to produce proof of licensure and insurance coverage or who pressures you into making rash decisions should be avoided. Remember that it’s not all about ability or price; you’ll want to work with landscapers who prioritize the client experience, too.
With these considerations in mind, you should be able to recognize the signs of a bad landscaping company. Once you eliminate those possibilities from your list, you can narrow down your selection to landscapers who will add value to your property andmake the landscaping process as stress-free as possible. For more information on how we can turn your landscape ideas into a reality, please contact us today.