By Randy Hutchinson
President of the BBB of the Mid-South
Reprinted from The Commercial Appeal
Lawn care companies generally fall into three categories – lawn maintenance, landscaping, and irrigation systems. Some companies offer more than one service while others specialize. Many are reputable and competent, but some don’t deliver on their promises and may even leave your property worse off than it was before they arrived.
One local consumer filed a complaint with the BBB about a landscape company saying “they cut down branches off a tree in my yard. While doing so, they dropped a branch on my fence causing $704 worth of damage to it.” When she complained to the company, one of the owners “verbally harassed me.”
Another consumer complained that his landscaper’s equipment destroyed a gate pillar and damaged his driveway. A third closed his complaint saying “This company is a SCAM!!!!!!!!!” (he included many more exclamation marks).
These were three different companies. The first one had no record with the BBB, which is a red flag for this kind of business, and the other two already had a bad record for mistreating other customers. Apparently the latter two customers, one of whom paid the company $4,200 up front, for sure never checked with the BBB.
There are many things that your lawn might need depending on the season. This includes pH testing, aerating the soil, fertilization, filling in bald spots, trimming overgrowth, and planting seasonal flowers and plants. Depending on the size of the job and where you live, a landscape contractor might need a license.
Get recommendations from friends and neighbors with lawns you admire. Check out a lawn care, landscape, or irrigation system company with the BBB to see what their complaint history is (if any), read any reviews that have been posted by other customers, and see if they’re a BBB Accredited Business. If you don’t have a specific company in mind or the one you do has a bad or no record, we can provide a list of BBB Accredited Businesses that can do the job.
Have a clear scope of work before asking for estimates. This includes defining the area to work on and what you want done. When getting bids, don’t compare apples to oranges. Make sure that each business has included the same services. If you’re hiring a company to maintain your lawn, ask for a lawn inspection. Services that quote a price without seeing your lawn cannot be sure what your lawn might need.
If your project involves plantings, inquire about the types of plants, trees, and materials the landscaper plans to use. Ensure they’re suitable for your climate and preferences.
I don’t know much about trees and didn’t realize that a small one planted right up against my house when it was built would eventually grow so tall as to overpower the house.
Ask about their training, qualifications, and other certifications related to landscaping or horticulture. Verify any required licenses; the BBB does that for BBB Accredited Businesses.
Get everything in writing and read all agreements. Some consumers aren’t aware that maintenance contracts can be open-ended, meaning they renew until the client specifically terminates. Every statement my lawn care company sends me reminds of that so I’ll never be surprised. Be sure you understand how and when you need to provide notice of termination.