If you have a considerably big garden then you definitely would want to have it landscaped to enhance its natural beauty or add to its existing glamor. But for most people, whenever they hear the words landscaping and landscape design, they immediately associate it with the rich and the famous, with grand gardens that are as big as parks. But no matter what the size of your garden may be, it will surely benefit from a professional landscaping service.
Landscaping your home is no doubt a very big task that often you find it hard to even know how to begin. If you are going to do it all by yourself, you can easily run out of landscape design ideas before you even get started with the actual work. That is why it is often to your benefit to just hire a landscape contractor, at least to help you with thinking of the best approach to landscaping your garden or home.
Therefore in choosing the best landscaping service, you will have to ask some questions and do some research as well. Because not only will you be spending a considerable amount of your money on that service, but that the beauty of your garden will be affected as well.
1. How long have you been in business?
Experience counts a lot in the landscaping business. Ask your potential landscaper how many years has he been doing this kind of job. Usually a decade of experience is more than enough to give your trust on that specific contractor.
2. Can I look at your portfolio?
A good landscaper should be keeping a portfolio of his previous jobs. These are usually photos of the homes and gardens he had performed his landscaping services. Although pictures can tell a thousand things about the real project, it is often enough to gauge the capabilities of the landscaper.
3. Can I contact your previous clients?
Again, a confident landscaper should have no inhibitions in giving you the contact details of his former clients. You should do this so that you can get a first hand testimonial from people who have hired him. While it is expected that he will give you the clients that he had satisfactorily served, you can still gain a lot of insight by talking to these people.
4. How long will you think it will take to finish the job?
There are two things why this is an important question. One is to know how long it will take the contractor to complete the landscaping project so you will know how much you will be paying him. That is if he is on an hourly basis of payment. Two is for you to prepare your home for the rigorous tasks of landscaping a garden and a greater part of your house.
5. Can you provide me with a detailed quotation?
You must understand from the very beginning how much you will be spending for that landscaping service. This is so that you will not go over your budget and spend on otherwise unnecessary expenses. The worst thing that could happen is that for you to run out of money in the middle of the landscaping work.
