One of the greatest pleasures of homeownership is making it your own, both inside and out. If you are really invested in making your yard your own, some of the best advice you can get is to call a professional landscape contractor.
Picking a landscape contractor isn’t just about price. Yes, cost is an important factor to take into consideration when planning your landscape project but it isn’t and shouldn’t be the only one. When shopping for a contractor it’s important to make sure that they’re licensed by the state in which they operate, bonded and fully insured. This way if there are any mishaps you, as a consumer, have recourse.
Another great idea is cruise the internet and check out your candidates. Most will have their own web pages. Yes, they will be "tooting their own horns" on their web site but there are ways to check them out and be objective. Look at their before and after photos, read their customer reviews (if they have any) and check out their experience. How many years have they been in business? What caliber of jobs have they done? Do they have experience with ALL facets of landscaping or do they just mow lawns.
Now that you are down to one or two candidates, be sure to check out independent reviews from services like Yelp, Google or Angie's List. Are they accredited with the Better Business Bureau? Make sure they have no complaints and have a superior rating. Ask people. Landscape Contractors that are worth their salt, have quality reputations. Ask around and see if you know of anyone who has used them before.
And finally, don’t discount your gut feelings. Your emotional responses to a potential contractor can spell the difference between a great working experience and a potential disaster.