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Buyer Beware! -Do Your Research Before Hiring a Landscape Contractor Or Designer

3/1/2019

25 Comments

 
Tussey Landscaping - Landscape Design - Altoona PA
So you have been saving pictures you find online or in a catalog for months, or maybe even years, and now you are browsing the internet trying to decide who to hire. How on earth are you supposed to make a decision? You may have talked to several contractors, why was the one contractor's estimate so high priced? And the other is so low you wonder how they could possibly do it for that budget? What about finding a contractor in the middle somewhere?

Stick around and read on. We'll offer some pointers on things you can do to double check and make sure you are hiring a respectable trustworthy contractor. ​

Actionable Steps You Should Take With Any Company You Consider Hiring:
  1. When reaching out to your contractor, you should always ask to see past work they have done, and go see those projects in person. (Pictures can be deceiving)  
  2. Ask for referrals, and then talk with those referrals and ask them how they felt about the project done for them by the contractor. Was the company professional and knowledgable? Was their work built to last? Did they complete the project in a timely manner? Did they have a list of upcharges at the end of the project that the homeowner had no idea about and was not communicated at the beginning of the project? Was the craftsmanship of their work satisfactory to you? All of these questions can be very revealing of the way a company does business.
  3. Ask what kind of guarantee or warranty they provide on their work.
  4. Are they certified in their industry? Such as an ICPI or NCMA certification for hardscapes. Or an Aquascape certification for water features.
  5. Educate yourself on what things cost. You want to know if the pricing is too low or too high. Is there such a thing as too low? Remember, the cost of cheap; is usually expensive in the long run. Especially so with outdoor living space projects. Once you have a project installed, and it hasn't been done correctly, you suddenly have a very expensive problem to fix. Often homeowners that got burned this way; spend twice as much as they would have spent on the "high" priced quote to have a quality job done the first time; by the time they rectify the problem with the incorrectly installed project.  
Failed Retaining Wall Being Repaired Bedford PA
A failed retaining wall being repaired.
Buyer Beware before hiring a landscape contractor
This is a classic example of what happens when improper construction techniques are used. One small mistake led to the unfortunate demise of this entire project. Don't let that happen to you! (Note: it took about 5 years after it was built for this problem to appear)
The above pointers are our best effort to give you all the things that you should consider in the process of hiring a landscape company. Our goal is to do our best to provide you with the information you need to know and consider, and the possible consequences of those choices, and then stand back and give you the freedom to make your decision. No pressure. So many people find this process overwhelming, others just call their buddy's friend who does landscaping and have them come over and do the project, and still others simply hire the lowest bid.

We've run into situations where the homeowner got 3 different bids on a project, one of them being ours. The lowest bid was literally 10 times less than ours. That homeowner later confided in us that as he considered these different bids, he decided there is no way possible that the lowest bid could accomplish his goal. (It would not even have covered 1/4 of the material costs, let alone the labor and equipment costs.)

This particular homeowner had had some experience in hiring contractors, he'd done it before, and understood what happens when something is "too good to be true" For instance, just a few blocks away, another homeowner had hired a company to do a large backyard project. That second homeowner spent 6 digits on a large outdoor living space project with this first company. But... 2 years later problems began surfacing. They brought in an expert from the product manufacturer, and discovered the entire project was failing due to improper construction. This homowner ended up spending 3 times what he originally had with the lower priced company to remove all the incorrectly installed product, and re-install his dream outdoor living space. Today, over ten years later, that outdoor living space is still functioning as intended and is more beautiful than ever. 

I just went off on that storytelling venture, simply to try to offer information and perspective as what can happen in the real world. The information is yours to digest and choose a way forward for your project. We understand, we are not a good fit for every customer, and every project. And that's ok. But regardless, we still want you to succeed with your vision for your backyard, and want to protect all of you from expensive regrets. 

Good luck with your project, and as always, we are always available to discuss and answer any questions you may have. You can easily message us on our Facebook page as well if you'd rather.

​Cheers!

 Weston Zimmerman

Weston has been working at Tussey since 2007, starting as a laborer on the crews. Today he works as a foreman on one of the crews during the landscaping season, as well as our marketing director at Tussey. He enjoys building natural water features and filming and producing video content. Check out Tussey's Youtube channel to see some of his work. 

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25 Comments
Trevor Wanderlusting link
1/24/2021 09:33:25 pm

Awesome blog you have heere

Reply
Chance Cook link
7/28/2021 08:14:37 am

I love the idea of seeing a landscaper's past work in person. This would allow me to ask questions to fully understand what I should do in my backyard. There is no way I could design any of the things I have in my head on my own.

Reply
Charlotte Fleet link
8/17/2021 04:21:59 pm

My parents want to hire landscape services for their property to make it look presentable this fall. I love how you suggest asking potential landscapers for references and asking those contacts about how they liked their services. I will have my mom and dad get references to contact from any potential landscaping services so they can find the perfect one for their home.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
4/21/2022 11:10:23 pm

It was interesting to know that landscaping contractor also offers a warranty on their work. My mother wants to ensure that our landscape is always presentable. I should tell her to hire a landscaping contractor that provides warranty for their work.

Reply
hardscape near me link
4/27/2022 11:28:02 am

True! Probably do some research and read reviews. Because not all service provider can actually meet your eyes.

Reply
Landscaping Services Fort Collins link
5/27/2022 02:22:54 pm

Thank you for sharing this information.

Reply
Mike Anderson link
7/1/2022 11:34:44 am

You can create the backyard oasis of your dreams, boost curb appeal and improve property value.

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8/4/2022 04:42:41 am

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8/4/2022 04:43:20 am

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Jessie Holloway link
9/2/2022 12:34:13 pm

Thanks so much for the tips to know when hiring a landscaper. My sister wants to put a garden and outdoor lounging space in her backyard and is looking to hire a landscaper to help her build and prepare for it. Knowing the types of warranties and the quality of work they do will be a big factor when choosing a contractor.

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Eli Richardson link
11/1/2022 11:58:58 am

It's helpful to know what we'd do to make sure we're hiring a professional landscaping company. I have an uncle who wants to improve his house's exterior before advertising it next month, so I believe he'll hire a landscaping professional to help with his front and back yards, and your article could help out with the hiring process. Thanks for the insight on reliable landscape contractors and how they should provide a warranty for their job.

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11/2/2022 10:37:30 am

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11/4/2022 09:06:37 am

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11/6/2022 04:41:01 am

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Braden Bills link
12/12/2022 09:34:11 am

I want to make sure that I get my landscape designed, but I'm not sure how to do that kind of thing. It makes sense that I would want to get a landscaping specialist to help me out with this kind of thing! I'll be sure to find one that has good reviews so that I can rely on them.

Reply
landscapingkamloops.com/snow-removal-Kamloops link
12/18/2022 04:37:15 am

I suggest looking at the top listings on Google Maps since those were the trusted ones. You can call for an appointment and even get a free quote.

Reply
Website Designer Edmonton link
2/4/2023 11:49:15 pm

Thank you for your helpful recommendations and tips in choosing the right landscape contractor. I hope my future landscaping project would be a success.

Reply
sell my house fast wichita falls link
2/8/2023 03:48:14 am

Seeing the previous work of a contractor is indeed important to determine the quality of their service. Make sure to be careful always in choosing.

Reply
hydrovac excavation Amarillo, TX link
3/17/2023 12:37:21 pm

I agree with this. It's really important to do your research first before hiring a landscaping contractor.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
3/20/2023 12:20:18 pm

Thanks so much for talking about the importance of talking to past clients of a contractor so you can gauge how they work and what their projects look like after they're done. My sister wants to create a more garden feel in her backyard and she's been thinking about adding more plants and pathways around the place. We'll have to look into finding a landscaper with experience who can help her decide how best to lay things out.

Reply
Daisy James link
3/20/2023 02:15:08 pm

It was helpful when you said to look at their past work. My husband was talking about how he wants to hire a landscaper for his office building within the next couple of months so that his office building can look nicer to his clients. I'll pass this information along to him so he can know how to find a good landscape contractor for his business.

Reply
landscapers in Edmonton link
3/22/2023 08:12:07 am

If you need the services of a landscaper or landscape artist, you can find some excellent options in the linked directory. The need for careful investigation and screening of prospective vendors is emphasized. The article offers a checklist of important considerations, such as a contractor's track record, reputation, and testimonials from previous clients.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    WESTON ZIMMERMAN

    Weston has been working at Tussey since 2007, starting as a laborer on the crews. Today he works as a foreman on one of the crews during the landscaping season, as well as our marketing director at Tussey.

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  • Services
    • Start A Conversation
    • Design >
      • Tussey Designs
      • Outdoor Living
      • Landscape Design
    • Outdoor Audio
    • Swimming Pools
    • Water Gardens >
      • Premiere Water Feature Collection >
        • Premiere Collection Ponds
        • Premiere Collection Waterfalls
        • Premiere Collection Bubbling Rocks
      • Simplicity Series Entry Level Ponds >
        • Simplicity Series Ponds
        • Simplicity Series Waterfalls
        • Simplicity Series Fountains
        • Simplicity Series Ponds
      • Ponds
      • Pondless Waterfalls and Streams
      • Bubbling Rocks
      • Fountains
    • Water Feature Maintenance >
      • Spring Services
      • Fall Services
      • Maintenance Programs >
        • Premiere Care
        • Water Quality Maint
        • Sign-Up
      • Pond Maintenance
      • Pond Repair
    • Landscapes
    • Hardscapes >
      • Hardscaping
      • Paving Stones
      • Permeable Pavers
      • Outdoor Kitchens
      • Outdoor Firepits
      • Outdoor Fireplaces
    • Pergolas & Pavilions
    • LED Outdoor Lighting
    • Go Green >
      • The Green Industry
      • Plant a Tree
      • Using Native Plants
      • Rain Water Harvesting
      • Low Voltage Lighting
      • Permeable Pavers
  • Portfolio
    • Project Showcase
    • Searchable Photo Gallery
    • Public Landscape Displays
    • Video Gallery >
      • Our Latest Videos
      • Greg Wittstock The Pond Guy Videos
      • Testimonials Video Gallery
      • Informative Videos
      • Project Timelapse Videos
      • Project Videos
      • Aquascape Videos
      • Annual Showcase Videos
    • Photo Gallery
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    • Project Planner | Pricing
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    • About Us
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