What You Should Look for in a Landscaper

When it comes to living in a home, for most people, enjoying their front and backyards is crucial Especially if a family has made a substantial investment in where they’re going to be spending time with their friends, families, relaxing, and often working, enjoying the aesthetics of how their home looks on the outside can be extremely important. After all, who doesn’t want to enjoy sipping a drink in their beautiful backyard at the end of a long day? Or welcoming guests to their home with a gorgeous first impressions at the front of the house?

Often, creating an outdoor environment homeowners love starts with the right landscaper. Between the initial yard design and the maintenance that it takes to keep an outdoor space looking its best, a landscaper may spend a substantial amount speaking with a homeowner, building a relationship, and coming back (often with their crew) to get things done. For this reason, it’s incredibly important that a homeowner chooses the right landscaper for them.

But what exactly should you look for when it comes to a great landscaper? And how do you know that they’re a great fit for you?

1. They Do What They Say They’ll Do
   Promises are easy to make, but it’s actions that can truly make the difference between a mediocre and amazing landscaper. Whether you’re just looking for someone to maintain some landscaping that’s already been completed, or you want a completely new look, it’s important that you’re working with a landscaper that quotes you correctly, follows up when they say they will, and that provides the resources/information they say they’ll deliver on. It can be easy to offer up going the extra mile in the moment, but the follow through is critical. In part, this simply boils down to having good customer service. And, like any other industry, this can be key.
   

2. They’re Consistent
   There’s nothing worse than falling in love with someone’s work the first few times, only to find that they’re completely underperforming thereafter. Likewise, you don’t want to find yourself in the middle of a project, completely unable to get in touch of your landscaper the way you could when they first began working with you. Consistency is extremely important when it comes to finding the right landscaper, for a number of reasons. Chief among them? Because you want to be able to count on them to get the job done to the best of their ability on day 300 as much as you could on day one.
   

3. They’re Experienced in the Type of Landscape You Like
   Just like everyone has their own taste in houses, people have their own individual tastes when it comes to their front and backyards. Do your research to find someone who has created and maintained landscape designs that really resonate with you. This means looking at their own portfolios, galleries, etc. to see their work with your own eyes. Especially in the beginning, if you love what they do, you’ll know that the ability to make your vision a reality, truly in the way you’re imagining it, is something within their capabilities (and something they’ve accomplished before).
   

4. They Come with Great Referrals
   Just like seeing previous work is a must, it’s also extremely important that your landscaper come with fantastic referrals. Look up Yelp reviews, talk to neighbors you know have worked with them, and Google the company name to get a peek into what it’s like to work with them. You’re hiring a company that will hold an important role in keeping your home looking its best— make sure that it’s one that you can trust.
   

5. They Over Communicate
   There is nothing worse than feeling like, if you’re not on top of every detail, your project or maintenance is going to fall apart. While it’s obviously important that you’re extremely involved in how your yard is designed or maintained, it’s also huge for you to be able to trust that your landscaper will make communicating with you a priority. What does this look like? Being proactive at reaching out to you about pricing, communicating quotes and deadlines in a timely manner, being available whenever you have questions (or following up promptly if they’re not), and sharing important details that will help you to make the best decisions possible for your home.

At the end of the day, one of the most important parts of finding the right landscaper comes down to your preference. Do they design in a way that resonates with you? Do they have a track record that you’re comfortable with? Have they spent the time communicating with you in a way that makes you feel listened to and your vision understood?

One of the best ways to find someone who checks all of these boxes, and more, is to ask around. Between friends, family and coworkers, amazing landscapers are often highly recommended. So, remember to go in armed with the right questions, do your own research, and ask the questions you need to in order to make a decision you’re comfortable with. That way, you’ll not only enjoy your working relationship with the company you choose, you’ll also have a front and/or backyard that you absolutely love.