Seven Important Questions you Must Ask when Hiring a Landscape Contractor and Your Ferguson Landscape Service Guarantee Choosing a landscape contractor can be a daunting task. There are so many contractors hustling for business.  On the surface, they may all appear to be pretty much the same.  But often times by simply digging a little bit deeper and knowing what to look for, you'll be much better prepared to make the right decision. Asking the following questions before you hire your next contractor can save you time and money. o Is the company properly licensed and insured? o Are quoted prices fixed or just cost estimates? o Will you be able to talk to other clients who have used the contractor for a project similar in size and nature to that of your own?  o How are the company’s employees trained? And, are there certified professionals overseeing their jobs? o What will be your line of communication with the company while your project is underway? o Will the company be able to provide you with ongoing maintenance for your project? o What type of guarantees will the company offer on your project? (Find Our Guarantee toward the end of this page) Question #1:  Is the company properly licensed and insured? The first seemingly obvious thing to consider when hiring any contractor is their license and insurance.  We all know that, right?  Just looking in the Yellow Pages makes that quite apparent.  In fact, considering all the ads starting with huge bold headlines reading "licensed and insured", that's certainly something a lot of contractors are proud of. Let's talk about licensing first. Sure, you want to hire a contractor that's licensed.  But what does that really mean?  Through countless conversations with prospects and clients over the years, I've discovered that most people really aren't even aware of the different licenses that landscape contractors are required to have - much less whether or not they have them. Did you know that there are actually four licenses that contractors in Maryland may be required to carry? 1. Business Privilege License 2. Contractors License (MHIC) 3. Pesticide License (for chemical applications) 4. Low Voltage License (if working on your irrigation or lighting) Now I'm not an attorney and I'm certainly not qualified to give you legal advice.  However, any company working on your property without the proper licenses could present a potential liability issue for you. And certainly you'll want to hire a company that is insured.  You may always ask for certificates of insurance for liability and worker compensation coverage.  It's also a good practice to verify those certificates with the insurance company and ask to be named as an "additional insured". Question #2:  Are quoted prices fixed or just cost estimates? A low price can often be presented in the form of an "estimate".  Always be cautious of these.  Instead, insist on a firm proposal which details the service to be provided and sets forth fixed pricing for those services.  Unless a significant amount of excavation is involved, an experienced contractor should not have a problem with this type arrangement. It's no secret - professional Landscape Contractor's base their pricing on four basic factors: labor, equipment, materials and profit.  However, there are also overhead costs that you may not realize.  Things like employee uniforms, the employee training programs that we mentioned, and many other expenses that go into bringing you a high level of service.  If you expect a professional company with great quality and great customer service, then it's unlikely you'll be happy with a Contractor offering the lowest or "rock-bottom" pricing. Keep this in mind when comparing prices and proposals.  Quite often what appears to be the low price can be deceiving.  It is critical for you to clarify and understand exactly what's included and what's required to achieve your desired outcome. Once you are comfortable with a proposal, you'll want get a signed contract that will legally document the terms and scope of work agreed upon by both parties. Question #3:  Will you be able to talk to other clients who have used the contractor for a project similar in size and nature to that of your own?  Any contractor can make comments regarding their company practices and the quality of their work.  Unfortunately, some of what they say may not be completely accurate. Established companies will be able to offer you plenty of testimonials and references from current AND past clients - if they cannot, then it are probably a good idea to keep looking. It's important to personally contact a few of those references, and if possible to get out and take a look at their properties. Be sure and ask for references from other customers whose properties are similar in size and scope of work to that of your own.  A contractor who specializes in landscape maintenance and has a great reputation in that regard may not be your best choice for a comprehensive landscape installation project.  When gathering feedback from other customers' make certain you ask about the level of communication offered by the contractor, their reliability and overall quality of work, and if their project was finished on time and within budget. Question #4:  How are the company’s employees trained? And, are there certified professionals overseeing their jobs? For any company to operate efficiently and effectively and provide you with professional service, all employees should be properly trained.  And, proper crew training is more difficult than it may sound.  A formal introductory and ongoing training program has become common place in our industry today.  Inquire into the details of how the employees working on your property are trained.  Many landscapers today claim certifications.  Most state and local landscape associations offer various levels of training and several different designations.  Certification is often a sign of professionalism and should instill confidence in you.  However, take the time to explore the various certifications boasted by the contractors you encounter.  They are certainly not all created equal. Question #5:  What will be your line of communication with the company while your project is underway? As with any relationship, an open line of communication is critical to a successful relationship with your landscape contractor. The ability to effectively communicate with the crew that is working at your property is essential should unexpected circumstances arise. Should you hire a larger company, it's highly unlikely that the person that comes to your property to present you with a proposal will be the same person you will see supervising the crews at your property.  That being said, a crew leader (or foreman) will be the individual in charge of what transpires on a daily basis. Be certain to ask any landscaping salesperson about communications and who your point of contact within the company will be. This way, should any problems arise you'll be in the best position to handle any issues that may come up. A professional company should report to you the progress of your project on a regular basis. This is usually done verbally but written progress reports are sometimes used. Question #6:  Will the company be able to provide you with ongoing maintenance for your project? The first year for any newly planted landscaping is critical in determining long term success.  For trees and shrubs to flourish over the long term, they must be established properly.  This will typically occur over the course of the first year.  Proper watering and maintenance is more important during this establishment period. It's a good idea to explore the possibilities of contracting with the same company who performs your installation to maintain their work.  Many companies will guarantee the health and vigor of any plant material they install for the first year.  And, a few contractors will even extend that guarantee for so long as they maintain the property.  That leads us right into the final question you should ask… Question #7:  What type of guarantees will the company offer on your project? Any company should be fully accountable for their performance on your property, and plantings or other product they install, and for the way that you are treated as a client.  This seems fairly straightforward, right?  However, not all landscape contractors offer a guarantee - and if they do, they're certainly not all created equal. Here at Ferguson Landscape Services we offer the following guarantees to our clients: Hardscapes (retaining walls, patios, walkways): Three-Year Labor-free Warranty on the base installation. Your hardscapes are guaranteed to stay level and stable; no sinking or buckling. Plant Survival: One-year Labor-free Warranty. One time replacement of any tree or shrub which becomes 25% or more dead, all we ask is that you follow our Watering Guidelines to help ensure success!  Further, Ferguson Landscape Service ensures our clients that they will: i. Our staff will treat you with respect.  And each employee will be in uniform and professionally trained to perform his or her assigned tasks on your property. ii. We will promptly correct any aspect of our work that is unsatisfactory to you. iii. Your job site will be left neat, clean and safe each and everyday. iv. Our trucks will clean and identifiable, and will not detract from the appearance of your neighborhood. v. We will be there when we say we will and we will do what we promise to do. vi. You will receive accurate and detailed invoices for each phase of your project and any additional work or changes which you have approved. vii. You will be completley satisfied with all aspects of the work we do for you. With the Ferguson Landscape Service Guarantee our customers receive the utmost respect and courtesy in their relationship with us. It also guarantees your satisfaction with everything that we do. Our clients experience a rare level of confidence through our commitments to them.  In fact, you'll experience that same sense of confidence and security when you know exactly what to expect. Put Ferguson Landscape Services to the test. Give us a call at 443-220-6706 or email at fergusonlandscapeservice@comcast.net