As the saying goes, “Your home is your castle.” It’s hard to decide who to trust with one of your most valued possessions. Whether you’re looking for a plumber, an electrician, a builder, or a landscaper, it can be a bit of a minefield. Getting it wrong can be a costly mistake. We’re here to give you a few hints and tips on how to choose the best landscaper! This should help you make a decision on choosing the right person to bring your dream garden or driveway vision to life.
“Am I being too picky?”
Is there such as thing? Head to Google and search ‘landscaping near me.’ You’re instantly blinded by pages of suggestions.
When deciding how to choose the best landscaper, it pays to do a bit of research. What to look for, what to avoid, etc. This is time well spent narrowing your list down a bit.
You’ll be spending a reasonable amount of your hard-earned with this person (or people). You need to know they are trustworthy. That they’re not going to take your money and disappear during work. Or worse still, not turn up at all.
There’s only so much research you can do, so it’s by no means a bulletproof way of knowing you won’t be ripped off but doing no research at all could be asking for trouble.
What are the characteristics of a good landscaper?
Attention to detail! One of the most important skills a landscaper should have. It’s the little things that make a good job great. Accurate measurements, straight lines, curved curves, and the tidy-up at the end are equally important. This can really make a job.
Communication is key. You know when you meet someone whether or not you’ll get along. They may be the best landscaper in the world. But, if you can’t have a conversation with each other or feel you won’t get on, then it’s not going to work. This goes both ways however so don’t be offended if they decline to quote.
If you have questions, they should explain things to you clearly and not try and pressure you.
Finally, they should be honest and feel comfortable enough to tell you what they can and can’t, will or won’t do. For example, we don’t do planting or designing. But, we’ll point you to someone we trust that can help you with this.
What should I ask a landscaper?
It’s good to have some basic knowledge about the landscaping work you’re considering, before speaking to them. Having a clear idea of the work you’d like doing, and how you intend to use your garden when it’s finished will be music to their ears! One of the most common things we see is clients not knowing what they want.
When you’re trying to decide how to choose the best landscaper, a few questions you might like to ask them are…
This may seem like a long list but they’re simple questions they should be happy to answer.
If you’re still wondering how to choose the best landscaper, here are a couple of other things to note. Get more than one quote but make sure they’re like for like in terms of products and installation methods. Insist on a written quote or estimate. A verbal one offers no protection for anyone. Your quote should include a set of terms and conditions. Yes, these aren’t the most interesting bedtime reading but it’s important to read them before agreeing to any work. They’re there to protect you both and might give you more questions to ask.
It’s also a good idea to ask if they have any questions for you.
Should I tell the landscaper my budget?
Yes! I can’t stress enough how helpful this is for both of you. It’s a question we ask on our appointment booking form now. There’s a good reason, and it’s not so we can take advantage.
We, like many landscapers, don’t currently charge for an initial visit. We didn’t always ask the question about budget but something had to give. It got to a point where we were looking at over twenty jobs a week. Each averaging half an hour. I’ll let you do the math. This is their time, that a contractor gives for free. Most small business owners don’t have much spare time. Wasted time is taking them away from doing things with family or catching up on their endless list of jobs at home!
Long story short. Half of those potential clients either had no budget or any idea of the cost involved. They couldn’t afford the work. They’d just seen Mrs. Jones down the road have some work done and wanted to find to know what she’d spent. Trust me, it happens! You can appreciate why this might be slightly annoying.
If you’ve done your homework, you’ll have a plan in mind. You’ll have some idea of the costs involved. Only you know your finances and what budget you have for the project. Sharing it with your potential landscaper will not only save you both from wasting your time, but it’ll build trust between you both. I can guarantee it’ll help with how to choose the best landscaper and they’ll appreciate your honesty and value your custom even more.
Why choose Kettlewell Groundworks for your landscaping in Bradford or Halifax and the surrounding areas?
With over 25 years in the industry, Richard and Becky began Kettlewell Groundworks in 2018. We’ve created some stunning gardens and driveways for clients across West Yorkshire. As a busy family business, with our own children and pets, we know how important it is to have a lovely, secure space to be in when you get home from a long, hard day.
Whether you want to sit back and relax with a good book, play football with the kids, or fire up the barbeque and have a few beers with your friends and family, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re trying to decide how to choose the best Landscaper, take a look at our Google reviews! We’d love to chat some more about your ideas so why not give us a call on 01274 981995?
Or, if you already know what you want, you can book an appointment here and we’ll be happy to pop out and see you.
