Harnett County Center

CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.

FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON FOR YOUR LANDSCAPING JOB, 1/2/98

Sometimes it is necessary to hire someone for large jobs, such as pruning or removing trees, or a major landscaping project. Where large sums of money are involved, you want to be sure that it is money well-spent.

DO SOME RESEARCH

Be prepared to invest some time in selecting the right person or company. A good place to start would be to ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. If that does not turn up enough leads, the phone book is always a good resource.

Big jobs like these require a high level of technical expertise. But how do you determine if the person you want to hire is up to the task? One helpful guide is to look for professional certification.

For example, the International Society of Arboriculture has a "Certified Arborist" program. Those who receive this certification must meet certain educational requirements, and also participate in ongoing training.

It is also a good idea to ask for references. In the case of landscaping, visit the sites of some of their previous jobs so you can judge for yourself the quality of their work.

VERIFY INSURANCE

Now for the most important point. Whomever you hire should be fully licensed and insured. This is for your own protection. There will be people on your property performing potentially dangerous work with powerful equipment.

There are two types of important insurance. The first protects your property in the event that they do any accidental damage (e.g. the tree falls through a window). The second protects their workers should they get injured. The company you hire should carry both types of insurance, and you should ask for verification before you sign a contract or allow them to start working.

GET AN ESTIMATE

Try to identify two or three possible companies. Ask each of them to provide you with a written cost estimate. If they will not provide you with a free estimate, cross them off the list. Be sure that the estimate specifies exactly what is included in the price. Otherwise, you may be comparing apples to oranges and not realize it.

For example, three different tree services may provide dramatically different prices for removing a tree. But one may include stump removal while the other does not. If possible, provide each company with precise details on what you expect to be done.

CONTRACTS AND PAYMENT

In the case of very large jobs, a contract is certainly advisable. At a minimum, the contract should state precisely what work is to be performed, as well as a completion date. You might want to specify certain penalties if the work is not completed according to schedule. Guarantees, if any, should be clearly spelled out. The contract should also specify the payment schedule. Consult with a lawyer for more details on contracts.

Never pay the full amount up front. For small jobs, payment is normally made when the work is completed. For large jobs, you may be required to pay a portion of the cost up front to cover expenses, and then additional payments as portions of the work are completed. But the final payment should not be made until the work is fully completed. And this final payment should be a significant portion of the total (perhaps 25 to 50 percent).

By taking these precautions, you are more likely to end up a satisfied customer, ready to recommend the company to a friend or neighbor. Back to Plant Talk Index

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