Residential Landscaping

What to look for when selecting an ethical residential landscaping company:

When selecting any landscape company to do work on your next landscaping project you should select a business that:

  1. Shows you their business license and a copy of their insurance cover letter.

  2. Verify and call references.

  3. Make sure that the person overseeing your work is a Reg. Landscape Contractor. Please check their phone number and make sure it is the correct person.

  4. Ask how they handle problems and complaints.

  5. Get everything in writing. Make sure what is in the contract is actually what is going into your home. 

  6. Make sure that the estimate is in detail, with the number of plants, type and size, etc.

  7. Never be pressured into making a decision the same day.

The important thing to understand about the landscaping industry is that there is a major difference between a quality landscape job and just putting plants in the ground. In our experience of interviewing many landscaping companies, there is a tremendous amount of poor business practices in the industry. Please take your time and do the research. One of the tricks is over planting. Over planting will drive up the initial cost and the plants will be overcrowded. Overcrowding leads to plant disease, insect problems, and a very short-lived landscape.

Also, it is very important that you are able to communicate with the people working on your property. In case of changes it is wise that everyone is on the same page.

What to avoid when selecting a business in this industry:

  1. Companies that do not show you their insurance policy. If a worker is injured on your property and the landscaper is not insured you may be liable. Why take that risk?

  2. Companies that play price games. It is impossible to determine a real price over the phone; many companies will low-ball the price in order to get a high pressure sales representative into your home.

  3. Companies that will not provide you a detailed estimate. The more detailed the better. Make sure what you are actually paying for is being installed in your home. Avoid all quotes over the phone or written on business cards.

  4. Companies that apply pressure.

  5. Companies that will not let you call previous customers to serve as references. Most happy clients are happy to talk.

  6. You get what you pay for. If you want qualified and insured landscapers, you may need to pay a little more, but in most cases it is money well spent.

  7. It can not be emphasized enough to get the whole price of the job in a detailed estimate.

    After interviewing and running an extensive background check the National Association Against Consumer Fraud has awarded the following business a listing in The Business A-List:

DesignScapes

Phone (919) 844-3441

www.designscapesofnc.com

Why DesignScapes was offered the opportunity to be a Business A-List participant?

We have spent a tremendous amount of time meeting with landscape companies in the Triangle area. This is an industry where the consumer can be taken advantage of very easily, so it is important to do your research.

After meeting with Susan Downing, owner of Design Scapes, it was easy to see how serious and ethical every project no matter how small is to them. Mrs. Downing is an NCSU graduate in Landscape Horticulture and every employee is fully insured and qualified. Mrs. Downing makes sure that every project not only meets your standards of excellence, but more importantly meets hers. It was very refreshing to meet a "hands on owner" in this industry with a great track record in the community focusing solely on the consumers needs.

 
 
 

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