Landscape Construction Contractor

Let the landscape contractor do the heavy lifting

Are you thinking about making some significant changes to your home's landscape? Though many homeowners enjoy getting out in the yard and doing routine maintenance and gardening, most are not prepared for the amount of backbreaking labor involved in the structural design, excavation, and construction that's required.

That said, making substantial changes can net big rewards down the line. Working with a landscape contractor, you can design for sustainability, take advantage of native plants, reduce water usage, and add beauty and color as well as curb appeal.

Whether your goal is please yourself or attract a buyer, hiring a landscape contractor requires doing your homework. In addition to requesting references and copies of all state-mandated licensing and insurance, read the contract agreement carefully. Ask questions about anything you don't understand or that seems unclear. Qualify the contractor further by finding out:

• Who will supervise the work? Will you have an opportunity to meet with the project supervisor before work begins?
• Will the people doing the work be company employees or subcontractors?
• How should problem resolution be handled to make sure issues are resolved quickly without complications?

All schedules including project timelines and payment dates should be described clearly in the contract.

When projects go awry, it's usually the result of poor communication. Once you establish clear channels of communication, your project is likely to proceed well through to completion.