Top 10 Tips to Ultimate Satisfaction when Researching a Cincinnati Landscaping Company to Beautify your Home

Choosing a Cincinnati Landscaping Company to design and install your dream landscape is a decision that you will be living with for many years.

Unfortunately, many homeowners spend more time researching which flat-screen TV or cell phone they plan on buying than they do on choosing a landscaper for a project that will likely cost thousands of dollars. On top of that, they it is an investment they will have to live with for years to come.

If you just take a bit of time and follow these steps, the odds of your total satisfaction with your choice of a Cincinnati landscaping company and the work they do is almost guaranteed. This is the first in a series of articles that will guide you through the critical steps of hiring a qualified landscape contractor.

1. Research Cincinnati landscapers in advance. Ask neighbors, co-workers, relatives, realtors, the local Chamber of Commerce, local nurseries, garden stores, home builders and other contractors who may have experience with landscapers. If you go to Homerama and like certain landscapes, find out who did the work. In March, you can visit the Home and Garden Show. Check the Better Business Bureau.

2. Check local county clerk of courts web sites for liens against the company. If they haven't paid suppliers or are way behind on payments, it could mean problems for you.

3. Narrow your list down to three to five companies you want to have bid on the project. Contact each one to let them know about your project. Take note of how polite they are on the phone, the types of questions they ask, how quickly they return your calls and the types of questions they ask about your job.

When they arrive to bid on the project, note how professional they are. Are they neat, professionally dressed with a nice portfolio of past projects? Is there car or truck clean and professional? Do you like them?

4. Describe your project. State your budget, expectations and the date you would like the project to be completed by. Ask for references, including name, address and phone number of the references. Ask if the quote is a fixed price or an estimate.

5. Contact a few references of each company and ask if you can visit to see the work that was done. Find out their satisfaction with the company and the work that was done. Ask about the work crew. Were they polite and professional? Was the job finished on schedule and budget?

6. Ask about warranties on nursery stock (plants), where do they buy the stock and materials or do they have their own nursery? You should insist on some type of guarantee on plants and materials.

7. Find out if they plan to hire subcontractors for your job. If they do, you may need to research the "subs."

8. Get proof of insurance and licensing. At minimum, they'll need workmen's compensation and business liability insurance. Ohio requires a Nursery Dealers Certificate to sell nursery stock. They need a Federal Tax ID to prove they're a registered business. If they need to apply pesticides, an Ohio Applicator's License is required.

9. Get a sample contract from each bidder to compare their general policies and procedures. If your job is very expensive, you may wish to have an attorney review the contract before you sign. Understand the payment schedule and be sure you are comfortable with it. If they buy materials from other companies, you want proof your money is used to pay them

10. Get a clear and detailed schedule for every element of the job from plans to cleanup. If weather becomes an issue, how will your job be affected?

Researching and getting answers to these questions will take some time but will pay back many times. Remember that you are the customer and that you are selecting a "partner" to help you beautify your home. It's a decision you will live with for years to come. Good luck with your project!