Landscape Planning Guide

by Rick MacRoy, owner of Landscape Creations

Mistake #1: Not checking out contractor qualifications —

How to avoid this common mistake —
Discuss these points with your landscaping contractor:

Do they have the creative and functional ability to design and plan your landscaping?
Do they have years of experience specific in hardscape and plant installation?
Are they licensed, bonded and insured?
Are they listed with Angie’s List or the Better Business Bureau. Do they have respectable ratings?
Do they belong to trade associations?
Do they have the sufficient equipment and labor to handle the job?

Discuss these points to avoid this common mistake —
Does your landscape contractor:

Offer a professional on-site consultation?
Provide a sketch or scaled drawing indicating proposed work?
Charge a fee for the sketch or scaled drawing?
Is the proposed work a written contract (proposal) with specific description(s) and line costing detail?
Does the proposal indicate a deposit (beware of large deposit requests), specific payment terms, start and completion dates?
Is the proposal ‘work’ and ‘materials’ specific?
Do you know exactly what you are paying for?
Are you aware of ‘work’ specifications and the type and quantity of ‘materials’?
Are these specifications in writing?
Can your contractor offer customer references; how many, is the work similar in scope. Are the customers happy and does the work speak for itself?
Is the landscaping work guaranteed for workmanship and for how long?
Are permits, entrance bonds, and a contractor license fee required. Who acquires them?

To avoid this Common Mistake, be sure your contractor:

Has an on-site review of the layout and schedule with you prior to the start of work.
Is courteous and respectful of your neighbors’ property.
Assures you that the job site be kept safe and clean.
Responds to changes due to unforeseen site conditions or customers change request.
The contractor/business owner supervises the project and sees that specialized and/or detailed tasks are ‘hands-on’ by the business owner.
Leaves your property ‘power washed’ clean when your project is completed.

To avoid this common mistake, make sure your contractor will:

Review and walk through the project with you upon completion. Make immediate corrections, if required.
Respond to questions and/or possible problems that may arise long after project completion.
Offer you care and maintenance handouts regarding your project.
Offer maintenance services for long term care.

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Rick and Rich MacRoy, co-owners of Landscape Creations have been members of the Illinois Landscape contractors Association (ILCA) since 1999. They are authorized Unilock® contractors. Awards presented to them include: