Everyone wants a beautiful lawn, but nobody wants to deal with dishonest and lazy lawn care companies. Finding a reputable and honest lawn care company is hard work nowadays. You have to jump through a lot of hoops (phone calls, emails, and sketchy estimates).
Thankfully, we have a solution to help you avoid bad customer service and inconsistent lawn maintenance. Before hiring any lawn care company, here are seven questions you should ask every company to know if they’re the right fit for you.
Question #1: What Services Do You Offer?
Although this question seems pretty obvious, you’d be surprised by how many additional charges you’ll see on your bill if you don’t ask questions. Some companies include mowing, mulching, weeding, and weed cutting all in one service. But others might not. They may charge you separately for each service or upcharge for other services. Don’t commit to a lawn care service until you know exactly what services and plans they offer.
Question #2: What’s Included in the Standard Package? What’s Extra?
The sooner you find out what’s in the standard package, the better informed you’ll be on the company’s pricing and structure. Plus, you’ll quickly learn if you need to ask question #3.
Question #3: Do You Provide Customized Lawn Care Plans?
Some lawn care companies offer custom lawn care plans, even if they don’t mention it on their website. It never hurts to ask, especially if your lawn has some unique needs.
Question #4: Are You Licensed and Insured?
Be careful who you hire, especially if they don’t have the proper licenses and insurance. Although you might save a few bucks now, you’ll pay more later. If someone gets injured on your property or damages your home and doesn’t have proper licensing and insurance, it’s going to be a really uncomfortable and painful situation for everyone involved (mentally, emotionally, and financially).
Hire a lawn care company with the correct licenses and insurance to protect yourself. A company that puts forth the effort and time to get licenses and insurances understands the inherent risk of working with heavy lawn care equipment. They’re not taking shortcuts and neither should you.
Question #5: How Often Will You Service My Lawn? How Will I Know You Came By?
Most lawn care companies come by to service your lawn on a weekly basis. But some don’t. Find out how often each company mows your lawn, because you don’t want to be surprised with biweekly service.
Additionally, ask how you’ll know the technician came by and worked. Of course, you’ll notice whether the grass was cut and edges trimmed, but fertilization and other lawn care maintenance you pay for may not be as obvious.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to how the company answers this question. If they dismiss your concerns or say you’ll see the charge on the invoice, you should be concerned. This is a valid question. Every homeowner deserves to get what they pay for.
Question #6: Can You Provide References for Me to Contact?
Some people might feel uncomfortable asking this question, but it’s absolutely critical that you do. How the company responds is more important than what they say. If they’re prepared and ready to share a document of referrals, you can rest assured they have a good reputation. If they’re more hesitant or unprepared to share references, make sure you reach out to the references they give to find out details about the service. And don’t hesitate to read online reviews.
Not sure what to ask the references once you call? Consider these questions to help the conversation get started:
- How often did [insert lawn company] service your property?
- Did you ever have issues with no-shows?
- How’s the customer service?
- What was / is your overall experience with [insert lawn company]?
Question #7: What Kinds of Treatment Options Do You Offer?
Concerned about certain chemicals and pesticides used on your lawn? Do you prefer more organic options? Before signing a contract, learn what kinds of treatment options the company offers. Every yard has different needs, and every homeowner has different preferences. The best companies offer a variety of treatment options at various price points to best serve their communities.
The Right Lawn Care Company is a Phone Call Away
Finding the right lawn care company is always worth the effort. Sure, it might be a lot of phone calls, emails, and quotes, but you can’t put a price on your satisfaction. We encourage you to keep looking for the right company that will serve you best. We hope these questions guide you along the way.
And if you’re located in the Middle Tennessee area, give Turf Managers a call or fill out this form. We’d be happy to serve you and answer all your questions.