Vancouver has an estimated population of 737,216. A total of about 305,335 homes house the city’s population. Given the number of houses in the city, landscaping is a priority for most homeowners.
Choosing a residential landscaping company in Vancouver is easy. However, choosing the best lawn installation company in Vancouver is another matter. Therefore, to ensure that your lawn is looking its best, we’ll reveal factors you need to consider before hiring any landscaping service. With that said, let’s get started…
Experience of the Company
The experience of the company is very important and must not be overlooked. An experienced contractor is better equipped to handle all kinds of jobs. Therefore, before you hire anyone, we advise that you ask the landscaping service representative these questions:
How Long Have You Been in the Business?
If you are looking for a complete landscape makeover, the professionals would have to perform several tasks. This includes drainage, excavation, installation at the foundation as well as sub-base level, and the complete and visible landscape products. The visible products include stone walls, natural stone patios, grass, wooden fencing, wooden decks, plants, and paved driveways.
To effectively carry out all these tasks requires thorough knowledge and experience. Landscaping jobs are so unique that you can’t find any two that are the same. Factors responsible for the uniqueness of each job include soil composition and access.
These factors thereby impact the project duration and labor charge for each job. An experienced contractor is better equipped to provide you with a more accurate assessment and execution of each job. Therefore, before you hire, ensure that the company has hands-on experience.
What Relevant Qualifications Do You Have?
As much as being in the industry for a long time is good, having the proper training represented by qualifications and certifications is equally important. The years they might have been in the business might end up having a negative effect if they fail to upgrade themselves over the years.
Therefore, when discussing with the landscaping service representative, find out what relevant qualifications they have. These credentials are a testament to their credibility and would help put your mind at ease.
Below are some relevant training examples:
- Horticulture certificate
- A Read Seal in Landscaping
- BC Landscape and Nurseries Association (BCLNA) member
- Construction project management degree
- Construction estimating degree
Knowledge of Landscape Materials Suppliers & Nurseries
Any landscaping service worth its salt in Vancouver must know the suppliers and nurseries of landscape materials. This knowledge is not just about having their contacts but includes knowing their strengths as well as pricing. They must also have a good working relationship with these material suppliers. All these will ensure that the contractor knows exactly who to contact when they need a type of material for your job.
Therefore, before you hire, here are some questions you can ask the landscapers:
- Which supplier has the best landscaping material for my project?
- Are you on good terms with the suppliers?
- Is there any payment you are yet to balance?
- Can you provide me with a contact reference?
Knowledge of the Best Material for Vancouver Climate
The contractor you hire must have a well-established knowledge of Vancouver’s climate. You can visit https://weatherspark.com/ to find out more about Vancouver’s climate year-round. This knowledge is important because it enables them to choose and use materials that won’t be affected by the climate.
Given the humidity and moisture levels Vancouver experiences, decking, and fencing should only be constructed with materials that are resistant to rot. Examples of such materials include treated lumbers, cedar that is rot-resistant, and composite materials such as Trex. A landscaper who doesn’t know this would end up using materials that won’t last long.
If the project involves planting, the landscaping service must know the perfect season to plant certain plants. Fall and spring are perfect seasons for planting in Vancouver because they allow the growth and development of roots. Therefore, before you choose a landscaping service, find out how much they know about Vancouver’s climate. This will save you from a lot of headaches in the future.
Reviews from Previous Customers
One of the best ways to assess a company is to check reviews. What previous customers have to say about a service is a testament to the efficiency of that company. Therefore, we recommend you ask the contractor to provide you with the contacts of previous customers to enable you to find out what their experience was like. Here are some questions you can ask:
- What is their price range and how affordable are their services?
- Are they punctual to the site?
- How respectful and well-behaved are the workers?
- Did they do a great job and would you like to hire them again?
In case you see the sign of the company around, we also recommend you talk with the homeowner or site manager. You can ask them the same questions above minus those related to the completion of the project. Why should you take this step further?
In most cases, companies will only provide you with the references of clients they are sure would talk about them positively. After all, they wouldn’t want to give you a reason not to hire them. Therefore, asking other people allows you to get an honest answer.
Speaking of other persons, online reviews allow you to see what several other previous customers are saying about the company. We advise that you only read reviews from third-party sites rather than the company’s sites. Reviews on company websites are usually only positive. This is not the case on third-party sites as you get the opportunity to see exactly what people think and not what’s censored.
Conclusion
Choosing a residential landscaping service in Vancouver is not so difficult. All you need to do is to carefully research the potential companies you’d like to hire. Find out how experienced and qualified they are, knowledge of suppliers, nurseries, and Vancouver’s climate. Don’t forget to find out via reviews what others are saying about the landscaping contractor. With all these done right, you’re sure to get the best for your landscaping project.
Tags: cheap landscaping materials, landscape materials near me
