BBB Tip: Choosing a lawn care professional
St. Louis, Mo., May 22, 2023 – As many folks are looking to spruce up their lawns for the summer, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) offers tips for finding and working with a trusted lawn care or landscaping service. Read more or hear from BBB Regional Director Pamela Hernandez below:
A beautiful yard takes hard work, and sometimes it makes sense to call in the professionals. Lawn care professionals can generally help consumers with one or more of three main categories: landscaping, lawn maintenance and sprinkler systems.
“Consumers may be looking for help with spring to-do’s like yard cleanup, weed control or seeding – or they may have a bigger landscaping project in mind. Either way, it’s important to choose a lawn care professional carefully,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO.
Consumer complaints to BBB regarding lawn or landscaping contractors often involve subpar work, failure to respond to concerns or failure to complete projects. One St. Louis area consumer reported in July 2022 that she paid a company for materials to complete landscaping work dating back as far as two years, but the project was never completed and she was not reimbursed for the cost of materials.
If consumers research carefully when choosing a lawn care professional and know what questions to ask when working with them, they’re more likely to be happy with the results.
BBB’s tips for finding a lawn care professional:
Use BBB to start your search. Once you’ve assessed your lawn’s needs and your budget, you can use BBB.org to find trusted professionals near you. Their BBB Business Profile will give you free information on their history of complaints, customer reviews and whether they are a BBB Accredited Business.
Look for BBB Accreditation or membership in a professional organization. Affiliation with a professional group is one indication that a company strives for quality in its work. Professional organizations such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) keep members informed on new industry methods and safety standards. Most associations ask members to follow a code of ethics.
Get references. Friends and neighbors with lawns you admire may be able direct you to a great contractor. Ask potential contractors for references to call and pictures of past work. If possible, visit a past job site to see the quality of the work.
Consider a lawn inspection. An inspection can build trust between you and the contractor and help both of you understand what work your lawn might need. Keep in mind: Businesses will sometimes charge you to discuss specific landscaping ideas to protect themselves against clients who want to get their ideas and implement them themselves. They often credit you for the initial fee if you contract with them. Get estimates. Before asking for an estimate, determine the area to work in and the services you’d like. Ask for bids for the same list of services from multiple different companies.
Check for licensing and insurance. Your contractor may need a license to work in your area, particularly if they are applying pesticides. Ask for a certificate of insurance from the business’s insurance agent.
Ask for the small print. Make sure you know everything a service includes: For example, does mowing also include edging, or disposal of clippings?
Ask about timing and safety. Will the work be done while you are home or away? Will you need to take safety precautions, particularly if pesticides are involved? Confirm how and when you’ll pay. Depending on the service, it may be best to pay once for a specific project, or regularly for an ongoing service. Many businesses allow you to pay after each treatment, and may offer a discount if you pay the annual cost up front. Get it in writing.
Read all agreements and contracts carefully before signing. Make sure the contract contains all promises made verbally, the expected duration of the service and the quantity, size, and types of plants and other materials. Some contracts can be open ended, meaning they renew until the client specifically terminates – make sure you know how you can cancel your contract. Get copies of anything you sign.
Save your receipts. It’s best to pay by check or credit card, but if you pay with cash it’s especially important to get an itemized receipt for your payment.