What you should know before hiring a landscaper: Part 1

For a major – and worthwhile – investment in the landscaping of your property, researching the qualifications of a company is essential and requirements will vary depending on the nature of the services being sought. For a hardscaping job, make sure the contractor is working up to industry standard by certification with ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) to work with pavers or NCMA (The National Concrete Masonry Association) for retaining walls. For a softscaping job with horticultural elements, separate licenses are needed to work with fertilizer and pesticides.

For any of these jobs, a firm should be registered as a business in the state with a New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor License.

Proper insurance is another major consideration: There should be appropriate worker’s compensation, general liability, auto policies in the right coverage amounts to make sure that the homeowner, contractor, and employees are fully covered.

All of the above-mentioned assurances form a great foundational block to indicate a reputable business. A lack of these qualifications could be a red flag for potential customers. Other warning signs of questionable business practices include not getting back to you in a timely manner or improper communication, a representative not showing up in a uniform or some type of company apparel and not driving a company vehicle. A company that focuses solely on the transaction and not the relationship – and not listening to the client’s want and needs – could suggest they’re only in it for the money.

Warranties are more complicated and will vary from company to company. Planting installations will depend on the time of year, weather conditions and other factors – and also whether this work is accompanied by a plant healthcare plan that takes into account such variables such as lack of water, too much water, insects, diseases, improper soil conditions, temperatures that are too hot or too cold, any of which can contribute to plants dying. Signing up for a plant healthcare plan or a watering plan can ease that worry. Hardscaping projects should also be warrantied. Should an installation fail, shift, buckle, or crumble in a few weeks, months or years, the landscaper is off the hook if the hardscaping is not warrantied. Companies should stand behind their work and be able to make things right if an unforeseeable problem occurs. If you are not currently a customer of Golden Wolf Landscape & Design LLC, we would love to add you to our growing family of customers. Our focus is on residential and commercial properties in New Jersey. Our goal is to provide the best experience and value for each and every one of our customers. Contact us at (908) 578-1179. You can also fill out a request form for a quote on our website under our “Contact Us” tab. We're looking forward to hearing from you