How to find the best landscape company for your HOA

If you have recently been elected or appointed to the Board of your Homeowners Association here in Florida, you may be tasked with selecting new vendors – like commercial landscaping companies – for the work that is needed in your community. While many management companies will send out requests for bids or make recommendations, it can be overwhelming to work through the proposals that come your way.

Many of the commercial landscaping proposals you will receive look very similar in terms of the services that are provided. But selecting a landscaping company simply based on price is not always the best idea. Here are some things to look for as you work through the selection process, as well as some questions we recommend you ask before making your final selection:

1.) What is included in the proposal and what charges are add-ons. Types of services and number of applications? Is fertilization included? Are treatments for lawn diseases like brown patch included? Is mulch included? For items not included but expected to be necessary, what will the charges be?

2.) How does the company ensure customer services and communications with your HOA and/or property management company? Are you getting monthly walk thru reports? Are you receiving service schedules?

3.) Will you have one primary point of contact to manage your property?

4.) How long has the landscaping company been in business? Do they have trained horticulture and floriculture specialists on staff? What kind of training and experience do the crew members have who will be working on your property?

5.) Is the landscaping company large enough to handle your property? Are additional crews available to handle your neighborhood in the event of crew illness or equipment breakdown?

6.) Does the company have an Enhancement department to handle other needs like planting, drainage, irrigation, and hardscape?

7.) Does the company have professional licensed employees on staff? Irrigation, Arborist, Pest Control Operators, Horticulturists?

8.) What other properties do the commercial landscape contractor manage in the area?

9.) How would a new landscape provider handle your greatest frustrations today?

10.) How do the company’s values line up with the community’s values?

Keep in mind, you want to be certain you are comparing apples-to-apples and ensure you budget correctly for landscaping expenses. Also, if you have a lot of common space, or if your HOA fees include landscape maintenance for all homes in the community, a smaller company may not be staffed or have the equipment needed to do the job.

Finally, one of the most important things you can do is to ask for and contact references for each of the landscape companies who make it to the final round of your evaluation process. Ask them how long the landscaping company has handled their property; how easy it is to get in touch with their contact to get questions answered or issues resolved; and have them rate their satisfaction level on a scale of 1 to 10.

We here at Estate Landscaping know that these questions asked about us, will only lead to ecstatic answers. That is why it is important to choose a company like us that can offer you peace of mind that your maintenance will be performed properly. After all, if you are investing in professional HOA maintenance, you deserve to reap the rewards.

For more information on how Estate Landscaping can take care of your landscaping needs, give us a call at (239) 498-1187, or Contact Us.