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Choosing Your Landscaper

This is the time of year when people take a good look at their lawns and try to determine how they can get those lawns to look a little better. This means doing things like making sure your lawn sprinkler system is ready to go.

It may also mean looking for and hiring a landscaping company. If you’ve never hired a landscaper before, you might be wondering how you can protect yourself against landscaping scams.

Luckily, the good folks at the Better Business Bureau are on top of these things. They are taking some of the guesswork out of finding a reputable landscaper.

The BBB says it receives thousands of complaints each year against landscaping and lawn care contractors. It’s important to do research before choosing a landscaping. The BBB has some guidelines:

• Know what you want from a lawn care service. There may be several services to choose from. Make sure you have a clear idea of what work you want done.
• Check business reviews. It’s also a good idea to find out how long the company has been in business.
• Check those references. Ask for references when talking to prospective lawn care contractors. This should be no problem for reputable companies. It’s also a good idea to call at least a few of those references to find out about their experiences with the company. You should also ask the lawn company for pictures of previous jobs.
• Ask for a free estimate and a lawn inspection. A lawn care company that gives you a quote without seeing your lawn may not be giving you an accurate quote. A lawn care provider should be willing to come to your home to survey your yard and decide on an accurate estimate.
• Get a written agreement. The contract should state what services you will receive, guarantees and refund policies.