Hiring a landscaper
Landscaping, and what to ask before you hire
A plain guide to hiring a landscaper. What to settle before the work starts, the questions to ask, and how to compare quotes fairly.
Before the first quote
Yard work is a project, not a purchase
A finished yard is the end of a sequence. Some of it happens in one visit and some of it comes back every year. A quote reads very differently once you know which parts are one time and which parts you have signed up for. These four questions sort that out.
Decide what you will maintain
Lawn, beds, and containers all ask for different amounts of your time. Be honest about how much you have before the plan is drawn. A design built for someone else's weekends gets neglected, and a neglected yard looks worse than a plain one.
Ask when the work can start
Planting, seeding, and hard surfaces each have seasons that suit them. Ask which parts can go in now and which wait, and ask what the yard looks like in between. A staged job is normal. A surprise gap is not.
Settle who owns the cleanup
Old sod, broken concrete, stumps, and spoil have to go somewhere, and hauling costs money. Ask whether removal and disposal fees are in the quote or added later. It is one of the largest line items people never ask about.
Read the payment schedule
Find out what is due up front, what is due along the way, and what triggers each payment. Get it in writing with the scope it belongs to. A schedule tied to finished stages protects both sides.
Comparing
Line the quotes up before you read the numbers
Two quotes for the same yard can be built on different assumptions. Soil depth, irrigation, edging, and disposal are the usual places they part company. Put the same scope in front of every contractor, then compare. Ask each one for a business licence, liability insurance, and WorkSafeBC coverage while you are at it. Anyone who carries them will hand over the details without fuss.