by Todd Lewys
After a slow melt, it appears that spring — at long last - is finally here.
With the snow largely gone and the grass starting to re-appear — albeit with a pallid brown tinge after being dormant for six months – it’s natural for our thoughts to turn to maintaining our yards.
Those thoughts can be disconcerting for folks who don’t happen to have green thumbs – or the time to take care of their yards.
Consequently, scores of people are on the lookout for a good lawn care company. Question is, how do you find the right one?
The short answer is that it’s not a simple task. Pretty much every lawn company out there will tell you they can make your yard a lush, green paradise.
At the end of the day, that’s just talk. Once they leap into action, can they truly deliver on their promises?
Please refer to the checklist below. It should help you weed out the good lawn care companies from the bad, so to speak.
- Remember that you usually get what you pay for. Which is to say, if a lawn care company’s quote seems too good to be true, it likely is. It’s rare to get something of value at a bargain price.
- Get a referral from friends or family. Oftentimes, the best way to find a good, dependable service is to get a recommendation from someone you know and trust. If they’ve been happy with a company, chances are you will be too.
- What’s a company’s standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)? If it isn’t sterling, it’s likely best to look elsewhere.
- Is a company endorsed by any referral sites? Good companies tend to get glowing testimonials from happy clients. If the one you’re considering can’t provide any, run in the other direction. In this day of social media, it should be easy to find testimonials – both good, and bad.
- What kind of training does a company’s technicians receive? Does training take days or weeks? Lawn care is serious business. If a technician gets two days of training and then comes out to take care of your yard, how good do you think that care will be?
- Look for consistency. Will the same crew be assigned to care for your yard each time out? The best care comes when a crew gets to know your yard over time.
- Ask company representatives what sets their service apart from others. Is it training? Knowledge? Dedication? Customer service? If you can’t get a straight answer, find a company that will give you one.
- What type of products does a company use? Are they safe for children and pets? Do those products come with time guidelines to ensure its safe for your kids and pets to venture into your yard after it’s been treated – say two hours later?
- How often will a company treat your lawn, trees, shrubs, etc.? Ask for a treatment schedule. Services should be tailored to treat different types of grass and timed to control certain types of weeds and conditions. Timing and custom-tailored treatment is critical in yard maintenance.
- What types of services does a company offer? Examples would be aeration, outdoor pest control (for pests like ants, mosquitoes, ticks) and treatments for specific diseases.
- Is a company genuinely dedicated to customer service? For example, ask if they offer free service calls if you notice a problem between scheduled visits. The answer should be yes if they’re serious about providing great customer service. If they say no, say no to them.
When it comes to choosing the right lawn care company for your needs, the key is to do your due diligence and ask lots of pointed questions.
If possible, get a recommendation from someone you trust. If you can’t get one, then compile
a short list of companies and ask some serious questions. Doing that will ensure you’ll find the right company for the job.