Don’t rely on the smart new van turning up in your drive or the very cheap quote. Here’s what you need to check before handing over any cash.
Check for Trade Accreditation
Check that the landscaper is a member of a trade accreditation scheme such as the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). They will have been checked out for good workmanship, decent business practice and ongoing training.
Ask to See Finished Work
A portfolio should include a variety of different gardens and not simply feature an excellent view of a completed patio. Try to obtain addresses for completed projects and visit them in person to see how they look. It would also be helpful to speak with the homeowners and gain an insight into the landscaper’s workmanship and their interaction with customers.
Get Three Written Quotes
Never go off a single quote. Ask for at least 3 to be drawn up, in writing, clearly detailing the costs for the materials to be used and the labour involved in the work. This allows you to compare ‘apples with apples’ and will soon highlight any that are trying to pad out their quote for their own ends. In the landscaping firms in Gloucester that we work with a breakdown of the costs is usually provided as part of the quote. See also Landscaping Gloucester.
Confirm Public Liability Insurance
Make sure any landscape company you hire to work on your property have Public Liability Insurance. It’s always worth checking the certificate is up to date and what amount of cover they have (for domestic garden work this would usually be in excess of £1 million).
Agree a Written Contract and Payment Schedule
Before work commences ensure that all details of the work are written down including scope, materials, time scales and payment structure. This can be paid in instalments, i.e. a deposit, for the groundwork, then balance on completion. This will protect you in case the work is not completed to the desired standard or even stalls altogether.
Check Planning Rules Before Digging
While not all garden and landscaping projects are subject to permission, there are many that are. Things like raised patio’s, large areas of impermeable hard landscaping that will affect drainage, new boundary walls and fences over height limits, will require some form of application to your local council before any work can commence. It’s always worth a quick phone call to establish if any of the above will require planning permission for your proposed garden and landscaping work.
Using these simple checks you can avoid employing a cowboy and ensure you choose a competent, well established landscape gardening company to undertake your garden landscaping work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a gardener and a landscaper?
A gardener usually looks after an existing garden on a recurring basis: mowing, pruning, weeding and seasonal tidying. A landscaper does building work, which can include laying patios, paths, fencing, turf and the groundwork for drainage, and often planting a new design. Many companies offer both services, so describe the job you need when you ask for a quote.
Do I need planning permission for landscaping?
Whilst much garden work does not require planning permission, there are exceptions, for example raised decking, high walls and fences, and work to listed buildings and properties within conservation areas. Work to the front of a property with paving such as flagstones, concrete or block paving may also require planning permission, depending on the surface and how rainwater drains away, and this should be checked with the local council before any work commences.
What should a landscaping quote include?
A good quote is a list of the work to be done, a full list of the materials required with full specification, how waste is to be removed, a completion time scale and payment terms. It should also confirm what guarantee is to be given for the work. Ask the landscaper to include these on the quote before you sign it.
