How do you hire the best lawn care service in your city?

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In our last post, we discussed a few compelling reasons to engage a lawn care service. If you’ve decided to hire someone to trim your lawn, you’ll need to figure out how to choose a reputable firm. Because of the sector’s decentralized nature, it’s even more difficult in the lawn care industry. This results in huge differences across businesses. Some will be fantastic. Some will be dreadful. How do you tell them apart? Here are a few responses you should look for:

1. How’s their reputation?

The internet has altered many aspects of our daily life. One approach is that we can now rapidly examine and assess firms’ reputations. While Yelp reviews don’t always tell the entire picture (typically just the most positive and most negative experiences are included), they do give you a solid idea of what you’re getting into. Also, if the firm has a slew of bad reviews and comprehensive tales of incompetence, you can usually bank on them to be a dud. In addition, inquire as to which firm your neighbors use and what they think of them. This is a wonderful research strategy for finding decent organizations, as well as for filtering out untrustworthy or overpriced companies that your neighbors are unhappy with.

2. Are they licensed and insured?

It is essential to be licensed and insured. However, this is not the norm. I’m sure you know someone who pays for lawn care under the table. It’s rather common. You may even be able to do it yourself. We believe you should discontinue this behavior for a number of reasons. One, if they’re licensed and insured, you know they’ve made a career out of being a professional. They aren’t simply looking for a fast buck on the side. Two, and maybe most crucially, if they are wounded on your property, you will most likely be held accountable. Furthermore, if their mower throws a rock through your glass, their insurance will not cover the damage. Trust us on this: hire someone with a license and insurance.

3. Are they members of any professional or trade organizations?

While there is no question that there is a large number of lawn care experts who do not join to trade organizations, those that do are a rare species. Why? Because they’ve made a commitment to their profession by joining a trade association. They have dedicated to lifelong study. They have agreed to adhere to the lawn care industry’s requirements. Look for lawn care firms that are members of state organizations, but also those that are members of national organizations such as PLANET.

4. How is their customer service?

These days, good customer service from a lawn care provider seems to be a rare find. It’s difficult to receive a quotation. Signing up is a pain. It’s significantly more difficult to change services or complete specialised tasks. Many firms are chaotic, and you’ll waste a lot of time playing phone tag (which is why we recommend lawn care providers since they’re ’email first’ businesses). In such situation, search for a firm that has an office manager or owner-operator that always responds quickly and appropriately. Look for a lawn care firm that is technologically advanced, accessible through email/social media, and, ideally, employs lawn care scheduling and invoicing software. If you’re going to spend your money in a long-term relationship with a lawn care provider, auditing for customer service early on can save you a lot of time and worry later on.

5. How do they maintain their equipment?

“How often do you sharpen your blades?” is a smart question to ask to screen out low-quality lawn care companies. This is a common difference between the ordinary DIYer and a lawn care provider. A trained eye can discern the difference between grass cut with a dull blade and grass cut with a sharp blade. Dull blades cause the grass to seem ragged and brown on top. If you mow your own lawn, you should replace your blade once or twice a year. A good lawn care company will sharpen or replace blades every 1-2 days. Ask them how many mowing hours they go through before changing/sharpening blades as a fast rule of thumb. The response should take no more than ten hours.

6. Do they require contracts?

It is customary in this sector to request extended contracts. Don’t be shocked if your lawn care service requests this. However, we are opposed to this behavior. See if they’ll let you depart without a contract if you can. At the very least, inquire about a trial period. Good businesses will make accommodations. They’ll make certain that their excellent job will keep you paying.

7. How reliable will they be?

You’d be shocked how many customers come to LawnStarter because their previous lawn care service “just vanished.” They’re mowing and fertilizing your lawn one week, then they’re gone the next. What’s the story? Sometimes a company just lacks the operational ability to grow and hence fails. For example, we began providing lawn care services in Austin, TX, but due to our success, we’ve extended our lawn mowing services to Pflugerville, Round Rock, and even San Antonio. In order to avoid losing existing clients, we had to be very critical of our processes. You may use internet reviews to screen out firms that are untrustworthy. Better still, before you join up, ask for personal recommendations. It might be uncomfortable, but if they are eager and have numerous references you can call, it is a great indicator. Be careful if they are reluctant. When you call their references, make sure you receive a lot of information: how long they’ve been working together, quality, dependability, price, flexibility, and so on. Personal recommendations are one of the most dependable methods to assess a new lawn care business.

There are lots of duds in the sector, as there are in every industry. However, there are many fantastic, attentive, and dependable lawn care firms out there as well. What characteristics do you seek for in a quality lawn care company? Do you have any horror tales or negative experiences to share?

Alex Birkett

Alex Birkett is a writer and marketer. He enjoys skiing, eating sushi, and lifting big weights in addition to mowing lawns. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, he relocated to Austin, Texas.

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Related Questions

• Who does the best lawn care?

  1. The 11 Best Lawn Care Service Companies of 2023.
  2. Weed Man.
  3. NaturaLawn of America.
  4. Lawn Doctor.
  5. Ryan Lawn & Tree.
  6. Spring-Green.
  7. Green Lawn Fertilizing.
  8. TruGreen.

• Are lawn companies worth it?

  It’s just not worth the trouble and frustrations to save a few bucks. The benefits of hiring a professional lawn care service much outweigh the drawbacks, and the value it will add to your home and life is well worth the cost.

• How to get 100 lawn care customers?

  How to get lawn care customers:

  1. Advertise to family and friends.
  2. Use online classifieds.
  3. Go door to door.
  4. Use direct mail.
  5. Join Facebook groups.
  6. Set up Google Local Services Ads.
  7. Turn existing customers into ambassadors.

• What questions should I ask my lawn care business?

  5 Questions to Ask of a Lawn Care Business

  1. Do you have a bond and insurance? The most important item to look for is a bonded and insured organization.
  2. How Many Years of Experience Do You Have? …
  3. What Kind of Industry Specialists Do You Have? …
  4. Who Will Be Working on the Property? …
  5. Do You Offer a Work Guarantee?

Sources:

• https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/lawn-care-industry/7-things-look-hiring-lawn-care-company/