Do you own a home or business and need a landscaping service to keep things looking nice? It's important to shop around before you hire anyone. This will help you get the combination of the best service and the best price. One of the ways that you can do that is to get an estimate from the landscaping service. Here are just six reasons why this is an important step to take.

1. Get an Idea of How Much You'll Pay

Before hiring a landscaping service, it's important to know how much you're expected to pay once the professionals are done. On top of the job itself, you'll also want to know how much you may need to pay for maintenance afterward. Usually, according to HomeGuide, routine maintenance runs between $100 and $200 per month, but that's going to depend on several things, including how big your property is and where you are located. Ask the company you'd like to hire about the first service as well as what's expected for maintenance.

2. Determine the Scope of the Project

When you talk to a contractor from a landscaping company and they give an estimate on how much your service will cost, they may also point out things that they could do to improve your landscaping. Reputable services genuinely want your place to look its best, and you may not have realized that you needed to have that extra work done. This will help you figure out exactly what you're going to have done the first time and then what they'll do on a monthly basis. Essentially, you're determining the scope of the project for your property.

3. Stay Within Your Budget

When you receive an estimate, it could burst your bubble about how much you could have done in terms of landscaping, or it could make you realize that you have even more wiggle room than you initially thought. In either case, you're going to be able to plan things out a lot better than if you didn't have the estimate. As a result, you can see what the labor, material, and overhead costs total. This way, you would be able to possibly negotiate on certain aspects, like whether you need to have the absolute best material for a certain part of the job.

The estimate is also going to tell you if certain ideas of yours may not be financially feasible at the time. Such projects may include adding a fire pit, a fountain, or another addition. Will the professionals be able to add different types of plants or trees? What kind of soil will they use? Will they just be working on improving what you already have? A dependable landscaper will understand that it's a business, so they'll work with you based on what you can afford.

4. Enjoy a Free Estimate

The best landscaping companies provide free estimates. This allows potential customers like yourself to see what they have to offer and how it'll cost you upfront. Additionally, if you like the work the landscapers perform on your yard, you could always ask for an additional estimate on other services that pique your interest. While you may have started with a basic landscape renovation, you may be so impressed that you want to hire the same team to build an outdoor kitchen, a beautiful patio, or even a water feature! Our team is happy to add to your original service.

5. Stay On Top of the Landscaping Process

If you're not familiar with landscaping services, you may be unclear as to how the costs add up. That's why it's important to get an estimate before any work begins, as it can be a guideline for you. If you ever have questions or concerns, it's best to ask questions before you sign any agreement. We're always available to clarify anything you're confused about!

6. Creates a Win-Win Outcome

When an estimate is provided before a service begins, it creates a win-win outcome for both parties. Not only can the landscaping service properly budget their resources and time but the home or business owner can expect quality work to be completed within the agreed-upon timeframe and the estimate provided. When you receive an estimate from a landscaper, you're doing your property a favor and giving it the best attention to detail it deserves!

Is Landscaping Worth It?

Now that you understand why getting an estimate for a landscaping company's services is crucial, we want to answer another question: Is landscaping worth it? The short answer is yes! You want to keep your property looking nice, and a significant part of that involves landscaping work. It includes keeping the grass mowed and any shrubbery trimmed. If you don't do that, then it can drastically decrease the value of your own home and also that of your surrounding neighbors. If you hire a landscaping service to do this job for you, you can see your home value go up. In fact, according to Bankrate, professional landscaping can increase a home’s price tag by 15% to 20% when the house is sold.

Landscaping services are also worth it if you'd like to get into gardening. This Old House cites that more than 33% of households in the U.S. plan on spending more on lawn and gardening projects for food gardening in 2023 than in 2022. Get useful professional assistance for your residential property so you can get started!

Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Landscaping Service

As careful as you are, there are some pitfalls that you could encounter when it comes to hiring a landscaper. They include not carefully researching them. There are plenty of review sites out there where people detail their experiences with them. You could find out that the service is nowhere near as good as they promise. While some people may have hidden agendas when it comes to the reviews that they leave, you should trust your gut when it comes to whether the review is legitimate.

When you're speaking with a landscaping contractor, listen to see if they're making unrealistic promises. Some of them might be so desperate for your business that they could say that they would do luxury, out-of-scope landscaping work for a fraction of what you'd expect to pay. While you may not be an expert, it's still a very good idea to listen to your instincts and move on if something doesn't seem right to you.

Additionally, be sure to ask the contractors questions about their prior work and whether they have recommendations. Try to find out if they have any complaints about them for their prior work. You can't be too careful, and you want to make sure that you're going to get high-quality work.

According to The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), it's recommended that homeowners invest 10% of their home’s value in landscaping. With this important statistic in mind, are you looking for an exceptional landscaping service in your area? Here at Ward's Lawn Service, we only charge fair rates for excellent work. Since 1999, we've been providing top-quality landscaping and hardscaping services to the Longmont, CO area. If you're ready to raise the value of your property, enjoy a scenic backyard, and impress your neighbors with a beautiful front yard, we're ready to help. Contact us today to get a free estimate for our services!