The Fall Beat, October 2023
So many service providers! How do I pick the right one for me?
Tis the season for teeth-gritting, knuckle-biting, and crystal ball planning. Halloween? Nope. Budget season. Somehow, before the end of the year, you need to make decisions about who your 2024 service providers will be. Easy enough if you’re happy with who you’ve got, but what if you need to make a change?
I’ve included a shortlist for you to think about when choosing a landscape provider, but I would suggest you’ll want to use this list as a plum line for providers in all industries. You’d be surprised how often property managers don’t drill down on these important criteria, simply because they don’t know to ask.
Company Values. Challenge your prospective provider to tell you about his or her company: history of past clients, attitudes toward customer satisfaction, and investment in employee training.
Experience. Landscaping covers a broad spectrum of services: landscape and hardscape design, installation, maintenance, tree work, irrigation, tick & mosquito control, snow services, drainage, and lighting. Don’t just settle for a “We do that.” Make the company tell you what type of experience and certifications they have in each area.
Licensing/Certifications. Does the company you’re interviewing have the proper certifications? Chemical applications licensing? An adequate amount of liability insurance? Drill down on these key qualifications so the lack of them doesn’t come back to haunt you later.
Safety. Make each candidate describe their standard operating procedures, how they take care of their equipment, and how they plan to ensure the wellbeing of your property.
Property Monitoring. How often will your new company check on your properties? Do they conduct audits and report back to you what’s working—and what’s not? Are they going to check in with you on a regular basis to make sure you’re happy?
Communications. How quickly does a company respond to calls? Will they keep you apprised of updates and let you know when you can expect them to be working on your property? Always keep you informed? Be sure to ask!
Complaints. A strong candidate should have a system in place for dealing with the unexpected.—and be willing to take responsibility when something goes wrong.
Sustainable Landscaping Corner
How do smart irrigation systems help the planet?
Smart irrigation controllers are like an eco-savvy landscaping partner. They basically manage your watering schedule by adjusting sprinklers based on weather and soil conditions, which reduces waste. This not only keeps your properties happy but also helps conserve our precious water resources.
Win-win-win for your properties, the planet, and you!
Here’s what your smart water system can do for you:
1) Conserve water by adjusting watering schedules based on real-time weather data and soil conditions, preventing overwatering, and reducing water waste.
2) Lead to cost savings by lowering water bills through efficient water usage.
3) Provide convenience and remote control, allowing users to manage their irrigation systems from anywhere using smartphone apps. Picture this: a sprinkler head goes crazy after hours, spewing water on everything, all night long. With a smart system, alerts get sent in time to avert disasters.
Smart water systems not only promote water conservation and sustainability but also make landscape maintenance more convenient and cost-effective. Smart irrigation controllers are a smart choice for anyone looking to maintain a lush landscape while saving resources.
Read about how Lincoln Property Company saved money by installing a smart water system!
Read about Lincoln Property Company’s ‘smart’ decision to install a smart water system!
If we haven’t talked about a smart water system for you yet, let’s schedule time for a conversation. We can go into a lot more detail about savings and what a smart water system can do for your budget.
Warm Regards,
Kyle Thurman
Design Director
Ask About Organic Options! Environmental Enhancements
www.eelandscaping.com
540.764.4433