Talent to create Beauty & Value

Finding the right landscape professional

by Jason K. Cupp, CLP

Clients often ask me how much value landscaping and proper lawn care can add to a home. Sometimes, their reason for asking is they’re beginning a small or large landscaping project. Other times it is because they are thinking of putting their home on the market. Regardless of the reason for refining your outdoors, uncovering the answer to this question, and what you can do to hire the right company for the job are important elements of the process to enhance your home’s exterior.

The right landscaping and lawn care can increase the value of your home by 15 percent, allowing owners to recoup 100 to 200 percent of their investment. At the end of the day, your landscape is one of the first things prospective buyers notice when they visit your house. This is true of guests to your home even if you’re not planning to sell. Realtors estimate that 95 percent of home shoppers will not even get out of their car if the house lacks “curb appeal.”

Once you decide that an exterior enhancement is right for you, working with the right landscape professional is essential. Reliable references for quality landscape professionals often come from family and friends. You can also contact your local, state or national trade associations for referrals.

A landscape professional can offer you a variety of services including design, installation and maintenance of your property based on your specific needs and requests. Many firms have landscape architects and designers on staff, offering the expertise to create and orchestrate the complete design, installation and maintenance of the most complex landscapes.

Follow these 6 steps before you hire a landscape professional:

1. Decide how a landscape professional can help you. Landscape professionals not only install plant material, but install hardscape material, including patios, decks, retaining walls, swimming pools, outdoor kitchens and living rooms, gazebos, and irrigation systems.

2. Ask how long has the company been in business. Businesses with a longer history often have a long-standing reputation, and have been successfully serving clients for years and years.

3. Select a landscape company that is licensed or certified and insured. Certified landscape contractors have either “CLP” (Certified Landscaped Professional) or “CLT” (Certified Landscape Technician) following their names. This identifies those who have passed a rigorous exam, which demonstrates their professional knowledge and technical skills in the landscape contracting field. Certification is offered by the Professional Landcare Network (www.landcarenetwork.org) nationwide.

4. Decide what you are looking for in a landscape design. Do you want an area for entertaining, an extension of your living space, a low maintenance landscape or a high impact design that is colorful? Determine your budget before you speak with a landscape professional. If you do not know what you want in a landscape design, a qualified professional should be able to help bring your needs and landscape style preferences into focus.

5. Concerning guarantees…Find out what is covered, for how long, and what’s not. Proof of insurance for workers’ compensation, liability and vehicles should be available to you. Check a company’s limits and policy expiration. Ask if they have an active safety program to minimize accidents. Under some circumstances, you could be liable for mishaps or accidents that occur on your property.

6. Ask the company to provide a written plan and/or contract. Prior to making any agreement, have the landscape contractor, designer, and/or architect prepare the details in writing. This plan can include the design, plant material to be used, all costs, a timetable and the terms of payment. You have the right to amend the contract.

Hopefully, following this simple checklist will add aesthetic and property value to your exterior spaces… And don’t forget, fall is an excellent time for planting all landscapes!

Jason Cupp is a Certified Landscape Professional, and is the 2008 President of the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). He is also the President and CEO of Kansas City Based Design/Build firm Highland Outdoor.