Creating a stunning outdoor space requires the right landscape contractor. Follow our tips for choosing a landscape contractor, including finding the best contractors near you, asking the right questions, and looking for irrigation system design and installation services. 

We'll guide you through finding a qualified contractor and highlighting red flags to watch out for. Select a contractor who possesses the necessary experience, expertise, and range of services to develop an irrigation system for your lawn and landscape that promotes water conservation.

Qualities to Look for in a Landscape Contractor

Look for a landscape company that offers the required services and instills trust, ensuring the job is completed accurately, safely, punctually, and within the allocated budget.

Also, it’s wise to interview three landscape companies near you to determine which one will better meet your property needs.

Here are the qualities you want in your landscape contractor:

Experience and Expertise
You want your landscape contractor to have landscaping experience. 

Suppose you’re looking for a landscape contractor to design, install, and maintain your lawn’s sprinkler system. In that case, you want a contractor with experience and certification from the Irrigation Association for water sprinkler design and installation. 

When you search for the best landscape contractors near you, remember to look through their website’s portfolio. Check their Google and Yelp reviews to see what others in your city think of the company. 


If there are mainly four to five stars with an occasional bad review, look to see if the landscape company responded. How did they respond? Were they defensive or were they willing to help the disgruntled customer?

Also, remember that some reviewers tend to look only for faults. Consider that there are always two sides to every story and be cautious of one negative review among many positive ones.

Licenses and Insurance
Don’t sign a contract unless your landscaping contractor is fully licensed and insured. Some bad characters don’t know what they’re doing and could ruin your property and get you into legal trouble.

Don’t hesitate to ask your landscape contractor if they carry the proper insurance and licenses. Here are the licenses and insurance that your landscape contractor should have

• Does the landscape company belong to any associations, such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) or their state landscaping association, such as Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA)?
• Does your landscape contractor, who’ll provide water sprinkler services, hold the proper certifications from the Irrigation Association, such as a certified irrigation contractor (CIC)?
• Does the landscape contractor carry general liability insurance, commercial property coverage, and workers’ compensation insurance coverage?

Portfolio and Work Samples
When you meet with potential landscape contractors, ask if you can visit a job site they’re working on. Also, check the contractors’ websites for their portfolios and work samples.

Don’t be afraid to ask your landscape contractor for references, either. You want to make sure that anyone who works on your property, including an in-ground water sprinkler installation, stands behind their work and does an excellent job.

Communication Skills
Ensure that your landscape contractor will put all contracts and estimates in writing. 

Also, you want your landscape contractor to answer your questions and concerns quickly. Ask the irrigation company if they have customer relationship management software (CRM) so you can easily text or email your contractor with a question or concern.

Your landscape contractor should be willing to educate you on what you need to know, such as

• Define the scope of work
• Define any jargon you don’t understand
• Define the change order
• Define what a substantial completion looks like
• Define a punch list
• Define what the warranty is and what work falls under the warranty.

Be wary of hiring contractors who won’t answer your calls, emails, or texts. You may ask how long it takes to get an answer to your question. Also, give your contractor a designated contact to send their questions to as issues come up during installation.


Questions to Ask Potential Landscape Contractors
If any of the points above haven’t been discussed with a potential landscape contractor, then make sure that you include them with your questions. Here is a list of additional questions to ask your landscape contractor: 

How Long Have You Been in Business?
Many times you can find this answer on the contractor’s website. You may want to ask how long they’ve provided irrigation design and installation if you add an outdoor sprinkler system to your property.

Additionally, you should ask what type of certifications the contractor’s team holds. Are they certified irrigation technicians? How many years of experience do the company’s techs have that will be working on your property?

What Is Your Process for Design and Installation?
Ask your contractor when they’ll have a design finished and ready for you to review. Also, ask your contractor if they hire subcontractors and who the project manager will be when they start working on your property.

Your landscape contractor should also explain when the equipment will arrive, when the workers will come, and when they are finished for the day. Also, ask how the crew will leave your property at the end of the day.

Will You Provide a Detailed Estimate?
You want your irrigation contractor to provide you with a detailed estimate. Ask your contractor if there will there be additional costs that come up during the installation phase. And will the contractor call your contact before making other purchases and decisions?

What Is Your Availability?
Finally, you need to ask when your contractor can start your project. Depending on the season and the weather, you may need to wait a few months until your contractor is available to start working on your sprinkler system installation.

Tips for Evaluating Landscape Design Proposals
If you interview three different contractors to work on your property, you can compare services, prices, the scope of work, availability, and the quality of each company’s work.
When you get all three landscape contractors’ estimates, do the following:

• Compare prices and services
• Consider the scope of work
• Review the timeline and deadlines
• Evaluate the quality of the design.

In conclusion, choosing the right landscape contractor can significantly affect your outdoor space's outcome, such as a water sprinkler installation. By following the tips provided, you can ensure that you find a qualified and trustworthy contractor who will meet your needs and expectations.

How K-Rain Helps You Find a Qualified Landscape Contractor Near You

Suppose you want to install a water sprinkler system on your property this year. In that case, you need to visit our K-Rain Contractor Referral Program, where you can find a prequalified landscape and irrigation contractor near you.

You can learn more about residential sprinkler systems at our website. You can also buy K-Rain parts and accessories at our online store, your local Home Depot, Lowes, or retail store.

Sources:
Irrigation.org, Landscape Certifications.
LoveYourLandscape.org, Hiring a Pro.
Nationwide.com, 7 Tips for Working with Contractors.
ShawnVanDyke.com, Communication Between Contractor and Client.