You may have hired landscaping professionals to help with the design and construction of your new lawn to enhance curb appeal or just enjoy the beauty of your outside living space, but you may run into issues where you need to fire your landscaper. Hiring a landscaper should help take the pressure off you as the homeowner, by keeping your landscape project on schedule and within the budget that you want. But not every hire is going to meet or exceed your expectations. You don’t want to waste time, energy, or money by investing in a landscaping professional that isn’t delivering the results you agreed on.

Whether you’re planning to add a fence or pathway in your backyard or install fresh grass and foliage, there are some red flags to consider before hiring a professional landscaper to do the work for you. If you are just beginning to seek out a professional’s help or in a partnership currently with a landscaper, know the warning signs of when it’s time to let your professional go and find new help.

Signs you should fire your landscaper

When you see that your project is not going how you expected, your first instinct might be to get mad and start making demands or threats. Instead, get motivated to take action. Know what behavior merits ending a partnership with your professional by being aware of your contract with your landscaper, in the form of a written and signed legal agreement. Be wary of a professional who:

  • Will not sign a contract
  • Ignores or fails to follow agreed budget
  • Arrives late or fails to show up consistently
  • Lacks communication skills
  • Involved in dangerous or inappropriate behavior
  • Steals or is involved in theft of personal items
  • Refuses to solve problems or answer questions

Hire smart

You may be able to prevent having to fire a bad landscaper by not hiring one in the first place. There are many indicators that you should pass on certain professionals. Do not hire a landscaper who:

  • Refuses to show you their business license, proof of insurance or that they are bonded (if required by your state)
  • Does not provide a written quote or contract
  • Asks for more than 50% of the total cost up front
  • Refuses to file necessary permits or asks you to manage the permit process
  • Gives a low-ball estimate that is far from competitor’s estimates
  • Requests payment to their personal name, not their business
  • Will only accept cash
  • Will not share client referrals
  • Uses high-pressure sales techniques to get your business

What to do after you fire your landscaper

Once you have terminated your business partnership with your landscaper, you will have gotten out of your contract due to one of the previous issues that broke you and your professional’s legal agreement. If you’re left with an unfinished project and with no professional, you may be unsure what to do next. The following are some tips for getting your project back on track:

  • New landscaper must be licensed
  • Require proof of insurance
  • Lay out all warranty information
  • Double check referrals and reviews of the landscaper’s previous projects
  • Existing permits must be altered to reflect the new landscaper
  • New hire must fill out new permit application referencing old permit number
  • Your new contract should include a letter from the contractor accepting responsibilities for all work
  • If you do not hire a new professional you must submit a letter to your municipality that you are taking over the permit

What else is needed?

Before firing your landscaping professional, it’s good to have a backup plan. Don’t put to waste all homework you did in the first place to find a landscaper. You will want to have a list of potential landscapers that you would be willing to hire and work with along with quotes from each. Once you have fired your professional, you will want a formal termination of notice signed by you. After termination of your landscaper, it is best to cover all of your bases and terms. This will include checking to see if a lien was put on your property, which is a right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged. Current permits should also be on the job site, so if some time has passed between you firing your previous landscaping professional and hiring a new one, you may want to check to see if any permits have expired during that time. If permits are missing and you know they are current, you may be able to get a copy.

It’s okay to fire your landscaper if you encounter any of these red flags. If you are looking to hire a new landscaper or just starting out, find a reliable and qualified professional on Porch to begin your search.

 

Top Image Credit: Edmund D. Hollander Landscape Architect Design