Selecting a Lawn Care Co for Common Ground

Started by JoshB1 • 6 replies • 1584 views

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JoshB1 (Missouri)
Posts: 2

Posted:

I would like to know what's the most cost effective or best way to find a Lawn Care Company to take care of our common ground?? There are so many to choose from here in the area(Wentzville, Mo). I don't know which one I should go with because I would think the cheapest isn't always the best!! Any comments would be very helpful, thanks.

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

I don't know if it's the best way, but one of the best ways to select any vendor or contractor would be to first develop a specific Request for Proposal (or Request for Quote) that outlines exactly what you want done and then send it to vendors in your area.

When you receive the RFPs back, you will then be able to whittle the candidates down and arrange for an in-person interview with the company.

Remember when developing your RFP to include a DEADLINE by which the quote must be returned, as well as a section that asks for references from current and/or past clients.

JamesG (Connecticut)
Posts: 83

Posted:

Good feedback so far. I would also suggest that after you narrow the field that you have a vendor's meeting and walk the property. It is amazing how people can come up with different "understandings" of a performance spec. With everyone touring together, all the questions are heard and all the answers are heard. So all the contractors and you are on the "same page". More often than not, contractors will need to revise their bid based on the new "understanding" of the requirements.

Good luck.

JoshB1 (Missouri)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Not to sound like I need my hand held but when your looking for these companies, are you going online, looking in the phone book, or looking through the paper? Which one is the best way to find them and you've had the most luck in doing so?

PeterB1 (Florida)
Posts: 257

Posted:

Call all your friends who live in nearby communities. Ask them (better TELL them) to find the name of the landscape company who does their property.

Invite anyone you can find to walk the property with you. Ask them what looks good and what would they do better. Ask about the crew and foreman. Same ones all the time? How long has the foreman been with you? Pretend you are hiring them - you are.

Finally, get as much as you can in writing. What you and the company say is pretty much meaningless 6 months from now!

peter

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

By the way, sometimes we've used an online screening site called "Angie's List."

For our own personal purposes, my husband and I have found very reliable roofers, solar panel installers, concrete workers and sunroom builders.

But you really do need to sit down and make a specification sheet to produce a standard proposal sheet.

You need to know how many acres you have, whether all acreage receives weekly mows, or simply XX number per season, whether the vender is bonded, etc etc etc.

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JoshB1 on 05/25/2010 3:41 PM
Not to sound like I need my hand held but when your looking for these companies, are you going online, looking in the phone book, or looking through the paper? Which one is the best way to find them and you've had the most luck in doing so?

Josh, maybe this will help you. Attached is a sample RFP for landscaping for a condominium. It should give you an idea of things that may be included in an RFP.

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