Here are three important things to look out for when you’re evaluating bid responses to select your next landscaping provider.
Super Low Prices
Have you ever thought, “Landscapers are basically all the same, so I should just look for the lowest possible price, right?”.
If you’re reading this post, we know you’d never think that.
We can tell you that choosing the lowest cost provider, especially when they’re substantially lower than the other competitive bidders, is never a good idea.
Going with the lowest bidder is tempting. It can potentially save thousands of dollars over the length of the contract. But the real cost of going with the low bidder isn’t generally seen until a few months into the contract.
Experienced commercial property managers and owners know all too well the truth in the saying, “you get what you pay for”. Super low prices suggest that the commercial landscaping company is either A) overlooking something in their bid calculations, or B) assuming they’ll be able to cut corners in the services they provide to make up for the pricing that is offered.
Neither of those will result in a quality services that you expect.
That’s why it’s so important that before entering into an agreement you must make certain that the scope of services being proposed by your competitive bidders is standardized. Without a clear “apples to apples” comparison, you’ll never really know if you’re getting the best value for your landscape maintenance investment.
Not Having a Relevant Portfolio
It is crucial to evaluate a potential landscaping company’s portfolio before entering into a landscape service agreement. A contractor’s performance on other properties is no guarantee that the provider will be able to care for your property. But if they can’t offer other relevant examples of properties they care for, similar in scope and size to yours, it should be a big red flag for you as a buyer. You need to be able to see the company’s work and review their capabilities as your prospective landscaping provider.
Also, if you’ve evaluated the company and they don’t have a long list of happy clients, you should keep looking for a landscape service provider. They should also be able to easily provide current samples of their licensing and other professional qualifications that confirm their credibility.
Ambiguous Statements About Included Services
The landscaping vendor you choose for your project must be able to provide you with a crystal-clear scope of services to avoid any confusion once the work begins. It is your right to question the services included of the contract, and it is essential to inquire about the different rates for services offered outside the contract’s scope. The pricing structure of additional services, hidden fees and costs, forms of payment accepted and other topics that could potentially impact your landscape service costs for the year, should be well documented in every proposal submitted.
Trust Your Property To Yellowstone Landscape
It’s imperative to build and maintain a good working relationship with your commercial landscape provider. You deserve regular, professional communication about the ongoing landscape service needs at your property to ensure high-quality work is produced season after season, and year after year.
Trust your team at Yellowstone Landscape to provide you with high quality and consistent work for your commercial property’s landscape. Reach out to us today to schedule a meeting with one of our landscape pros!
