When you call a professional service for landscape maintenance, you expect them to take care of everything, with little issue. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. There are some issues that are more common than others and getting to know what they are may help you avoid similar situations.
Poor Communication
One of the top reasons clients change from one landscape maintenance provider to another is because the old service provider did not communicate well. Some of the most common complaints heard include:
- We never knew what they did – or –
- We never knew when they were here
Some of the problems that poor communication causes include a lack of clarity on the work that is done, unclear expectations, and no idea about what the crews are doing.
A solution for this issue is to ensure great client reps are used and combine this with technology, so clients never have to wonder what they are paying for. At High Prairie Outdoors, we utilize a software that can be downloaded as an application on your phone or viewed from a website that provides live updates, photos, notes, and scheduled visits for all maintenance tasks.
Being Reactive when Managing the Landscape
When you hire a company to manage and maintain your landscape, you want to feel confident that they are going to take a proactive stance when it comes to preventing issues. If a problem is the result of being reactive, then the “too little too late” mind set is present. With nature, things can happen, but many things can be prevented with proactivity.
Unfortunately, if a landscaping company is reactive, it may result in the client having to micromanage everything because they don’t believe the company is able to handle the job, or that they are forgetting to take care of things. A proactive company will eliminate this, ensuring you don’t have to “babysit” the professional service you have hired.
The solution to this problem is to hire a pro-active company. Take some time to read reviews and speak with past customers to see how a landscaping service handles problems before hiring them. This will ensure the best company for the job is hired.
Sub-par Level of Detail
Some of the issues that arise with a low level of detail is that clients will get frustrated because they feel as though they are paying for something they don’t get. Additionally, it means the company is missing important things that need to be handled.
In many cases, a low level of detail is a sign of a low-skill provider. This is your typical bargain landscaper. Many people are so busy rushing to get the job done, they don’t bother to make sure it is done right. While low detail may look fine from a distance, it will be blatantly clear that a good job was not done up close.
The solution to this issue is to hire a contractor that has a culture that encourages high-detail maintenance. The most successful contractors will understand they have to see to all the details if they want to continue receiving your business.
When a business understands the common frustrations related to their services, they can help prevent those issues from happening. Everybody wins when you’re on the same page with your landscaper.
