As a Chicago area commercial property manager, your schedule is jam-packed. While it’s critical that you set aside time to evaluate commercial landscape vendors, conducting the walkthroughs remains time-consuming.
You want to do whatever you can to maximize those visits so that you’re getting the most possible value, including an accurate representation of the companies you’re considering.
That means preparing for those meetings so every minute counts. We’re here to help you get started.
After all, a well-designed and maintained commercial landscape can boost your Greater Chicago facility's curb appeal and value.
Making sure you’re getting all the benefits boils down to your wise choice amongst commercial landscape providers in Greater Chicago.
When meeting with a new commercial landscape service provider, you want to be upfront about what your previous or current vendor handles. This enables your potential new provider to offer an apples-to-apples proposal and recommend improvements to your property.
Understanding the history of your landscaping during the commercial landscaping assessment provides additional insight into the effort invested in your site. It also provides a clearer picture of its current state and the TLC it may need to improve its health and appearance.
It’s also important to share what’s going well and going wrong. Maybe you have a broken irrigation system, or flowers are dying, or your vendor doesn’t show up when you want them to. Knowing where you have headaches can help a prospective landscaper understand how they can serve you better going forward.
As a prospective commercial landscape provider performs a commercial landscape consultation, there’s quite a bit that they should be looking at.
Here’s a checklist.
As you evaluate commercial landscape vendors, it’s helpful to know the right questions to ask.
Asking questions is important because it helps you make better decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and build stronger working relationships. In commercial property management, good questions help you determine whether a commercial landscape vendor is the right fit.
Here are some of the questions that we recommend asking:
Many drainage problems develop slowly and over time, making the signs subtle. But an expert eye can identify what’s going on.
During a commercial landscape consultation, a landscape provider often looks for red flags indicating drainage issues. Some of these potential signs include:
While we know property managers are busy, carving out time to attend the commercial landscape consultation is imperative. At the end of the day, your commercial property’s appearance reflects on you.
Ultimately, you’ll also get more out of an in-person visit than you would from reading a report.
Some of the benefits of attending the commercial property site audit include:
It’s important to be clear and honest about your budget for accurate landscape RFP preparation in Chicago. Clear communication will help landscaping providers to tailor their recommendations rather than provide you with an unrealistic proposal.
Here are our recommendations for communicating about the budget.
Be upfront about your target monthly or annual budget
There’s no benefit to withholding budgetary information. It just creates a situation where your prospective landscaping provider might submit a proposal that is out of line with your planned spending. Of course, we know you might have questions about landscaping costs. Having a candid conversation around all of this is important.
Separate “must-have” services from “nice-to-have” improvements
As you talk about budget, it’s helpful to separate what you consider “must-have” services from those that you’d view as nice add-ons. This list will look slightly different for everyone.
Share current spending and pain points if possible
What are you currently spending, and are your needs being met for that investment? What are your current pain points, and where do you feel your current landscape provider is falling short? All of this information is helpful in developing a proposal that better meets your needs and your budget.
Ask for phased options or priority-based recommendations
If you have more wants and needs than your budget allows, you can ask to phase certain larger projects. You can also ask for the proposal to be organized by priority. Make sure you clarify whether you want maintenance only or enhancements as well.
Discuss expectations for appearance, response time, and property goals
Budget-focused landscape consulting also means being forthcoming with your expectations. When expectations and budget do not align, everyone is unhappy. But this is often a mere communication problem. It’s your landscape provider’s job to set you up with realistic expectations so that you know what your budget can actually afford you.
Request options at different price levels to compare value and scope
When expectations and budget do not align, one step toward a solution is to request options at different price levels. This allows you to determine whether you want to pay a little more or if there are areas where you’re okay spending less. It’s all about honesty, transparency, and communication.
Coming to your commercial landscaping consultation prepared can save time and also facilitate a highly successful site visit.
Here are some documents and information that would be helpful for your consultation.
We hope these tips help you tackle your next commercial grounds management assessment with ease. The best Greater Chicago commercial landscapes will proactively address landscape problems to ensure an attractive, functional, and safe facility.
Working with a commercial landscaping company you trust can get you this result.
If you are unsure whether you have this relationship with your service provider, or want a better partnership, look for a company with experience working on properties like yours that proactively suggests improvements to address problem areas in your facility so it continually delivers for you.
Let KD Landscape help. We have extensive experience making commercial properties stand out in Greater Chicago and would love to do the same for you.
Want to learn more about commercial landscape design and maintenance in Greater Chicago? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.