Landscape Contract Red Flags: Terminology to Watch for in Commercial Landscape Contracts

When you manage a commercial property in Greater Chicago, you want to ensure you have all of your bases covered, including the landscaping and outdoor areas.

Maybe you take care of a retail facility and want to ensure it’s accessible for shoppers, providing great aesthetics, comfortable lounging areas, and convenient parking.

Or you might manage a hospital or industrial site that needs safety, security, and easy navigation.

You may even maintain an office park where you have to ensure the property is functional and accessible during work hours and provide some great lunch, meeting, or alternative work spots.

Whatever type of site you manage, you will need commercial landscape maintenance. And as you compare bids from various companies and think about signing contracts, you may be worried about what you’re getting yourself into with different landscape contract terminology or commercial landscape terms and conditions.

We get it. This can be daunting. That’s why we’re here to help.

Let’s look at some landscape contract red flags you should pay attention to to ensure you’re getting a contract that suits your needs.

5 Red Flags to Help You Identify Bad Commercial Landscape Contracts

To help you with your research as you seek to hire a landscape professional for your commercial landscape, we’ve put together a list of some major landscape contract red flags.

These signs should give you immediate pause and convince you that you need to look into finding another company for commercial landscape maintenance & construction in Greater Chicago.

1. Lack of Clear Expectations

Commercial landscaping agreements must be thorough, detailed, and understood by both parties.

This means your contract should include details for all services, including mowing, edging, fertilization, pruning, mulch installations, and spring and fall cleanups. In addition, extra services like edging and pruning will be mentioned if they are included in the service package.

In addition, your contract should mention how often those services will be performed, such as weekly mowing and how often pruning will happen on your trees and shrubs. Your contract can also include specific areas you’d like pruned or kept clear for visibility or accessibility. It can even include areas that you want maintained, as well as those that don’t require maintenance.

These details ensure clear expectations. If you see a lack of some of these specifics in your contract, you risk being nickeled and dimed for some services or disappointment when you don’t get the maintenance you expected. That’s what makes this a landscape contract red flag.

2. The Commercial Landscaper Wants to Be Paid Up Front

However, if the commercial landscaper you’re meeting with asks for a large payment up front without doing any work on your property, then that’s a landscape contract red flag.

You should agree to payment terms that fit your budget and needs, and then those should be clearly outlined in your contract.

3. There is No Contract

When you’re agreeing on the work to be done for your commercial property, those services and expectations should come with a commercial landscape contract that details specific tasks to be done, along with commercial landscaping terms and conditions.

When you hire a commercial landscape company, you want to avoid verbal agreements. You want the company you hire to be accountable for work they said they’d perform with signed documentation that proves it.

4. Communication Details Are Not Included

When your commercial landscape contract is set, it should include preferred methods for you to talk with your commercial landscape company so you can ask questions or address issues.

This is something you need as a property manager to ensure if you have special events or requests, you can reach out quickly and get those things accomplished.

5. No Proof of Liability or Workers’ Compensation Insurance

When you hire a commercial landscape company without insurance, then you’re at risk if they do any major damage on your property or if one of their workers gets injured while working on your property.

A reputable company should be able to show you proof of up-to-date insurance so you don’t have to worry or include this documentation in your commercial landscaping agreement.

Find a Commercial Landscaping Agreement That Suits Your Commercial Property

Doing your research and being prepared is always better than jumping into contract terms in landscaping that you didn’t agree to, don’t understand, or that don’t help you or your property.

In the end, you want a commercial landscape company that is going to meet all of your specific needs in Greater Chicago … and maybe even exceed your expectations.

A company that takes you seriously, listens to your needs, and presents a well-thought-out and professional image and detailed maintenance contract is the one that will help you feel confident that you’re making a great choice. After all, a company that communicates and focuses on details in the beginning is going to bring that same attention to detail to your commercial property.

Ready to see how KD Landscape can better manage your Greater Chicago commercial landscape? We’d love to share our expertise with you and deliver a property that stands out. Get started today with an on-site consultation. Together, we can prepare a plan that works best for you.