You may find yourself looking at several bids on the table, detailing landscape maintenance plans for your Greater Chicago commercial facility.
And you must compare the similarities and differences and make a final decision. But, unfortunately, no two contracts are worded exactly the same, making this process challenging, adding to your already long list of to-dos.
At the end of the day, you just want to hire a company that has the same high standards for quality work that you do on other areas of your commercial property.
We completely understand. In fact, we can help make this process easier for you. Let’s look at some things you should look for in a commercial landscape maintenance contract so you can focus on these necessities and get a contract that works best for you.
Commercial Landscape Maintenance Contract Standards
The commercial landscape maintenance contract agreement must be thorough, detailed, and understood by both parties. You have standards, and they should be represented.
These are four of the biggest areas of concern we’ve seen working on commercial properties in Greater Chicago. Keep them in mind when reviewing your contract.
1. Landscaping Services & Frequency
Mowing, edging, fertilization, pruning, mulch installations, spring and fall cleanups – your commercial landscape maintenance contract should naturally list the services to include in a landscape maintenance contract.
But how often are these services performed? And what locations are included?
Your contract should include the basic services, as well as any additional services they include. Edging and pruning, for instance, should be mentioned as included services, so you aren’t nickeled and dimed for these tasks later.
Outline your expectations for how you like your lawn mowed, as well as any specifics necessary for special areas. For pruning, outline areas that are important for visibility that you’d like kept clear. Cleanup may involve removing fallen branches, as well as picking up trash in common areas. Think about what areas you’d like freshly mulched each year and how often to keep your property looking good.
Frequency is also important to discuss. Mowing may be weekly, but pruning may be something you want done only when there is overgrowth or once or twice a year.
These are details a landscape professional should be happy to discuss with you so the expectations are clear.
2. Maintenance Areas
As a commercial property manager, the services to include in a landscape maintenance contract will be based on your unique facility type.
For instance, on some properties like homeowners associations, common areas are the focus, and individual yards are left to the care of homeowners. Others will have different preferences. On other commercial property types like an office park or retail area, all outdoor areas must be included.
Your commercial landscape maintenance contract should outline which areas you want maintained and which ones you don’t. A community map can help you easily outline these goals and clearly mark them so there’s no confusion.
3. Landscape Master Plans & Rules
A commercial property attracts visitors and keeps them coming back by having a look and feel that is all its own.
As such, a commercial landscape maintenance contract should outline specifics in landscape design and maintenance that are important to your brand and reputation.
For instance, you may want to provide your landscape services professional with a plan that dictates a plant palette that you want them to use to maintain your preferred colors and keep your facility appearance uniform and consistent.
4. Communication is Key
When your commercial landscape maintenance contract is set, it should include preferred methods for you to talk with the landscape company to ask questions or address issues.
It’s also helpful if the same crew leaders and crews are on your property regularly because they know it best and can build relationships, remembering key areas of concern.
Getting a Commercial Landscaping Contract That Works Best For You
You can never ask too many questions when you’re reviewing your commercial landscape maintenance contract. If you’re getting to the point of signing and you are still unsure of some specifics, that’s not a great position to be in. Don’t be afraid to drill down and analyze bids so you feel confident when you make your final decision.
This process should also be about building confidence in the service partnership you're creating and building. That trust goes a long way in keeping the process smooth throughout the season.
We understand it can be hard to find the right partner that truly empathizes with the unique challenges of your Greater Chicago commercial property. But the work must get done, and KD Landscape wants to help you make the most informed and best decision for you.
Want to learn more about how KD Landscape can help you maintain your Greater Chicago commercial property? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can feel confident and make a great choice.
