If you go through the process of hiring a commercial landscaper, you expect to be satisfied with the results. As a property manager, you probably already have a lot on your plate and babysitting your commercial landscaping maintenance firm is not something you want to be responsible for.
But can you even hire a new company mid-season?
Jump to Section
- What to Expect When Hiring a Landscaper?
- Should I Fire My Landscaper?
- Can I Start A New Commercial Landscaping Contract Mid-Season?
- What to Expect When Hiring a Landscaper Mid-Season?
- Choosing Commercial Landscaping in Greater Chicago
In this article, we’ll dive into some of the reasons why you might want to consider hiring a landscaper in the middle of the season and what you can expect from that process.
What to Expect When Hiring a Landscaper?
Before we talk about some of the reasons that property managers wind up dissatisfied after hiring a landscaper, let’s talk about what is reasonable to expect. It is important to approach this with realistic expectations.
Once you’ve hired a commercial landscaper, you should expect that the services laid out in your contract are adequately fulfilled. That means your commercial landscaping company is performing the appropriate tasks on the schedule that was communicated to you.
While there are many unpredictable factors in landscaping (such as weather, disease, and pests), you should also feel overall pleased with the results you’re getting. That’s not to say that there won’t be setbacks or problems. Because of factors outside of your landscaper’s control (like the weather), issues can arise. But these should be communicated to you.
You should also definitely expect communication. You shouldn’t feel left in the dark about what’s going on at your property.
All of these are reasonable expectations when hiring a commercial landscaper.
Should I Fire My Landscaper?
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably already unhappy with your commercial landscaping provider. But should you fire your landscaper?
That’s a personal decision, but some signs indicate it's time to fire your landscaper.
Here are some examples:
The site looks neglected. When you’re paying for landscaping for a commercial property, you expect it to look like it’s being professionally maintained. While there are problems that can pop up unexpectedly, these should be communicated about with you. Your property should not look like it’s being neglected.
Visitors have complained. Another big red flag that we hear about is that visitors to the property were pointing out problems or complaining. Maybe there was a branch covering a sign in the parking lot or they tripped over some overgrown shrubs. If the property manager is fielding complaints, that’s a concern.
Again, a chance should be given to remedy the problem as sometimes landscaping issues can sneak up (particularly with storms). However, if this is a repeat offense, it poses a significant problem.
The communication is lacking (or non-existent). Do you have trouble reaching your account manager or getting answers to your questions? When you’re paying for landscaping for a commercial property, you deserve good communication.
You’ve lost confidence. Whether it was not doing something they said they would, not showing up (with no communication), or repeated mistakes, maybe you’ve just lost confidence in your landscaper’s performance. This could be a sign it might be time to hire someone new.
Can I Start A New Commercial Landscaping Contract Mid-Season?
Every situation is unique, but first, you can expect to go through a termination process with your existing vendor. This can take anywhere from 60 days to several months, depending on the arrangements within your existing contract.
When a property manager reaches out to us about hiring us mid-season, we will typically review the existing paperwork to help them understand their termination clause. We can also assist with drafting a termination letter.
However, we always start that process by asking about the reasons they want to cancel. Is it that the landscaping is under-performing, that they feel there’s a lack of communication, or has their landscaping company completely lost their trust?
Understanding what went wrong is helpful before starting a new commercial landscaping contract.
Additionally, did you allow your existing provider to correct this? It’s important to remember that communication is a two-way street. If you have reasons for being dissatisfied with your commercial landscaping maintenance company, you should communicate these concerns and see if they can be addressed.
Often, however, people have already passed this point when they begin looking to hire a new company. They’ve given their commercial landscaping maintenance company ample time to solve a problem and they have not come through.
What to Expect When Hiring a Landscaper Mid-Season?
If you’ve decided that you want to switch providers in the middle of the season, you should also set realistic expectations about what you can expect from the new provider.
One misconception we face when starting with a client mid-season is that they expect a standard contract to begin immediately, but often we need to develop a stabilization plan to address any major issues.
These corrections might fall outside the scope of a general contract. That means you may initially have to pay for some “add-on” (or “enhancement”) work until the problems are corrected.
When we take on a client in the middle of the season, we would start by evaluating the current site conditions and determining if a stabilization plan is necessary. We would then go over what would be involved in getting the property back on track.
It’s essential to recognize that this may not occur overnight. However, a good commercial landscaping maintenance company will communicate realistic expectations and a reasonable timeline.
Choosing Commercial Landscaping in Greater Chicago
Ultimately, we recognize that hiring a commercial landscaper can be a challenging decision. You want to feel confident that you’ve made the right choice the first time.
But sometimes things don’t work out as planned.
If you decide to switch commercial landscaping companies during the season, take the time to do your research, ask questions, and ensure you’re making an informed choice. You don’t want to keep repeating this process.
At KD Landscape, we’re here to be your commercial landscape maintenance partners. If you do choose to work with us, you can count on us to communicate thoroughly.
We want to help ensure that both your experience and your results meet the highest standards. If you are considering switching landscaping companies and you have questions, we are here to help.
Want to learn more about KD Landscape’s commercial landscape maintenance in Chicagoland? Get started today with an on-site consultation. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.
