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How Should I Compare Bids From Multiple Commercial Landscapers?

by Emily Durgan | Thu, Nov 05, 2015

As a property manager seeking commercial landscaping bids, it can be confusing comparing bids from different companies.

For one company, something is included, for another it’s extra. Plus, for someone new to property management or unschooled in landscaping services, it might be hard to know what services your property needs and how to choose a company that will provide you with the best value.

A representative from the landscaping company you’ll receive a bid from should walk through your property with you, to understand your concerns and expectations. It may take a few weeks to get a comprehensive bid after discussing it with a landscaping professional.

When comparing bids from commercial landscapers, here are a four pointers to keep in mind to ensure you're hiring the best company for the job:

Compare Apples To Apples

landscaping companies come in different sizes and that needs to be considered during the bidding processYou might get bids in different formats from different companies. If so, you can’t just look at the bottom line, you need to make sure you’re comparing like items.

Does the company offer an all-inclusive contract or a line-item contract where each service or product is charged separately? If you’re getting an all-inclusive bid, find out exactly what’s included in the service, and how often.

You should find out if the company contracts out any of the services, like tree trimming. Sometimes companies don’t have the proper licensing or expertise in all areas, so they work with other companies to provide this. That doesn’t necessarily impact the quality of the work, but you should know who would be providing all the services.

Is The Cheapest Bid The Best?

While value-minded property managers understandably want to get the most for their money, it doesn’t usually pay off to go with the cheapest bid. If the bid is low, there may be a reason. What is the company skimping on to offer that low price?

Some smaller companies have less overhead or management. A lean structure can work in some industries, but commercial property managers can get the short end of the stick with this approach, because what’s cut might be a staff person to communicate with the customer, or landscapers with specialized education in the field.

Certifications, Licensing and Insurance — Where’s The Proof?

It’s important to verify that a commercial landscaping company is properly insuredIt’s important to verify that a landscaping company is properly insured and certified to perform its services.

Some low-budget companies perform irrigation work or chemical services, but aren’t licensed to do so. They might use products from a hardware store, rather than commercial grade products.

Professionally applying chemicals without a license in Florida is illegal, and ultimately the customer’s landscaping suffers.

GreenEarth has a license to apply chemicals and fertilizer to your grass, shrubs and ornamental plants. We are also licensed to do irrigation work and trim trees up to a certain size.

GreenEarth also holds general liability and worker’s compensation insurance to protect our clients as well as our employees. This means we have policies in place to rectify any adverse situation.

It’s also important for a prospective customer to get copies of the insurance certificate as well as other license information to make sure that the landscaping company is above board.

Company Quality and References

In addition to looking at the items and services listed on the bid, you should look into the company’s reputation as well.

Your landscaping company representative should meet with you face to face, so you’re able to ask questions and have a relationship with a person, not just a voice on the other end of the line.

Always ask for a list of references. If you're met with resistance, that could be a red flag. At GreenEarth, we provide our potential customers with an updated list of customers of similar type properties, so they can speak with someone getting similar service.

When you call a reference, ask these four questions:

  • Can you explain the quality of service the landscaping company provides your property?
  • How responsive is their communication?
  • Have you raised any issues with the landscaper and how quickly was it addressed?
  • And simply, are you happy with the overall service?

But don’t just call that reference list. Check out the actual property in person to see how well it’s maintained. GreenEarth representatives are happy to walk through another property with you, to show what services that property gets, and how the landscaping is impacted by our work.

GreenEarth Can Give Your Commercial Property Comprehensive Service

GreenEarth provides potential customers with an updated list of customers of similar type properties

At GreenEarth, we think that the bidding process is just as important as the maintenance and landscaping work. It sets the tone for the future relationship you have with your landscaper. Will you be partners working toward the same goal?

We’ll take the time to get to know your pain points, your concerns and your expectations, so we can address those and give you the best possible service. We’re happy to talk with you about your commercial landscaping maintenance needs and can give you a comprehensive bid that answers all your questions and meets your needs.

If you’d like a consultation or want to know what we can do to help you, give us a call at our Panama City Beach office at (850) 236-1959, or call our Santa Rosa Beach office at (850) 267-0010 to set up an appointment. You can also fill out the online form on our website to schedule a consultation.

 

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