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Landscaping: questions to ask before you hire

Landscaping is part design, part drainage. Ask how the plan handles water, not just how it looks.

For landscaping

  1. Do you do the design, or should I bring a plan?
  2. Where will the water go when it rains? How do you handle drainage?
  3. Which plants do well in our climate with little watering?
  4. What's in the soil you bring in, and how deep will it be?
  5. Is a warranty included on plants, and for how long?
  6. Will you call BC 1 Call to mark underground lines before digging?

Ask every contractor

  1. Do you have a business licence that covers my city? Can I see it?
  2. Can you send me a WorkSafeBC clearance letter? It means I'm not on the hook if one of your crew is hurt on my property.
  3. Do you have liability insurance? Can I see the certificate?
  4. Can I get the quote in writing, broken down into materials and labour?
  5. How much is the deposit, and when are the other payments due? (Be wary of a big payment up front.)
  6. When can you start, and how long will the job take?
  7. Who will actually do the work: your own crew or subcontractors?
  8. Does the job need a permit, and who gets it?
  9. What warranty do you give, on materials and on your work? Can I have it in writing?
  10. Can I see photos of similar jobs you've done recently, or talk to a past customer?
  11. How do you leave the site at the end of each day, and when the job's done?