5 Questions to Ask a Landscape Contractor Before Signing a Contract
Hiring a landscape contractor is a big decision. A good one makes the process smooth and leaves you with a yard that lasts. A bad one can leave you with unfinished work, liens, and a mess. Here are five questions to ask before you sign anything.
1. Are you licensed, and can I verify it?
In California, landscape and construction work over a small dollar amount requires a license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Ask for the license number, then look it up yourself at cslb.ca.gov. Check that:
The license is active
The business name matches the company you're talking to
There are no recent complaints or disciplinary actions
Our license number is on every proposal and contract, and you're welcome to look it up.
2. Do you carry insurance and workers' comp?
Ask for proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation if the contractor has employees. If someone gets hurt on your property and the contractor isn't covered, you could be on the hook. The CSLB lookup also shows workers' comp information.
3. What does the payment schedule look like?
In California, the down payment on a home improvement contract is limited to 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Be cautious of anyone asking for a large amount up front. After that, payments should follow the work as it gets done, not get ahead of it. Get the schedule in writing.
4. What's the realistic timeline, and what could change it?
Ask when the project can start, how long it will take, and what could cause delays, like weather, permits, or material availability. Be wary of anyone who promises an unrealistically fast start and finish. A clear, honest timeline is a good sign.
5. Who will I be working with, and what's the warranty?
Find out who runs your job day to day and who you call with questions. Ask what the warranty covers and for how long. At our company, you work directly with me from design through the final walkthrough, and our work carries a warranty: 2 years on hardscape, irrigation, and other construction, and 90 days on plants and trees.
Also ask: how do you leave the job site?
You'll be living with the project while it's being built. Ask how the crew handles cleanup each day, where materials and equipment will be stored, and how they protect your driveway, lawn, and house during the work. A contractor who plans for this up front usually runs a cleaner job overall. On our end, most of our jobs have a portable toilet on site for the crew, and we make sure the site is cleaned up at the end of every day.
Bonus: get it all in writing
A good contract spells out the scope of work, materials, price, payment schedule, start and finish dates, and warranty. In California, you also generally have a three-day right to cancel a home improvement contract after signing. If something isn't written down, ask for it to be added.
Red flags
Cash-only or large upfront payments
No written contract
Pressure to sign right away
No license number, or one that doesn't check out
Prices far below everyone else
Ready to talk to a licensed, insured contractor? Request a consultation. License #1109820.
— Louis Siegel, Owner & Designer, Transformation Construction & Design
