Hiring Your Next Maryland Patio Design Company

What To Consider When Hiring Your Next Maryland Patio Design Company

Deciding which Maryland patio design company to hire is a big decision for any homeowner to make. After all, whoever is hired is charged with designing and installing an important improvement to one’s home. Whether you plan to add a new walkway and entry or a patio and outdoor living area, the project is an investment in your home. On top of that, the landscape company and their employees will be spending time around your home at times when you may or may not be present. Make no mistake about it. Hiring a patio design company is a giant extension of trust. The following are things that you should  consider when hiring your next landscape company.

Reputation

This seems like a no brainer but it is always amazing that someone will hire strictly on price instead of reputation. Who else is using the company in your neighborhood? Does the company have solid references? Does the company finish the jobs that it starts. Check with your friend and neighbors. Chances are, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.

Knowledge

Most patio design projects involve several different scopes of work. One project can easily involve plantings, hardscape, drainage, lighting and more. That is a lot of know-how to possess in order to get the job done correctly. If any of these are done incorrectly, it could have costly and even unsafe consequences down the road.

Another factor to consider is plant selection for your patio project. Each plant has particular requirements for it to thrive. Most ferns simply cannot survive in full sun. Mugo Pines cannot live in shade. Additionally, know how the plants will mature is vital for the long term appearance and success of a property. How many times have you seen a giant plant growing right in front of a window? Proper plant selection will assure that the plant does not outgrow it’s location. Right plant, right place as the saying goes.

Resources

It takes a lot of equipment and man power to properly implement a patio design. Purchasing and maintaining equipment is expensive. Hiring and training good, skilled people takes time. Is the landscape company you are considering earning enough to invest in excellent people and the right equipment to be able to show up and do the job.

Insurance

Here is a scary thought: Did you know that if a company does not have Worker’s Compensation Insurance and an employee (even the owner) gets hurt on your property, you could be held liable? It is the law that companies must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in Maryland, and for good reason. What about property damage? Is a company that is losing money really going to take responsibility for damage to your property?

Licenses

In Maryland, every patio construction company is required to hold a Maryland Home Improvement Contractor’s License. Requirements for this license include proving financial stability, providing a certificate of insurance with adequate levels or protection, and passing an exam. Unfortunately, the state rarely prosecutes unlicensed companies meaning there are many landscape companies performing work illegally. Always make sure any landscape company you are considering holds a Maryland Home Improvement Contractor’s License.

Safety

Finally, safety matters. Any Maryland patio construction company that does not take safety seriously and does not have a good safety record probably has short comings in other areas of their companies. Safety is a basic tenet in any good landscape company. It shows a level of care and detail in how it cares about it’s employees, it’s customers and it’s customer’s property. Be sure to ask any prospecting landscape company about their safety record.