Hiring a Landscaper Whether or not you choose us to carry out your landscape gardening for you, here are a few important points to consider before hiring a contractor: • There are many different ways in which a landscaper can be found. Yellow Pages, newspaper classifieds, the internet, landscaping trade association directories, word of mouth, leaflets drops, shop window cards, A-board advertising……..the list goes on and on. The most trusted way of finding landscapers is by recommendations from people who have had satisfactory work carried out. If you have friends or relatives who have had landscape gardening work done, and are happy, ask them for the Landscapers number otherwise, if you see some work being carried out in your neighbourhood it is worth asking the home owner what he/she thinks of the landscaper’s work, you can even see at first hand their handiwork. Many people feel secure in choosing a landscaping firm that has obviously spent a lot of money on advertising, while this can indicate a landscaping firm is committed to the job and not as likely to be a ‘cowboy outfit’, the actual quality of landscaping is paramount and most reputable firms would be willing to take you to see their work at the home of a previous satisfied customer. • It is usually a good idea to have several quotes/estimates from various landscaping firms. This can give you more ideas and options as well decreasing your chances of being ripped off. If confronted with widely varying quotes remember don’t just go for the cheapest. They may have misinterpreted what you asked for, make sure all the landscapers are quoting for the same amount of materials, the same depth of gravel, the same area of paving etc. A very clearly illustrated quote/estimate helps you do this. Also be aware of the difference between a quote and an estimate, few landscaping firms give straightforward quotes. A quote would be the final price you would be prepared to pay unless possibly if there was some substantial unforeseen work to be carried out in the course of the job and a new price agreed. An estimate is liable to rise if the landscaper feels their profits are not high enough. Beware, some Landscapers estimate low to get the work and then raise the final price significantly. As a general rule a quote is best. • When having work carried out it is worth being patient if the weather takes a turn for the worse and work slows or stops. A landscaper cannot predict the weather! Furthermore some aspects of landscaping simply cannot be carried out in very rainy or even very hot conditions and it could compromise the work to do so. A good landscaper will keep you informed if work has to halt and will prioritise your project once weather improves. Many different aspects have to be co-ordinated in a large landscaping project and throwing the weather into that mix makes it tricky to satisfy everybody all of the time! • Offering a cup of tea seems such a trivial thing but experience working with many different tradesmen has shown us that not offering one can seem like a slight-so be warned! • We have landscaped many gardens in the Clitheroe & Whalley area's. 
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