Maybe it’s because you care about your neighbors and your neighborhood. Maybe you got roped into it because no one else would volunteer. Whatever the reason may be, if you find yourself in charge of your neighborhood’s HOA you will have your work cut out for you. Dealing with city and/or county officials, neighbor disputes, and vendors will all be necessary in your role. While we can’t provide guidance on dealing with bureaucracy or feuding neighbors, we can provide you with a few tips on hiring the best HOA landscape contractor you can. Let’s take a look at some of the methods you can use to keep costs down and appearances up.
The Complaints
The most common complaints that HOA facility managers have about their landscape vendors are that they do not communicate well or provide proactive advice for their clients. A landscaping company in Central Florida may “mow and blow” reliably but not do anything else to provide value to the client. Before hiring a vendor for your landscaping needs, ask them about their communication methods. Do they check on their clients periodically? Do they make suggestions about what types of plants and flowers would look and do the best in the area?
It is also a must for any landscaping company to have an enhanced hiring process in place. This will ensure a stable and reliable workforce that can really get to know what your HOA’s landscaping needs are and the challenges you may face. A good crew will provide frequent advice on how service and appearance can be improved.
Asked and Answered
Ask any potential landscaping company for your HOA what “value added” services they provide. Will the company be able to provide tree removal services or fixes to the HOA’s irrigation systems should the need arise? The last thing you want to do is get involved with a myriad of different companies for your various landscaping needs.
It is also a good idea to ask any company you are considering for referrals. Take the time to call and speak with these referrals and ask them what they think about the company. How is the company’s customer service? How do they handle disputes and/or disagreements? Are there any areas that they need to improve in? These are all important questions to ask before you make your final decision to hire.
The Time Has Come
You’ve asked the right questions and received the right answers. You’ve found a landscaping company that can perform the work you need at a reasonable price. Before you sign any kind of contract, make your requirements and expectations known. Tell them if you expect correspondence and with what frequency. Tell them that you expect their employees to provide suggestions on how they can improve your HOA’s landscape. Making your demands clear in the beginning is the best way to avoid conflict and hassle down the road.
We here at Aventura Nursery & Landscaping can work with you to provide the best possible service at the best possible price for your HOA’s landscaping needs. Give us a call today at (352) 799-3200 and give us the opportunity to make your HOA look its best!