Marcus Vela
What property managers get wrong about landscaping contracts
A landscaping contract that looks good on paper can still leave your property looking poorly maintained. Here is what to look for before you sign and what questions to ask.
Commercial property managers who are unhappy with their landscaping contractor almost always describe the same set of problems: inconsistent crew quality, visits that happen on the wrong day or not at all, and a contractor who is hard to reach when something goes wrong. These are not bad luck. They are predictable outcomes of contracts that were not structured to prevent them.
Here is what to look for before you sign a landscaping contract for a commercial property.
First, visit frequency and what it includes. Many contracts specify a number of visits per season without defining what happens on each visit. A visit that covers mowing but not edging, or mowing and edging but not trimming, leaves the property looking incomplete. Get specifics on what is included in each scheduled visit and what is handled as an additional service.
Second, crew consistency. Ask directly whether the same crew will service your property on each visit. Many larger landscaping companies rotate crews between properties based on scheduling needs. Rotating crews means no one builds familiarity with your property and quality varies depending on who shows up. If crew consistency matters to you, and it should, get it in writing.
Third, communication and response time. Who is your point of contact? What is the expected response time for service requests or complaints? A contract that does not specify these things leaves you at the mercy of whoever picks up the phone. A single named account manager with a defined response time is a meaningful commitment.
Fourth, scope creep and extras. Understand clearly what falls outside the base contract and what the pricing is for add-on services. Some contractors price the base contract low and make their margin on extras. If seasonal cleanups, mulching, and snow removal are not included in the base, know what they cost before you need them.
Finally, termination terms. A contract that locks you in for a full season with no exit provisions for performance issues gives the contractor little incentive to perform. A contract with defined performance standards and the ability to terminate for cause protects you if things go wrong.
