Questions to Ask Before Signing a Landscaping Contract
Most landscaping disputes come from things that weren't in writing. Here's a short list of questions to ask before you sign — covering scope, schedule, payment, and what happens if things go wrong.
Almost every problem between a homeowner and a landscaping company traces back to a conversation that didn't happen before the contract was signed. Scope creep. Surprise bills. Crews that ghost when something goes wrong.
Most of it is avoidable. The questions below take ten minutes to walk through and prevent ninety percent of the disputes that happen down the road.
Scope and definition
Get specific about what's actually being delivered.
- Exactly what services are included in this estimate?
- What is NOT included — is hauling debris extra? Is mulch a separate line item?
- How often will the property be visited (for recurring work)?
- What does a typical visit include — mowing only, or mowing + edging + blow-off?
- What's the procedure if the property needs more work than expected? Stop and re-quote, or proceed and bill the difference?
Schedule and reliability
Knowing when work will happen is half the value.
- What day of the week is my property on the route?
- What happens if it rains? Do you skip the visit or reschedule to the next available day?
- Will it be the same crew every visit?
- How much notice do you give if the schedule changes?
Pricing and payment
Money is where vague agreements become disputes.
- Is this a fixed price per visit, or hourly?
- When are invoices sent — after every visit, weekly, or monthly?
- What's the payment window?
- Are there late fees? What are they?
- What happens to the price if scope changes mid-season?
Insurance and protection
This is non-negotiable. Get documentation before any work starts.
- Are you fully insured? Can you send me the certificate of insurance?
- What's the procedure if there's accidental property damage during work?
- How are subcontractors handled, if any?
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Request a Free QuoteQuality and remedies
Make it clear what happens if something isn't right.
- If a visit doesn't meet expectations, what's the process? Do you come back? Is there a credit?
- Are plants and sod warrantied?
- If I'm not happy with the recurring service, what's the cancellation process?
Communication
Quietly the most important category.
- What's the best way to reach you with questions — phone, text, email?
- What's your typical response time?
- Will I get an end-of-visit note or photo when work is done?
You don't need to grill anyone. Walk through this list politely and conversationally. A good company will be glad you asked — it makes the relationship work better for them too. A company that flinches at any of these is showing you something important before money is on the table.
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