How long have you been a Landscape Contractor ? (The more experienced they are the easier your gardens design installation experience will be)

What's your Landscape Construction background ? (Where they learned their craft: Trade School; On-the-job Training; or Apprenticed under another Landscape Contractor... The better trained they are the more experienced they will be at installing your garden according to the approved design plans)

Have you Done Any Projects in our area ? (This is important if you live in an area governed by local restrictions. The Landscape Contractors past experiences in working with your Home Owners Association or local governing agencies can limit the amount of time the approved permit process will take).

Follow-up question... Can You Give Us A list of a few projects we can drive by; Or can you arrange for us to visit the sites with you ? (This is a good follow-up if you like them but their portfolio isn't quite up to your expectations)

What installation services do You provide ? [Most Landscape Contractors will install: all hardscape elements (paving, walls, water features, cook-centers, outdoor fireplaces, etc.); Carpentry (garden structures, fences, decks, etc.); Automatic Irrigation systems; All plantings; And garden lighting]

SPECIAL NOTE... If you are installing a pool you will need to solicit the services of a Pool Contractor (You can still use the "Being Prepared" and this "Interview Questions" forms to find/interview and select a Pool Contractor).

Follow-up questions:

• What other services will you provide under your contract ? [They should include: Any governing agency approvals/permits required (There may be an additional charge for the actual approval/permit fees... But the Contractors labor to process these should be included); Daily on-site supervision/coordination of the installation (Either by the Contractor or one of their on-site supervisors); Samples for final approval by You prior to ordering all hardscape materials (Stone, tile, brick, etc.); Change orders/estimates to be approved by You before proceeding with any additional work outside the original scope of work agreed to; And any other Industry Standard Services normally provided by the Landscape Contractor...]

• Do you provide on-site portable toilet facilities for your crews... And are we charged extra for this services if we do not provide on-site facilities?

• How do you handle trash generated by the garden installation and by your crews/subs ? (Daily trash build-up from discarded installation debris and lunch trash from crews/subs can become a real issue, epically if your living in your residence during construction. Insist that all trash be stockpiled in one location and be hauled-off two to three times a week with no debris remaining over the weekends... Have The Landscape Contractor State This In Their Contract)

Once you start Our garden Installation How Long do You think the installation will take... Based on your approved garden design plans ? (Most garden design installations will take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to install depending on the complexity of the garden design plans)

Follow-up questions:

Once you start Our garden Installation will your workmen be on the job full time or do you juggle your crews/subs between several jobs at once... More plainly put, how many jobs are you capable of handling at once ? (This is important if you have a special event planned and are looking for a Landscape Contractor who can complete your garden design within a specific time frame)

Are you willing to include a specific completion date and a daily monetary penalty clause in your contract for each day the installation goes beyond that date ? [If your contractor agrees they may also expcect a bonus, in the same dollar amount as the penalty, for each day they finish ahead of the scheduled completion date... WARNING: Most Landscape Contractors will be opposed to including this clause, due to the unforeseen conditions and the nature of the landscape installation business (Usually such a clause is subject to: material delivery delays; weather condition/acts of God; or any other unforeseen conditions). Also be aware that if a single change order (Requiring additional time to complete) is signed by You to make changes to the original approved garden design plans... This may nullify any agreed to specific completion date covered by the penalty clause]

How do You Charge For Your Services ? (Various fee structure options are: 1 - A fixed fee for garden Installation Services... Or 2 - A Percentage Fee based on the total final construction cost of Your Garden Installation - 15 to 20%)

SPECIAL NOTE: Both of these fees will vary via Change Order if You make changes to the original approved design plans

You should let the Landscape Contractor know Which Fee structure You Prefer at this point... Most Contractors will present their proposal /contract fee structure in the way You feel most comfortable with. The Contractor will provide a Payment Schedule which will include a deposit upon signing (In the State of California the maximum amount a contractor can ask for on signing is $1000). The balance of the contract will be broken down into payments due, based on the amount of work completed as the garden Installation progresses (Be sure to review this thoroughly and make sure you are comfortable with the amounts and payments due schedule. Payments due can come quickly and unexpectedly and you want to make sure you can meet the agreed to payment obligations on time to keep your gardens design installation moving along on schedule)

Additional Note: Click Here to find out if Your sate requires Landscape Contractors to be Licensed, and what the maximum contract $$$ deposit allowed at signing is

Also make sure that Labor and materials lien releases are signed and included with each payment invoice presented as per the original payment schedule (At the very minimum they should issue a final materials/labor lien release before you make the final payment on your garden installation. Be aware that in most states, even if you pay the Landscape Contractor in full, their materials suppliers/laborers/sub-contractors can still come after You for any monies still owed them by the Landscape Contractor)

Follow-up question: Are you Licensed and Bonded to practice as a Landscape Contractor in this state... If so, what is your Landscape Contractors License Number ? (This question only applies if Your state requires Landscape Contractors to be Licensed).

After the interview meeting and before you even consider hiring the Landscape Contractor Click Here to find out if Your State requires Licensing. If so follow the instructions to check the Contractor's License Number Status and to see if they are bonded and insured... And if there are any complaints or pending disciplinary actions against them

Are there any other additional charges we should be aware of ? (There may be an additional charge for the actual approval/permit fees; Change Orders as a result of changes You make to the original approved design plans will incur extra expense; You will be charged reimbursable expense fees + an agreed to percentage fee for items purchased by the Landscape Contractor which you where required to provide but have asked them to supply instead; You may also be charged reimbursable expense fees for additional approved garden design plan sets required by any local governing agency or additional sets required by crews/subs during your gardens design installation... Unless the plan sets are already being provided by your landscape designer)

Does Your Proposal/Contract Include a Cancellation Clause ? [You should require they include a clause stating, "Should it become necessary for the Client and/or Landscape Contractor to cancel this contract for any reason, the Client agrees to compensate the Landscape Contractor for all satisfactory garden design installation work completed as per the approved garden design plans up to the date of written cancellation (not to exceed the total agreed to contract fee)"... This allows You or The Landscape Contractor the option to cancel at any stage of the garden design installation process (For example, if You and the Landscape Contractor reach an impasse on installation issues that can't be resolve through arbitration by your landscape designer or your States Contractors Licensing Board - That might be a good time to look for another Landscape Contractor]