To choose a commercial landscaping company, compare written scope, insurance, communication and year round coverage, not just the bottom line of each bid. The right partner can show you exactly what is included, who your point of contact will be, and how the property is handled from spring cleanup through winter. The ten questions below give property managers, facility managers and HOA boards a fair way to compare proposals side by side.
The Difference Landscapes has served commercial properties, HOAs and multifamily communities on the NH Seacoast from Lee since 2003. These are the same questions we expect a careful buyer to ask us.
Why does choosing on price alone often backfire?
A low bid is only low if it covers the same work. Two proposals can look close on paper while one leaves out edging, bed care or a fall cleanup, and that gap shows up as change orders or resident complaints in the middle of summer.
Price matters, but it is easier to judge once the scope is the same on every bid. Ask each company to price the same list of services, at the same frequency, for the same areas of the property.
What questions should you ask a commercial landscaping company?
Use this list in your bid package or your interviews. A good company will answer each one clearly and in writing.
- What exactly is included in the scope? Ask for a list of services, how often each one happens, and which areas of the property are covered. Mowing, trimming, edging, bed care, mulching, cleanups and fertilization should each be named.
- What is not included? Exclusions are just as important as inclusions. Knowing what falls outside the contract helps you budget and avoids surprises.
- Who is our point of contact? Find out who answers when the board or the property manager calls. At The Difference Landscapes, we assign one account manager per property.
- Can you provide a certificate of insurance? Any commercial vendor should be able to show proof of coverage. We provide a certificate of insurance on request.
- How are extra work and changes approved? Ask how additional work is quoted and approved before it starts, so the board or manager stays in control of spending.
- How do you communicate during the season? Ask how you will hear about issues spotted on site, schedule changes and recommendations.
- Do you handle the whole year, or only the growing season? Many properties want one vendor for landscaping and snow. We offer one combined year round contract with one invoice for landscaping plus snow.
- Which services do you offer beyond mowing? Fertilization and weed control, irrigation, landscape lighting and seasonal cleanups all affect how a property looks and works. One vendor that covers them can simplify management.
- How do you start a new property? Ask whether the company walks the site with you before work begins so expectations, problem areas and access points are agreed up front.
- What credentials do you hold for winter work? If snow is part of the contract, ask about training and certification. The Difference Landscapes holds NH Green SnowPro certification.
What should you look for when comparing the answers?
Clear answers are a good sign. Vague answers such as “as needed” or “we will take care of it” are hard to hold anyone to later. Look for these qualities:
- A written scope that lists services, frequency and areas
- Named exclusions and a simple process for approving extras
- A single, consistent contact for the property
- Proof of insurance available before work starts
- Experience with properties like yours, such as office parks, retail sites, HOAs or multifamily communities
How does one vendor for the full year help a property manager?
Managing separate landscaping and snow vendors means two contracts, two sets of invoices and two relationships to keep on track. A combined contract keeps one company responsible for the grounds in every season.
For example, the same team that handles your fall cleanup already knows the curbs, islands and walkways that need care when the first storm arrives. Our
commercial snow removal service can be paired with growing season work so the property has one plan and one invoice.
Which services should a commercial landscaping company offer?
Most commercial properties need a core of routine care plus seasonal work. Our
commercial landscaping and lawn care and
property maintenance programs cover the day to day grounds work, and we also offer fertilization and weed control, seasonal cleanups, irrigation, landscape lighting, and landscape design and construction for larger improvements.
You do not have to buy every service. The point is to know what a company can handle, so you are not hunting for a new vendor halfway through the year.
Ready to compare proposals for your property?
If you are planning next season’s grounds contract, we are glad to walk the property and put a scope in writing. Call (603) 605-8880 or request an estimate through our
contact page. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a commercial landscaping company?
Compare written scope, insurance, communication and year round coverage. Ask every company to price the same list of services so the bids are truly comparable, then choose the one with the clearest answers.
What should a commercial landscaping bid include?
A good bid lists each service, how often it happens, which areas are covered, what is excluded, and how extra work is approved.
Do you assign one contact per property?
Yes. The Difference Landscapes assigns one account manager per property.
Can landscaping and snow removal be on one contract?
Yes. We offer one combined year round contract with one invoice for landscaping plus snow.
Do you provide a certificate of insurance?
Yes. We provide a certificate of insurance on request.
What areas do you serve?
We serve commercial properties, HOAs and multifamily communities across the NH Seacoast from our base in Lee, where we have operated since 2003.
