Landscaping is such an important part of property management: a well-manicured community raises the quality of life for its residents and keeps property values high. Of course, hiring the right landscaper can be tricky for a homeowner or condominium association, especially when budgets are tight (and they always are).
Switching to a cheap landscaper might fit your budget, but be unreliable or do a subpar job. If that ever happens to your association, here’s what to do:
This advice applies to more than just landscapers and/or inexpensive contractors. Snow removal companies are another place where the wrong decision could result in unhappy residents, or bigger issues like property repair in the Spring.
Large property management companies may try to require you to use their in-house (or preferred) vendors in exchange for lower pricing. Keep in mind that unless there is specific wording in your management agreement, you DO have a choice in the vendors who work on your property. With that being said, if you are totally dissatisfied with the services that are being provided and your property manager has attempted to work with the provider, it is time to solicit bids for the service. Some questions to keep in mind before you go to bid:
The bottom line is that working closely with your Property Manager in developing a realistic and thorough set of specifications will not only help to select the right contractor to perform the service, it also provides you with concrete performance expectations that can be documented in the event your contractor is not living up to your expectations thereby making it easier to exit a contract should it become necessary.