We know that you work hard for your money and when you invest in professional services, such as landscape maintenance, you want to have a good understanding of what you’re paying for (and what you’re getting out of that investment).
While there is a tremendous amount of value that can come from a beautifully maintained landscape, you might be curious why the cost of landscape maintenance services can really differ from one company to another.
Aren’t they ultimately all doing the same thing and going to help you achieve the same results?
The answer to those questions is a resounding no. The landscape maintenance prices in Northern Virginia can dramatically differ as the various companies offering these services are not all doing the same thing.
Everything from the products that they’re using to the way that they’re performing services can be really different.
These are some reasons why it can be dangerous to shop on price alone. You could end up with subpar results.
In this article, we’ll dive into some of the factors that impact the cost of landscape maintenance in Haymarket, Gainesville, and Bristow, VA so that you can have a better understanding of what you’re investing in (and what you’ll receive for that investment). At the end of the day, it all comes down to helping you to be a wise consumer and make the best choice for your property.
Factors that Impact the Cost of Landscape Maintenance in Northern Virginia
The cost of landscaping services is based on a number of factors.
Once you better understand these factors, you’ll better be able to compare one company to another. You’ll also understand why some companies have higher landscape maintenance prices than others.
#1: The Cost of Labor
Labor is the most significant cost impacting landscape maintenance prices. While you would think that this would be the same from landscape company to company, that’s not the case. It’s certainly true that the local market has a price range that quality landscape workers expect. But there are still going to be some companies that pay more than others.
Landscaping companies that want to attract highly-skilled, top-quality workers are likely paying significantly more than companies that are trying to cut corners. They understand that skimping on labor directly correlates to subpar results.
But some landscaping companies do try to hire unqualified workers so that they can get the job done quicker and cheaper.
You want to find a landscape maintenance company that is implementing best practices that directly translate into better results. In a service like mulching, for instance, that would mean properly applying the correct amount of mulch as over or under-applying is going to cause you problems.
In addition to the quality of the labor, the amount of labor needed for your landscape also obviously has an impact on the cost of landscape maintenance. Some properties naturally require more labor hours than others.
How big of a crew and how much time is needed will directly translate into dollars.
This is why one property might cost more than another. If you have a larger property, more plant material, or are simply having more services performed, this can all impact the total cost.
#2: The Products and Landscaping Equipment Used
When it comes to what products are being used on your property, you might assume there can’t be many variations from one company to the next. But this is another area where some landscaping companies might be investing in higher-quality materials than others.
The truth is, there is a wide range of professional-grade products and some are better than others. From lawn fertilization to the weed control products being used, the better quality the product, the more it is going to cost.
Of course, the better these higher quality products will work, too.
Oftentimes, when homeowners understand that they’re paying a little more for a company that is using higher quality products (and getting better results), they’re willing to pay that difference.
In addition to products (like fertilizer and weed control), we are also investing in top-of-the-line equipment as this also has a direct impact on your results. You’d be surprised how often landscaping companies attempt to get away with using old, clunky equipment rather than investing in new, high-quality landscaping equipment.
Landscaping equipment is expensive, but it also directly correlates to the quality of your results. You want to make sure you’ve chosen a company that is investing into using the best equipment.
#3: What’s Included in Your Landscaping Contract
When you start comparing landscape maintenance prices from one company to another, you really have to look at what’s being included in that price. A landscape maintenance package that is significantly cheaper might be missing some critical services that your landscape really needs.
In fact, some companies play around with price just to rope you in.
They’ll offer a really low start-up price but when you start looking at what’s included, you realize it’s missing a lot of important items. Once you add those in, their price isn’t going to be so cheap after all.
Ultimately, you want to find a company that is including everything that your property needs to look and perform its best. It boils down to finding a company that has your best interest at heart and will treat your landscape like it is their own. That includes giving you honest and transparent information about what should be included in a landscape maintenance package.
Making an Educated Choice in Landscape Maintenance Services
Hopefully, this has given you a better understanding of the cost of landscape maintenance in Northern Virginia, including why some companies charge more than others.
At Rock Water Farm, we don’t mind saying that we are likely not going to be your cheapest quote for landscape maintenance. That is based on the very three factors that we discussed above.
We are focused on hiring high-quality labor, we invest in top-of-the-line products and equipment, and we are transparent in sharing what we believe your landscape needs to look its best. That means if you’re someone who is shopping based solely on price, we probably aren’t going to be the right fit for you.
That being said, you probably wouldn’t have read this far into the article if you are someone who is just looking for the cheapest price out there. You are someone who really cares about the value that you will receive for your investment, which is why you wanted to understand the cost of landscape maintenance services in the first place. You already understand that cutting corners at the front end will only cause you hassles and headaches down the road.
At Rock Water Farm, we don’t believe in cutting corners just to beat out our competition, even though that’s what many companies do. They’ll also leave out valuable services just to make their price lower. But all of this ultimately does a disservice to you and we’re not willing to compromise.
We’re out to offer our clients the best possible landscape maintenance services so that their property can truly be the best.
It all comes back to the fact that we truly care about our clients and their properties. We want you to be able to have the landscape that you desire so that you can get out there and enjoy it to the fullest.
Are you ready to have a property that you are proud of at your Haymarket, Gainesville, or Bristow, VA home? If so, talk to an expert, choose a solution that rocks, and get ready to see your dreams begin to take shape!
