1. How reliable will they be?
You would be very surprised how many times I've heard, "My previous lawn maintenance provider just disappeared." One week they are servicing your property, the next week they are nowhere to be found...nor do they take your phone call. Generally, service providers in this situation simply fail due to lack of operational capacity to grow, or even worse, over-schedule themselves.

One tip to filter out unreliable lawn care companies is to ask for references. This may feel awkward, however if they can provide positive feedback, that's a good sign...better yet, you can read their online reviews.

If you are able to speak to a company's references, it's a good idea to ask how long they've been servicing the property, as well as flexibility, reliability, attitude, affordability, etc. Deal with a company that is organized and always reachable.

2. Do they have general liability insurance?

Having insurance is very important, whether you hire a 'solo' handyman or a team of experienced professionals. If a service provider cannot clarify they are a corporation or registered Quebec enterprise, they may not be covered, resulting in you not being covered - a company's policy should insure any property damage or personal injury (for both parties) they may be responsible for. This is standard for lawn maintenance in Quebec.

If a worker without insurance coverage gets injured on your property, you might be liable. Furthermore, a company without insurance could damage something on your property they can't afford to replace or repair.  A lawn care service provider should always have a copy of their updated insurance policy. Don't be shy to ask for it.

3. Is their equipment well maintained?

If you are getting a quote from a lawn maintenance company, it's a good idea to ask, "How often do you sharpen your mower blades?" Three companies may give you three different answers. So why does it even matter?  Dull mower blades tear your grass rather than cut it, leaving the grass tips looking brown and dead. Furthermore, the lawn from afar will lack greenness and fullness over time.  

A homeowner might sharpen or replace mower blades 1-2 times per season, while a reputable lawn care service provider will install fresh blades every 1-2 days.  If you ask a lawn maintenance provider how long they mow before replacing their blades, the answer should never be more than 16 hours / 2 days of service.

4. How is their customer service?

These days it can be extremely frustrating and difficult to find a lawn maintenance business with decent customer service. Make sure the lawn company you're considering can reply to you promptly, by phone, e-mail, social media, etc. Many companies aren't organized and you'll spend a lot of time playing phone tag. It can be difficult just to get a quote. Before you make a decision, remember that problems now = problems later.

It's a good idea to look at a company's reputation - maybe ask a neighbour about their current lawn service provider. When we hear about a client's bad experience with a lawn service company, it's generally due to poor customer service and lack of communication.

We highly recommend working with a company that answers the phone the first time you call.  Many companies offer promotions and special deals for new clients, and this is great! However, try to avoid companies that will promise you almost anything just to get your business. Some companies may use aggressive tactics like, "If you buy _________ , we'll thrown in ________ for free".

Remember- "free" hasn't any value, that's why it's free.

5. Can they work around rainy weather?

Before kicking off a relationship with a lawn maintenance service provider, don't be shy to ask how they deal with rain. There isn't any 'right or wrong' answer here, however, stay away from companies who can't provide a clear response!  A company that skips your lawn one week due to rain (and still charges you) is obviously not fair practice, but unfortunately it's more common than you might imagine.
 A lawn maintenance team with stellar time management skills will make sure you get what to you pay for.

A professional company will:

1. Service your lawn before the rain;

2. Service your lawn (promptly) after the rain.

An unorganized company will:

1. Service your lawn several days after the rain;

2. 'Skip' your lawn and service it the following week;

3. Not service your lawn at all.

Example: If rain is expected during your weekly mowing time, (i.e. Thursday afternoon) your lawn provider should have your property serviced Thursday morning or Friday morning at the latest.

We practice the example above. With strict attention to time management, we've never missed a single service.