{"id":166,"date":"2016-03-02T01:04:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T01:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earthadelic.com\/blog\/?p=166"},"modified":"2017-07-02T01:09:18","modified_gmt":"2017-07-02T01:09:18","slug":"key-characteristics-to-look-for-in-a-contractor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthadelic.com\/blog\/key-characteristics-to-look-for-in-a-contractor\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Characteristics to Look for in a Contractor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forsythia hasn\u2019t bloomed yet but the season has begun for landscapers.\u00a0 This time of year I\u2019m commonly\u00a0asked: \u201cI guess you\u2019re getting ready to get busy?\u201d\u00a0 As I\u2019ve told folks many times, the season begins after the first warm and sunny weekend in early spring.\u00a0 Our phone is ringing off the hook and inquiries through our website are blowing up.\u00a0 It\u2019s exciting. \u00a0I love this time of year.<\/p>\n

The majority of our business these days is\u00a0project-based\u00a0installations such as landscapes, hardscapes, landscape construction, e.g., decks, pergolas, sunrooms.\u00a0 While we enjoy a wonderful slate of return customers each year, the majority of our business comes from new clients.\u00a0 In a genuine effort to be the very best\u00a0full-service\u00a0landscape construction company we can be, I often reflect on the business attributes that are most important and difference makers to our customers.\u00a0 As a consumer of services, not just landscaping, I thought you might be interested in my list of service provider difference makers.\u00a0 This list applies to every profession from a window washer to a surgeon.<\/p>\n

Experience<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This is not a ranked order list but without hesitation when I\u2019m looking for a professional I\u2019m looking for the person\/company that has the most practical experience.\u00a0 The most valuable contractors are the ones with which you\u2019d have a hard time finding a situation or detail they haven\u2019t already dealt with.\u00a0 You\u2019re paying for services to be completed more efficiently and executed correctly.\u00a0 Having an experienced professional is a major part of the equation.<\/p>\n

Subject Matter Expertise<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Experience alone does not make an outstanding professional in one\u2019s field.\u00a0 The very best operate on a firm foundation of relevant training and acquired the knowledge\u00a0they apply to their trade.\u00a0 Old school on the job training and techniques combined with a firm grasp of the current and emerging best practices is a desirable professional package.<\/p>\n

Craftsmanship<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Don\u2019t discount the details of the execution of your project.\u00a0 Contractors with an inherent attention to detail and a knowledge of the little trade techniques and tricks often yield the little things that make a big difference in the quality and appeal of a project.<\/p>\n

Design Creativity<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Execution and design are not always bedfellows but provide the total package.\u00a0 A great project starts with a great design.\u00a0 The very best organizations create designs that meet the functional and referential requirements while delighting the senses.<\/p>\n

Customer service\/communication<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The customer experience delivered by a contractor\/professional is a major factor to consider.\u00a0 Many factors go into this category and some of the most important include:<\/p>\n