Because satellite imaging for square footage measurements is so accurate, it’s becoming increasingly common that lawn care companies may not visit your home for an initial estimate when starting a lawn service.
However, there are several reasons why an in-person consultation can be incredibly beneficial.
At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we still perform lawn care visits for every initial consultation, and in this article, we’ll explain why. We will also address some of your most frequently asked questions about what to expect when starting a lawn care plan.
We believe that it’s essential to be an educated consumer when choosing lawn care.
It depends. Not all lawn care companies will conduct an initial consultation before their first lawn care application. The truth is, we are beginning to see that initial lawn care visits are being set aside a bit, as lawn care companies can now provide a quote for a lawn care plan over the phone.
There’s no denying that the accuracy of satellite imaging is so precise that it’s replacing hand measurements.
In fact, at Lawn & Pest Solutions, we also utilize satellite imaging to measure property lines and determine square footage accurately. Satellite measurements eliminate the potential for human error that can occur when using a measuring tape.
But there are other reasons for that first lawn care visit that we believe make it imperative.
We’ll cover why an initial consultation is essential before signing lawn care contracts.
For the most part, contracts are no longer used in the lawn care industry, so homeowners aren't locked into any one service.
But yes, we do believe it is optimal to have an initial consultation about your lawn before starting a lawn care plan. It’s not about the measurements. As we’ve mentioned above, measuring a property can be accurately performed remotely.
Instead, one of the most important reasons for an initial consultation is to determine the type of grass you have. In Memphis, some common grass types include Zoysia, Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Centipede. We also sometimes see Fescues.
However, each of these different grass types has distinct needs in terms of fertilization and weed control. Some grass types are more resistant to certain herbicides than others.
We conduct an initial consultation to create a personalized lawn care plan, allowing us to tailor your program to your specific needs.
Coming out to see your lawn before starting our lawn service also allows us to spot potential trouble areas. For instance, many warm-season grasses do not thrive in shady conditions. This enables us to make recommendations while also setting realistic expectations.
If you have grass that is struggling in the shade, lawn care services won’t be a magic fix. Site conditions play a significant role in how grass performs.
We prefer to discuss problem areas on the lawn with homeowners in person. If they’ve had lawn care before, we might also discuss ways they’ve been dissatisfied with a previous service from another lawn care company. We’re looking to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and this is best done face-to-face.
Of course, this initial consultation also allows us to meet the homeowners, rather than just speaking with someone on the phone. This is important, too. We understand that people may not always be home when we perform our lawn care services. But we do love the opportunity to meet the people we’re working for as our business has been built on personal relationships. We take pride in getting to know our clients.
We often conduct initial site consultations for many homeowners who are switching from a different lawn care company. It can be frustrating to pay for lawn care and feel like you’re not getting the results or the experience you desire.
As we’ve mentioned, it’s not always the lawn care company’s fault if grass isn’t performing the way you want it to. Sometimes, the site conditions are not optimal for the type of grass you have.
This is one of the reasons why we believe the initial consultation is crucial in setting realistic expectations. Switching lawn care companies won’t automatically mean your lawn will start performing how you want it to. However, you do deserve a lawn care service that is transparent and honest about what you can expect.
All that being said, there are often good reasons for switching lawn care services.
Some of these reasons include:
Failure to perform a consultation before starting a lawn care plan: If your lawn care company has never performed any evaluation of your lawn, then they probably did not create a customized plan for your lawn’s needs. Your subpar results may be due to your lawn not receiving what it needs.
Revolving door of technicians: Another key concern we hear from customers who have switched to us from another company is that they have never had the same technician working on their property. In the lawn care world, this is unfortunately fairly common (especially with really big companies). However, the problem with this approach is that they never truly get to know your lawn (and what works — or doesn’t work). Again, this does come back to a lack of customization.
Lack of communication: Another reason for switching lawn care companies is a lack of communication. Some of our customers who have switched from another company report that they never received any communication. That includes not communicating about any specific issues they’re seeing or even what they’re doing on the lawn. This lack of communication can be frustrating when you’re paying for a service.
No-shows and lack of responsiveness: Unfortunately, the lawn care industry also has its share of horror stories, including no-shows and a lack of responsiveness. If you’ve ever had a service provider simply not show up or fail to return your call, then you know it can negatively impact your level of trust. These are good reasons to consider switching lawn care companies.
Whether you’ve had an initial consultation or not, once you hire a lawn care company to perform lawn care visits, you expect them to show up. However, unfortunately, no-shows do occur.
Mistakes do happen, and we believe in second chances. However, if this is a blatant offense that has occurred more than once or is accompanied by other lawn care issues, then it may be time to consider switching lawn care companies.
For the most part, the lawn care industry is comprised of many reputable companies that maintain a high standard. But as with any industry, some bad eggs can give homeowners a bad impression.
In addition to ghosting clients, lawn care companies have received a bad reputation for claiming they showed up when they never did. We wish this hadn’t happened in our industry, but unfortunately, we’ve heard these horror stories from time to time.
If this has happened to you, check the security cameras and speak with your neighbors. And make sure you’re getting the service you paid for. A lawn care technician showing up and spraying water or visibly skipping sections of the yard is not providing what you paid for.
It’s essential to make informed choices when selecting lawn care products. Ideally, you should opt for a lawn care company that performs an initial consultation, as we believe it can prevent many problems and also set realistic expectations and goals for everyone.
There are numerous options for lawn care in Memphis. Conduct thorough research to make an informed decision.
These days, you can learn a lot about a company just from looking at its website. A website should provide a strong sense of what the company is all about. If you’re looking for a local service (vs. a larger national chain), you can also find out what type of company you’re getting.
The About Us Page is an excellent starting point for your research.
When you’re on the website, look at what kind of resources the company offers in terms of education and advice. Helpful tools, such as blog articles and videos, can help you set yourself up for success.
You can also reach out to lawn care companies you're considering and ask questions. At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we’re always available to answer queries and provide information. We have built our company on being transparent and helpful to our lawn care clients.
At the end of the day, when you make a smart, well-researched choice, you can build a long-term relationship with a lawn care provider in Memphis and finally get the lawn, and the relaxation, that you deserve.
Want to improve your lawn’s health and create a thicker, greener lawn? Lawn & Pest Solutions can help you with lawn care in Memphis. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll customize a plan that gives you the most attractive lawn on the block.