You want a land clearing project done right the first time. The best way to ensure that is by hiring qualified experts who charge what they’re worth for their expertise. Is there a way to avoid the common land clearing hiring pitfalls that get in the way of other projects?
Choosing the best land clearing contractor can be difficult, especially with all the ads and noise you have to filter through. We’ll tell you how to avoid three mistakes many property owners make when hiring professional land clearing services.
Slacking on the License and Insurance Check
Never let a land clearing contractor do a second of paid work without confirming they have a valid license and active insurance. Companies without a license cannot work in Illinois legally, and they often don’t know state or local land regulations.
Land clearing companies should also have insurance to protect all parties in case of injuries. A lack of insurance means workers could legally claim that you, the property owner, are financially responsible for their medical expenses.
What You Should Do
When hiring a land clearing company, always do the following:
- Require that they show you their license, insurance, and other relevant credentials.
- Verify the validity of these credentials with the parties listed on the paperwork.
- Report the company to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) or insurance provider to indicate the company for:
- Falsely using their name.
- Working with expired credentials.
While reporting is an extra step, you can also help others avoid bad land clearing companies. Sending reports should put regulatory eyes on the situation and can reduce unqualified businesses in your community.
Regardless, the land clearing contractor should be trustworthy if they provide the requested documents without problems, and all the details are up to date.
Letting Miscommunication Fester
When it comes to land clearing projects, it’s important to be as clear as possible. You don’t want to waste time, money, and energy on a project that doesn’t meet your expectations. Instead, you should be very clear with the company you choose about the scope of the job, such as:
- Working area of the property
- Agreed budget for the project
- Equipment to be used for the project
- Trees and foliage, if any, you don’t want removed
- Other specific job requirements, such as the level or slope of the ground
Miscommunication can easily turn a clear project into a nightmare of missed opportunities, rescheduling, and extra costs.
What You Should Do
Make a list ahead of time and during the pre-contract process. When you first talk to the contractor, specify everything you have on the list. This may include the working area, proposed budget, and protected buildings or plants.
As you discuss further details, add those to the list, like the prospective timeline, deliverables, and waste disposal methods. Continue to mention these points throughout the planning process.
Once the contract is ready, read through it with the company representative to ensure it has everything on the amended list. If anyone needs to make further adjustments, you can do it before anyone signs.
Letting the Price Tag Blind You
Many property owners make their land clearing company choice based on cost alone.
If you search the web for “choosing professional land clearing tips,” a few articles may mention something about prices. Vague answers like “Don’t choose them because they’re cheap” and “Don’t pick the most expensive option” are on the right track, but they aren’t exactly helpful.
What would be a good price for the services you want in Mercer County? Is there a website you can go to and find a pricing spreadsheet? How can you tell quality, expensive, or poor service costs apart?
What You Should Do
Check the reviews for multiple land clearing companies in your local area. Find at least three companies with at least four-and-a-half-star ratings. Check their lower star ratings and note any consistencies.
Then, contact the companies and ask them for service quotes. Most land clearing companies will want to have an in-person walkthrough of the property before writing anything. Also, you can take the opportunity to ask about the poor feedback they received and how they’ve improved, gauging their reactions.
Once they come back with the quotes, ensure they are itemized. It should have every expense, from equipment to labor, priced with no hidden fees. You can then make comparisons between the quotes and choose the best company for your budget and service quality requirements.
What’s Not a Mistake
We’ve listed three common mistakes when it comes to hiring land clearing services, but it’s not one to consider J&J Forestry Mulching and Land Management. As professional land clearing contractors in Mercer County, IL, we provide industry-leading services at reasonable prices. Our services come licensed, insured, and bonded, so we finish what we start and pay for what we don’t.
Check our reviews, or contact us for a free quote today.
