Hiring a reputable irrigation contractor for your commercial property is a task not to be taken lightly. The installation process, alone, involves multiple moving parts and just as many opportunities for oversight. Taking the time to find a professional that you inherently trust with your investment can save you a multitude of hardship and costly repairs in the long term.
When vetting prospects, keep the following tips in mind:
- Confirm experience – A quality irrigation contractor should be fully licensed and certified, in addition to carrying liability and workmen’s compensation insurance, ensuring a safe environment for you, your tenants, their clients, and the contractor’s own team.
- Check references – A trustworthy professional will be more than happy to put you in contact with former customers. Call property managers who have utilized a prospect’s services and visit former work sites. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. These lawns and landscapes should appear green and healthy.
- Consider the design process: What are your options? Your irrigation contractor will be able to provide precise schematics that illustrate the location of sprinkler heads, lateral and main lines, and zoning issues and/or concerns – this ultimately prevents damage to pipes, lines, and fittings well into the future. Any contractor worth his or her salt will do due-diligence throughout the consultation process, examining your lawn and landscape, and taking things into consideration such as soil conditions, water source and pressure, plant needs, climate and wind conditions, and much more. Additionally, local regulations may require a backflow preventer, to prevent contamination of your home’s drinking water. Your contractor should have this and related information readily available.
- What’s next? What is included beyond installation? The ideal candidate will provide follow-up maintenance, including winterization services in the fall to keep your pipes from freezing, subsequent spring startup, and routine checks. Don’t forget to inquire about the warranty for work and materials. One year is the industry standard. Make sure everything is guaranteed.
Keep an eye out for contractors who offer everything but the kitchen sink while sailing lowball bids. These “professionals” are often all wet, and not in an irrigation kind of way.
GroundsCare Landscape’s team of certified and professionally-affiliated irrigation contractors can elevate your property’s irrigation strategy to a new level. From rotary sprinklers to flood systems to micro-irrigation, our services will keep your commercial property looking its best. Give us a call today to get started at 888-588-8451.
