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Renovating your garden: How to Avoid Landscape ‘Cowboys’
Renovating your garden can be a glorious way to add value to your property, utilise your living space or change your lifestyle.
Whether your budget is small or large it is imperative to get the most from your Landscape Contractor.
Consumer Rights Television presenter and journalist Matt Allwright from such shows as BBC Rogue Traders and Scambusters says:
“As in many areas of life, saving money on your landscaping in the short term can cost you big in the long run. Base your decision not just on cost, but on solid research and checking out credentials you can trust, and you won’t go far wrong.”
Landscape work can be broken down into four general areas
§ Landscape Contractors
§ Landscape Maintenance
§ Landscape Designers
§ Landscape Suppliers
If you want a complete renovation of your garden from start to finish you will require both the design and build of your new garden, and also may require a company to maintain this work after completion. Many landscape companies have the facilities to carry out both the design and build of your garden, but if you have a more adventurous or specialist ideas, or really want the ‘wow’ factor in your garden it may be worth contacting a Landscape Designer.
It is essential for you have a basic understanding of what you require from your garden before contacting a landscaper, perhaps take a look at other gardens in magazines or visit the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) website (www.bali.org.uk) and take a look at the domestic award winning gardens for the BALI National Landscape Awards.
A good landscape contractor will advise of the specific requirements of your project, give you ideas for how to best utilise the space and offer advice on any specialist design, materials or features need purchasing, but a general idea of what you would like in and from your garden will help you achieve your perfect garden.
The next step, once you have an idea of the type of garden you want, is to find a landscape contractor. Generally Landscape contractors will work regionally, but some, especially larger companies, will carry out work nationally.
Directory services such as the Yellow Pages and Yell.com are a fantastic way of finding Landscapers in your area, but how can you be assured the Landscaper you select is reputable producing quality work? Selecting a member of a trade association can be one way to avoid hiring a ‘cowboy’ landscaper.
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) is the UKs leading Landscaping Trade Association. With around 700 members BALI is the largest landscaping association and also the most stringent when it comes to vetting its members. To become a full contracting member, the landscape company must undergo a site visit from BALI to the company office, to ensure all accounts, health & safety regulations, insurance, public liability are all up to date. To become a BALI member a company must also provide 10 client references and 2 trade references, an independent Quality Assurance officer will then visit a completed garden and a garden in which the work is on going. The officer will work with the company to ensure that the companies work and procedures are of the highest standard, only then can they be awarded BALI Membership. BALI members are also re vetted every five years, to ensure these high standards are upheld. BALI Members are then kept up to date with updates with technical news, legislation and industry standards, to fully ensure BALI members are the ‘best of the best’ within the landscape industry.
The easiest way to find a BALI member in your area is to log onto www.bali.org.uk and enter your postcode. Alternatively you can search through the yell.com website or find the BALI Box in the Yellow Pages.
The best way to get a good idea of costs and procedures is to get a quote from at least two landscapers, although three or more is recommended. If you haven’t found your Landscaper through the BALI website, ask them if they are BALI Members and also how long they have been a BALI member, this will give you an indication of the standard of the company.
CLICK HERE FOR HANDY HINTS and WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK
If you have any problems with your garden once the work has been completed do try to speak with the landscaper, as many problems that arise can be resolved through communication. If you are still experiencing problems then do contact BALI (for BALI members only) or if the landscaper you used isn’t a BALI member then contact Consumer Direct, a government funded service which offers regional consumer advice.
The final part of your landscaping experience is, show off your beautiful garden to friends, family and neighbours:
And most importantly, enjoy your garden!
Useful Contacts
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI)
024 76 690 333
Consumer Direct
08454 04 05 06
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