Landscaping FAQ
Questions to Ask Your Contractor (and our answers)
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Q. How long have you been in business? You can verify this by logging on to the Washington State Labor and Industries website: https://fortress.wa.gov/lni/bbip/ or the Tri-City Home Builders Association's website: http://www.hbatc.com.
A. We have been serving the Columbia Basin and the surrounding region since 1994.
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Q. Are you fully insured and is your coverage adequate for the equipment you use and the scope of your projects? (If in doubt, ask for a copy of the policy).
A. Our current commercial insurance package meets most General Contractor/Owner requirements. If additional or supplemental insurance is needed we can purchase those needed to fulfill any different requirements.
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Q. Do you furnish a written proposal outlining in detail with an itemized scope of work, and list the terms and conditions of the sale? (Demand to see this. It is the only way you can compare the quotations fairly).
A. Our detailed proposal lists the scope of work entailed along with tasks itemized and quantity of product to be used. Conditions and exclusions for each project is also shown.
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Q. Do you provide a written warranty with your work? How long is the warranty period and what exactly does it include? (Make sure you receive this. What is promised today can be forgotten tomorrow).
A. We provide you with a (1) year warranty. Our warranty covers all items installed by our crews and many of our suppliers have warranty on their products.
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Q. Will you provide a minimum of three references that I can visit to see their landscapes?
A. We will provide you any references you might need to aide in decision making process. Also visit our photo gallery to see examples of our work.
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Q. Do any large reputable contractors use your services for irrigation, landscape, or hardscape installations? (Follow up and find out about their dependability, timeliness, cleanliness, courtesy, customer service, overall performance, and ethics).
A. We work with many large contractors throughout the Washington, Oregon, and Idaho area. Vandervert Construction, T.R. Masterson, Ron Asmus Homes INC, George Grant Construction, just to name a few.
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Q. Do you have full-time employees covered by Worker's Compensation, and are you paying them legally and above the board? (Full-time trained employees will give you a much better job - they have experience and take pride in their work).
A. We employ over 30 year round employees and at full strength employ another 20-30 seasonal employees.
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Q. Do you own your own equipment or just rent equipment as the workload requires? Will a missed rental date foul up the schedule date of my projects?
A. Each crew configurement includes 1-2 vehicles, 1 large piece of equipment (Tractor or Skid steer), and the many necessary tools to perform your job.
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Q. Are you a one-man company? Will the quality of my project be in jeopardy if you leave the site?
A. You can be assured that we will handle your project with professionalism. You will be provided with a Project Manager who will meet with you and walk you through the design/ bidding process. Under the P.M. are a Foreman, Lead-man, and 1 to 2 laborers in get your project installed correctly.
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Q. When you arrive at my site, will you commit to stay until the work is completed or will you have to go and put out other fires while my project is going on?
A. Once your project is scheduled we try not to deviate.
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Q. Do you provide full service after the sale? If I need or request additional work, will you be available to serve me?
A. Along with being a landscape company, we also offer full service maintenance programs, florist, and gift shop. Any additional work you request will be quoted for your approval prior to installation.
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Q. Do you have full-time office staff so I can reach you or leave you a message?
A. We have 4 full-time office staff that can take your questions and/or direct them in the necessary direction.
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Q. Do you have a project portfolio at your office to show me the color and design variations of the projects you install?
A. You are welcome to stop by the office and view our portfolio. Our fully stocked nursery also has product samples for you to view. Or view our online photo gallery to see examples of our work.
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Q. Do you offer design of my project? Are you creative and practical enough to offer an attractive yet functional solution?
A. We would be happy to design your project. We can develop a scaled base plan and involve you in the design process. Then a finished drawing will be created using CAD to produce a plan based on your input and Heritage's experience.
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Q. What products do you use? Who are your sources?
A. We use only the best made products available - Hunter and Rainbird irrigation products supplied by Horizon and United Pipe & Supply, Plant materials supplied by our Nursery and Monrovia Nursery, Sod supplied by Ideal Sod, Hardscape materials supplied by Western Materials and Central Pre-Mix.