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Things to Look for When Hiring a Lawn Care Company
Hiring a lawn care company comes down to a few critical factors: verified credentials, transparent pricing, clear service expectations, and reliable communication. The best providers make it easy to compare quotes, check reviews from real customers, and understand exactly what you're paying for before any work begins.
After more than a decade connecting over a million homeowners with lawn care professionals, we've seen what separates reliable providers from the ones who disappear mid-season or surprise you with hidden fees. Here's what to prioritize in your search.
Check Reviews and Reputation First
Online reviews are one of the fastest ways to gauge a lawn care company's reliability. Look for providers with consistent positive feedback on platforms like Google, Yelp, TrustPilot, and the Better Business Bureau. A pattern of complaints about missed appointments, poor communication, or subpar work is a clear warning sign.
Beyond star ratings, pay attention to what reviewers actually say. Do they mention the crew showing up on time? Was the work completed as promised? Did the company handle problems professionally when they arose?
Word-of-mouth referrals remain valuable too. If a neighbor's lawn looks great, ask who maintains it and whether they'd recommend the service.
On our platform, every provider has a visible rating and review history from verified customers. You can read exactly what previous homeowners experienced before you book. This transparency is one reason we maintain a 4.6-star average on TrustPilot across more than a million users.
Verify Insurance and Credentials
Any lawn care company you hire should carry liability insurance at minimum.
This protects you if a crew member damages your property, such as breaking a window with debris from a mower or backing a trailer into your fence.
Ask for proof of insurance before work begins. A legitimate company will provide this without hesitation.
Depending on your location and the services you need, additional credentials may be relevant:
Business license: Confirms the company operates legally in your area
Pesticide applicator license: Required in most states if they apply herbicides or weed control products
Workers' compensation coverage: Protects you from liability if a worker is injured on your property
According to the Professional Lawn Care Association of Ontario, working with unlicensed providers may seem cheaper upfront, but it exposes you to significant financial risk if something goes wrong.
We vet every provider on our platform before they can accept jobs. This includes equipment inspections, customer reference checks, in-person meetings, and business credit verification. Providers who don't meet our standards or who receive poor customer ratings are removed from the platform.
Get Multiple Quotes and Compare Pricing
Never accept the first quote you receive. Getting multiple estimates helps you understand the going rate in your area and identify outliers that may be overcharging or cutting corners.
When comparing quotes, make sure you're evaluating the same scope of work. A lower price might exclude services like edging or cleanup that another company includes by default.
Pricing Factor |
What to Ask |
Base service cost |
What's included in the quoted price? |
Overgrown grass |
Is there an extra charge for tall or overgrown lawns? |
Frequency discounts |
Do you offer lower rates for weekly or recurring service? |
Additional services |
What's the cost for aeration, fertilization, or seasonal cleanup? |
Be cautious of companies that quote prices without seeing your property. Reputable providers base their estimates on actual lawn size and condition, not guesswork.
Our platform uses satellite imagery to calculate your lawn's dimensions, which lets providers submit accurate quotes without scheduling an in-person visit. When you request service, up to five local professionals can bid on the job. Most homeowners receive their first quotes within 15 minutes.
This competitive approach tends to drive better pricing than calling a single company and accepting whatever they charge.
Typical residential mowing costs range from $25 to $90 per visit depending on lawn size, regional labor rates, and service complexity.
Look for Flexible Service Options
Long-term contracts can lock you into a service you're unhappy with. Many homeowners prefer providers that offer flexible scheduling without requiring a seasonal commitment.
When evaluating service terms, consider:
Cancellation policy: Can you stop service with reasonable notice, or are you locked in for months?
Scheduling flexibility: Can you adjust frequency (weekly vs. bi-weekly) as seasons change?
One-time service: Is there an option to try a single visit before committing to recurring service?
Some lawn care companies require 30-day cancellation windows or charge penalties for early termination. We've always believed you shouldn't need a contract to get good lawn care. On our platform, you can book a single mow to try out a provider, set up recurring weekly or bi-weekly service, or adjust your schedule as the seasons change. If you're not happy, you're free to choose a different provider or pause service entirely.
Confirm What's Included in the Service
"Lawn mowing" can mean different things to different companies. Before booking, clarify exactly what the service covers.
A standard lawn mowing service typically includes:
Grass cutting to an appropriate height
Weed-eating and trimming around edges, fences, and obstacles
Edging along sidewalks and driveways
Blowing or cleanup of grass clippings from hard surfaces
What's usually not included:
Bagging and removal of grass clippings (most providers mulch clippings, which is better for lawn health)
Fertilization, aeration, or weed control treatments
Shrub trimming or garden bed maintenance
Large debris removal
If you need services beyond basic mowing, ask whether the company offers them or can recommend a specialist. Many providers are willing to discuss additional work once you've established a relationship through regular maintenance.
Ask About Quality Assurance
How will you know the job was done properly if you're not home when the crew arrives? Look for companies that offer some form of work verification.
Photo proof of completed service has become increasingly common, and it's something we require from every provider on our platform. After finishing your lawn, the provider submits timestamped photos showing the completed work. You receive these directly on your phone before payment is processed. This gives you visual confirmation without needing to be present and creates a record if any questions arise later.
Beyond photo documentation, quality assurance can include:
Equipment standards: Well-maintained mowers with sharp blades produce cleaner cuts and healthier grass
Provider vetting: Background checks, equipment inspections, and reference verification before providers are approved
Rating systems: Ongoing performance monitoring that removes underperforming providers
Over 30% of our users are 60 or older, and many tell us the photo proof feature gives them peace of mind when they can't easily walk their property to inspect the work themselves.
Evaluate Communication and Customer Service
Good communication separates professional lawn care companies from unreliable ones. Pay attention to responsiveness from your first interaction. If it takes days to get a quote or your questions go unanswered, expect similar issues once you're a customer.
Signs of strong customer service include:
Prompt responses to inquiries (same day or within 24 hours)
Clear explanations of services, pricing, and scheduling
Easy ways to contact the company (app messaging, phone, email)
Proactive communication about weather delays or schedule changes
Our platform includes in-app messaging that keeps all communication between you and your provider in one place. No phone tag, no missed voicemails. If you need to leave special instructions (like a gate code or a note about the dog), it's all documented in the app.
Consider Payment Security
How and when you pay matters. The safest arrangement is one where payment is processed only after service is completed and verified.
Red flags to watch for:
Large upfront deposits: Legitimate companies don't need hundreds of dollars before the first mow
Cash-only operations: This can indicate an unlicensed or uninsured provider
No documentation: You should receive receipts or transaction records for every payment
We process all payments through Stripe, and your card isn't charged until the service is complete and you've received photo proof. This protects you from paying for work that wasn't done (or wasn't done well) and gives you leverage if there's ever a dispute. It's also why we don't ask for cash or upfront payment.
Red Flags to Avoid
Not every lawn care company operates professionally. Watch for these warning signs:
Red Flag |
Why It Matters |
No insurance documentation |
You could be liable for injuries or property damage |
Quotes without seeing the property |
Indicates guesswork that often leads to price disputes |
Pressure to sign long contracts |
May lock you in with a company you haven't tested |
No reviews or negative review patterns |
Suggests unreliability or quality issues |
Unclear scope of service |
Leads to misunderstandings about what's included |
Cash-only, no receipts |
Often indicates unlicensed operation |
Trust your instincts. If a provider seems evasive about credentials, pricing, or policies, move on to another option.
Find a Lawn Care Provider You Can Trust
The right lawn care company combines verified credentials, transparent pricing, and reliable service without locking you into contracts or leaving you guessing whether the job got done.
We built GreenPal to solve the problems our founders experienced on both sides of the lawn care business. After 15 years running a landscaping company, our CEO knew how hard it was for good providers to find customers. And as homeowners ourselves, we knew how frustrating it was to call around, wait for callbacks, and hope the person who showed up would do decent work.
Today, we connect homeowners with over 45,000 vetted lawn care professionals across 250+ markets nationwide. You can compare quotes, read real reviews, and book service in minutes.
Get free quotes from local lawn care pros and see why over a million homeowners have made the switch.
