What's the difference between hiring an individual vs using a lawn care marketplace?

Finding a qualified landscaping professional has always been a challenge for homeowners who don’t want to do DIY lawn care. However, some methods are easier than others. You might think that calling individual contractors directly is the most straightforward way of finding professional lawn care. In reality, this approach is time-consuming, expensive, and unreliable.

Lawn mowing marketplaces are a much better method. They don’t have any of the downsides that traditional hiring methods do, and they actually provide a variety of unique benefits. Keep reading to learn why a lawn care app or marketplace platform is your best option.

Challenges of hiring an individual lawn mower the traditional way

Previously, you had to find lawn care companies yourself and call them for service. You might have had to rely on the yellow pages before the internet, and with the internet, you have to rely on Google. Many people also find lawn care professionals through word of mouth.

While it may seem straightforward, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t find professional lawn care service this way.

Time consuming

The biggest disadvantage of calling companies directly is the amount of time it takes. You have to spend quite a bit of time comparing contractors online, deciding who to call. Once you’re ready to call them, you might get their voicemail and have to leave a message. 

By the time they return your call and have availability to help, your lawn is long overdue. If your yard is in the middle of the growing season (depending on your grass type), it can get out of control quickly. Overall, this whole process can take hours away from you. 

Difficult to vet

Vetting a contractor is difficult with traditional hiring methods. You never really know who you’re hiring, especially if you’re calling people from Google or relying on word of mouth. Someone might seem qualified, but when it comes time for them to mow your lawn, they don’t have the experience you need. It’s a big risk.

More expensive

It will almost always be more expensive to hire companies off the internet. The people with dedicated websites and Google review profiles are full time, large-scale landscaping companies. They may be highly qualified, but their services are likely more than you need for simple yard work and mowing.

Additionally, most people don’t compare quotes because of how much time it takes to get them with traditional methods. If you want the best rate, you need to compare as many quotes as possible. This is hard to do over the phone.

Less reliable reviews

Online Google and Yelp reviews aren’t always reliable. Anyone could add them, even if they never received lawn care service. Many companies incentivize people to post reviews, so you can never be fully certain that they’re authentic.

Minimal payment protection

There is usually no payment protection when you hire a landscaper over the phone. If they perform the work on your yard and you’re not satisfied, there’s usually not much you can do to get a refund. While some companies may be open to it, others will refuse a refund, forcing you to spend your hard-earned money on subpar mowing services.

Why marketplace apps are better for finding lawn care services

Marketplace platforms like GreenPal eliminate the frustration of traditional hiring methods. Across the board, they are better for their efficiency, affordability, and reliability. These marketplaces are great for people who don’t want to hire an expensive lawn care company, but they’re also not interested in the “do it yourself” approach. 

Marketplaces are also great for homeowners who are new to an area. For example, if you just moved to Florida and need lawn care in Jacksonville, you can quickly find someone on the app.

The contractors on these platforms provide good-quality lawn care at very reasonable rates. Some of the other specific benefits include:

Quicker hiring time

Whereas traditional calling takes hours, hiring on a marketplace app takes minutes. On these apps, the lawn care pros come to you, not the other way around. You only have to post your property, and you’ll start getting bids that you can then select from.

On average, GreenPal users get five bids within 24 hours. It only takes around five minutes to post your job. Officially hiring someone is just as quick. You’ll love the free time it gives you in your life.

Easy communication

There’s never any phone tag with a marketplace. All communication can happen through the messaging feature, giving you direct access to get in touch with your lawn care pro. This removes the hassle of having to call people and schedule a mowing visit.

Easy to review and vet lawn maintenance pros

Marketplace platforms have built-in review features, making it easy to compare each lawn care pro to each other. You’ll see reviews, reliability ratings, past project photos, and more. The nice thing about apps like GreenPal is that all reviews are tied to completed jobs. There’s no way for a landscaper to get reviews from people who they have never serviced.

Much more affordable

Since marketplace apps are competitive, lawn care pros give lower bids. Most landscapers on these platforms are also independent operators, so they have less overhead than large, established landscaping companies. This allows you to get better prices. Plus, the ability to compare many quotes means you’ll never get taken advantage of.

Dispute resolution and payment protection

Finally, most marketplaces offer some sort of dispute resolution and payment protection. If you’re ever unsatisfied with the service you receive, you can open a case. 

On GreenPal, you have up until midnight of the night your lawn was mowed to file a dispute. You’ll be refunded, and then you’ll be able to speak with your lawn care provider about how to proceed moving forward.

Marketplace vs hiring an individual

How to find the best lawn care company on a marketplace app

If you’re ready to use a marketplace app, there are a few things you should know to get the best results:

• Be clear about services: Make sure you communicate what you need done, either in your job listing or directly to your lawn care pro. If you need extra services like seasonal lawn aeration, weed control, mulching, overseeding, or pesticides, these will usually cost more.

• Get multiple quotes: The key to reducing lawn care costs is to get multiple quotes for lawn care. This lets you do a comparison of contractors to see who provides the most value.

• Compare past project photos: Photos are the most accurate representation of someone’s experience. Make sure you review their past photos before hiring.

• Ask the right questions: Don’t be afraid to ask questions before hiring. You can ask things like their rain policy, if they have experience with other homes in the area, and if they’re insured. If you have complex lawn care needs, make sure you determine if your hired contractor has advanced lawn care knowledge.

• Avoid red flags: Look out for contractors with no reviews, bad reviews, low reliability ratings, and poor communication. You’ll want to look for a different provider.

Find lawn care pros on GreenPal today

Need help achieving a healthy lawn? Hiring a lawn care pro is a great way to ensure that your property receives the high-quality service it needs. Traditional hiring methods are time-consuming, expensive, and often unreliable. But with a marketplace app, you can trust that you’re hiring someone who’s experienced and committed to their work.

GreenPal is the trusted option for these types of services, and luckily, signing up is easy. Fill out your personal information, property address, and service details to start getting quotes. Get started today.