Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lawn Care Agreement
The practical questions Lake County homeowners should ask a lawn care company about scheduling, scope, billing and damage before signing.
Once you have narrowed down to a company you trust, the remaining questions are operational. These are the ones that determine whether the relationship is easy or annoying over a full season.
Scheduling
- What day of the week will you normally be here?
- What happens when it rains on my day? Do you come the next dry day, or wait until next week?
- How does the schedule change in July and August when growth slows?
- When does the season start and end, and how do you decide?
- Will I get a notification before or after each visit?
The rain question matters more than any other in our climate. A wet week in May can push an entire route, and companies handle it very differently. Knowing the policy in advance prevents most of the frustration.
Scope
- Does every visit include trimming, edging, and blowing off the driveway and walks?
- Are clippings bagged or mulched, and is bagging extra?
- What is specifically excluded from the price?
- Do you pick up sticks and debris before mowing, or mow around them?
- How many passes are included in a fall cleanup?
Billing and terms
- Am I billed per visit, monthly, or on a flat seasonal schedule?
- Does the agreement renew automatically each year?
- How much notice do I need to give to cancel, and is there a fee?
- Are there fuel surcharges or minimum visit counts?
- What payment methods do you accept, and when is payment due?
Auto renewal is the one that catches people. Many agreements roll over unless cancelled by a date in late winter, which is exactly when nobody is thinking about lawn care. Note the date when you sign.
Damage and property
- What happens if a mower throws a rock and breaks a window?
- Who is responsible for sprinkler heads, landscape lighting or invisible fence lines that get damaged?
- Will you mark my sprinkler heads, or should I?
- How do you handle gates and pets in the yard?
If you have an irrigation system or landscape lighting, flag it before the first visit and mark the heads. Most damage of this kind is genuinely accidental and entirely preventable with a conversation up front.
Communication
Ask who you call when something is wrong and how quickly you should expect a response. In this trade, responsiveness is the single biggest differentiator between a company people recommend and one they tolerate. A crew that misses a strip of grass is a minor issue if someone answers the phone and comes back. The same mistake becomes a reason to switch companies if nobody calls you back for a week.
Related readingVetting a company before you get to these questionsA note on lawn expectations
One worthwhile question in the other direction: ask what they think your lawn needs. A company that walks the property and tells you the real issue is compaction or shade, rather than simply selling you more applications, is one worth keeping. Be wary of anyone who prescribes a full program before looking at the grass.
Related readingHow the pricing itself is put togetherWe are happy to answer every question on this list before you commit to anything. Call or text 224-634-0673 or 224-200-8363.
Frequently asked questions
- What happens if it rains on my scheduled lawn service day?
- Policies vary, which is why it is worth asking directly. Some companies shift to the next dry day, others push the visit to the following week. In a wet Lake County spring this single policy determines much of your experience.
- Do lawn care contracts renew automatically?
- Many do, rolling over unless cancelled by a deadline that typically falls in late winter. Ask for the cancellation notice period and the specific date, and note it when you sign, because it arrives when nobody is thinking about lawn care.
- Who pays if a mower damages my sprinkler heads?
- It depends on the company's policy and whether heads were marked. Flag irrigation systems, landscape lighting and invisible fence lines before the first visit and mark the heads. Most damage of this type is preventable with one conversation.
- What should be included in every mowing visit?
- At minimum, cutting, trimming around obstacles, edging as needed, and blowing clippings off driveways and walks. Confirm whether edging is every visit or monthly, and whether clippings are mulched or bagged, since bagging is often an extra charge.
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Ruiz Landscaping serves Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove and the rest of Vernon Hills's surrounding North Shore and Lake County communities.