Land clearing is a crucial first step during construction, agriculture, and landscaping projects. Quality land clearing work will provide you with a clean slate for your project. The contractor will remove trees, stumps, bushes, rocks, and more. They may also grade the surface.
Looking at the responsibilities of a land clearing company, you can see why it’s important to avoid making any mistakes in the hiring process. Unfortunately, many people make avoidable mistakes when choosing a company that will help clear their lot.
These mistakes can elongate project timelines and lead to more expenses. We’ll look at these common mistakes in this post.
Mistake 1: Not Getting a Clear Picture of the Scope of Work
It’s not enough to hire a company to clear your land. You need to know exactly how they will go about it. This is where the scope of work comes in. The company should be able to detail how they will meet your needs after listening to what you’re looking to achieve, the size of the area to be cleared, the types of obstacles they have to deal with, and more.
Any estimates you receive without a clearly defined scope of work will most likely be incomplete. The company may charge extra fees mid-project, and you won’t have any defense against it.
Communicate what you want upfront and make sure the company understands it. Any assumptions might be costly.
Mistake 2: Failing to Get a Clear, Written Contract
After the company has understood the project’s demands and discussed how they will tackle it, the next step is to get everything in writing. Verbal agreements don’t work for a major project such as land clearing. It’s a recipe for confusion and mid-project disagreements. And when something goes wrong, you won’t have any legal backing.
Therefore, it’s best to get a written contract that covers the scope of work, project timeline, total cost, payment milestones, and contingency fees.
The contract protects you and the land clearing company and will provide an irrefutable reference if an issue arises at any stage of the project.
Mistake 3: Not Checking for Experience in Similar Projects
One of the most common mistakes property owners make is believing that any land clearing company with a fancy fleet of vehicles and a nice office can handle their project. It’s important to confirm that the company has handled projects similar to yours in the past.
It’s a sure way to avoid working with a company that has inadequate equipment for the scope of work or one that doesn’t understand how the local environmental regulations can affect the project. You don’t want to hire a company that has only ever worked on clearing residential backyards for a multi-acre agriculture or commercial project.
Mistake 4: Hiring a Contractor With Unverified Credentials
Hiring a land clearing company without confirming their credentials is highly risky. It’s a common mistake among property owners who approach their projects with a low-cost focus. They often choose the first company that offers an estimate that sounds like a bargain.
Unfortunately, that mistake can be extremely costly. When you hire a company without verifying their licenses, certifications, and permits, you may end up with a team that doesn’t have the necessary experience or legal standing for the job at hand.
Therefore, it’s best to verify every credential without assuming anything. Check with all the relevant bodies before deciding who to hire.
Mistake 5: Ignoring References and Reviews
One of the best ways to judge a company’s competence is to check out what their previous clients think about their services. Therefore, ignoring references and reviews increases the risk of failing to spot complaints like poor communication, lack of insurance, missing deadlines, haphazard work, and poor site cleanup already lodged by previous clients.
Most professional land clearing companies will have no issues providing references for past completed projects similar to yours. You can find reviews with a quick search online. Here’s a good tip: always prioritize reviews submitted on third-party sites and keep your wits about you.
Get Hassle-Free Service From Your Local Pros
Land clearing is a costly and sensitive project. If you hire the wrong company, many things can go wrong, such as the following:
- You may find yourself in a legal tussle to recover your money or to extricate yourself from liability.
- You may delay your construction, landscaping, or agricultural project for too long, increasing the risk of losses.
- You may unwittingly break local laws.
The surest way to avoid these problems is to carefully navigate the selection process to avoid making the mistakes above.
Are you looking for a land clearing company that ticks all the right boxes in Mulberry, AR, and the surrounding areas? You’ve found the best one. Call Preeminent Land Clearing today at (479) 329-1271, to schedule a consultation.
