Even after 20+ years in the landscaping business, I wouldn\u2019t want to need to find other patio installers near me. That\u2019s because homeowners always face a bit of a catch-22 situation. On the one hand, they can\u2019t enjoy their dream of a beautiful outdoor space until they choose a vendor to work with. But if they get that decision wrong it\u2019s going to lead to delays, headaches, and possibly a lot of wasted money.<\/p>\n
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With that in mind, I can understand why so many new customers feel a little bit nervous about meeting me and my team. In today\u2019s post, I want to help you answer that all-important question so many homeowners ask: which patio installers near me should I work with?<\/p>\n
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In order to help you find the right choice, I\u2019m going to include a handful of questions you should ask about each company you meet. You don\u2019t necessarily need to say these out loud, of course, but they should be in your mind as you have designers over to visit.<\/p>\n
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Any reputable patio contractor should be happy to visit you at your home to talk through design options and budgets. At my company, it\u2019s the first thing we do on any new project.<\/p>\n
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I think this is a crucial step for a few reasons. First, it makes things more convenient for the homeowner which, as always, should be our first job. We come to them so they don\u2019t have to come to us.<\/p>\n
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The second reason is that you want a designer to actually see your property before they make any recommendations. They\u2019ll need to know things about the slope, drainage, and access to roads and utilities before they can talk about possibilities. Be very, very wary of any contractor who would give you a proposal without seeing your backyard for themselves.<\/p>\n
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And finally, visiting you at home gives the patio installer a chance to get a better sense of you and how you want to use your space. Ultimately, understanding your preferences is even more crucial than getting the literal lay of the land. You should never skip this step, and you shouldn\u2019t work with a contractor who would even suggest doing so.<\/p>\n
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This one factor is more important than all the others combined. If you trust a patio contractor to put your interests first and do a great job, then they can probably work something out and know you\u2019ll be happy with the result. But if you don\u2019t have that level of trust, no price is going to make their offer a good deal.<\/p>\n
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I live and work in the Saugus, Massachusetts, area. That means there are plenty of patio installers near me. There are some of them I would trust almost as much as my own team. In other cities there are contractors I wouldn\u2019t want to work on my house even if they offered to do the job for free.<\/p>\n
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A good contractor will put you at ease. They\u2019ll take their time to explain your options, answer your questions, and get a feel for your lifestyle. You will get the time to talk about what you want, what you don\u2019t want, and how you plan to use your patio.<\/p>\n
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You might not have the industry knowledge I do, but you can always trust your gut. That should be your first and most crucial consideration.<\/p>\n
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This essentially carries on from the last point, but it\u2019s worth spelling out. It\u2019s perfectly fine for a patio installer to make suggestions after they\u2019ve asked about your dreams and preferences. However, you definitely shouldn\u2019t feel like you are being sold on extras or being asked to commit to something that doesn\u2019t make you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n
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At my company we have a couple of rules around consultations. One is that we never talk money with a potential customer until we feel confident that we understand what kind of patio they are dreaming of. Another is that we won\u2019t accept the project if we don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to turn out well. That means the job meets our customer\u2019s expectations as well as our own.<\/p>\n
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If we get the sense that we are uneasy with someone, or that they feel nervous about working with us, then we don\u2019t move ahead. You should have the same comfort level with any patio installer you\u2019re thinking of working with.<\/p>\n
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When I look around at the patio installers near me, there are a handful that have been in business for years and another few who are brand new. The new guys might do great work, but I wouldn\u2019t hire them to install features on my property unless I didn\u2019t have another choice.<\/p>\n
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This isn\u2019t to say they wouldn\u2019t do a good job. In fact, they could turn out to offer great value. It\u2019s just that I\u2019ve seen too many patio renovation projects go wrong because an inexperienced contractor ordered an incorrect part, took steps in the wrong order, or missed a crucial detail. I know just how frustrating, expensive, and time-consuming those sorts of slip-ups can be.<\/p>\n
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You want to hire a patio installation team with a track record of success. That doesn\u2019t just ensure things will go more smoothly, but also that you\u2019ll get a patio that lasts.<\/p>\n
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If I were checking out patio installers near me, I\u2019d want to look at online reviews and talk with referrals.<\/p>\n
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At my company we are happy to have new customers talk with others who have hired us in the past. Ideally, we can point them at neighbors who can say we did everything we promised and delivered a finished patio that will be enjoyed for years to come.<\/p>\n
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Those are the kinds of endorsements you\u2019re looking for. Be sure you get them before you sign an agreement or pay a deposit to your patio installer.<\/p>\n
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