For those that lack a green thumb, hiring a lawn care service or landscaper can ease the burden of beautifying your own yard. But, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona advises consumers to get clear, written expectations for what services the company will provide, and agree on a fee before work starts. Otherwise, dreams of a green wonderland could quickly turn into a brown wasteland.

BBB offers the following advice to help consumers find a lawn care company they can trust:

• Know what you want from a lawn service. Lawn care companies provide many services, so it is important to decide what services and products are appropriate for your needs and budget.
• Find a trustworthy company. Check out any company’s BBB Business Review at tucson.bbb.org to see important background on the business, such as how long they’ve been in business, ownership information and how they resolve complaints. For an online directory of Accredited Businesses visit checkbbb.org.
• Check references. Ask the company for references and photos of previously completed projects. Call all references and ask what their experience was working with the company and if they were satisfied with the services provided.
• Ask for a lawn inspection and free estimate. Lawn care companies that quote a price without seeing your lawn may not give you an accurate estimate. A company should be willing to visit your home to provide you with an agreed upon fee.
• Get a written agreement. A contract should clearly state the services you will receive, guarantees and refund policies, as well as how and when payment will be handled. If you are using a recurring service, the contract should also include how often the company will come out to work on your lawn, how to cancel the service and a schedule for when payments are due.

Spring time is right around the corner and many consumers will want to remodel or repair their home as part of “Spring Cleaning.” Some tasks may not be simple, so consumers may look to hire contractors to come in and do the work.

In the past 12 months, BBB has received thousands of inquiries on general contractors. In order to find a trustworthy contractor, BBB recommends to do the following:

• Do a Background Check. BBB recommends homeowners ask all contractors for local references and find out if those customers were satisfied with the contractor’s work. Ask for permits, city code compliances and, if possible, homeowners should visit and inspect completed projects.
• Compare Costs. Solicit at least three bids from prospective contractors based on the same building specifications, materials, labor and time needed to complete the project. It is important to discuss bids in detail with each contractor and make certain to understand the reasons for any variations in price. BBB offers a free Request a Quote service to obtain bids from BBB Accredited Businesses. Remember that cost differences may reflect factors such as quality of materials, craftsmanship and subcontracting for specialized labor.
• Check on Insurance. Ask contractors if the company is insured against claims covering worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents. BBB advises verifying the contractor’s insurance coverage after obtaining the name of the carrier and agency.
• Start with Trust. Contractors that ask for payment up front, perform low-quality workmanship, refuse refunds and fail to address issues are common complaints BBB receives. Homeowners can avoid these companies by doing their homework online through BBB Member Pages to find BBB accredited contractors and remodeling businesses in the area.