Your landscaping contractor is one of the most visible vendors your HOA or CDD hires. Residents see the work every day, prospective buyers judge the community by its entrances and common areas, and a bad fit can mean months of complaints before the contract is up. Here is what board members and property managers in Orlando and Central Florida should look for before signing.
1. Make sure they actually do commercial work
Mowing a single front yard and maintaining a 300-home community are different jobs. Ask how many HOA, CDD, COA or commercial properties the company maintains right now, and how big their crews are. A commercial contractor should have the equipment to cover large turf areas, retention ponds, medians and entrance features on a predictable schedule, and enough people that one sick day doesn’t push your service back a week.
2. Ask for a clear scope of work in writing
Most HOA landscaping disputes come down to a vague contract. A good proposal spells out:
- Mowing frequency in the growing season and the dormant season
- Edging, string trimming and blowing of hardscapes after every visit
- Shrub and hedge trimming schedule
- Bed weeding and mulch refresh timing
- Palm trimming and tree work (included or quoted separately)
- Who handles irrigation checks and how problems get reported
- Storm cleanup procedures after hurricanes and tropical storms
If two proposals look very different, it’s usually because the scopes are different. Line them up item by item before you compare them.
3. Check licensing and insurance
Ask for a certificate of insurance listing your association as certificate holder, with general liability and workers’ compensation coverage. Crews work around residents, cars and common-area amenities every week, so this protects the board as much as the contractor. If the company applies fertilizer or pesticides, confirm they hold the required Florida applicator licenses.
4. Look for one company that can handle more than mowing
Many communities juggle a mowing company, a tree company, a pressure washing vendor and someone else for drainage or sidewalk repairs. Every extra vendor is another contract, another invoice and another person to chase. A full-service landscaping company can handle commercial mowing and grounds maintenance, tree and palm trimming, plant installation, mulch, rock and drainage work, and pressure washing of sidewalks, curbs and amenities under one relationship. That makes scheduling and accountability much simpler for the board.
5. Ask how they communicate
Your manager should know who to call and how fast they’ll hear back. Ask:
- Will we have one main point of contact?
- How do we report a problem, and how quickly is it addressed?
- Do you do property walk-throughs with the manager or board?
- Will you send written proposals for enhancements before any extra work is done?
Clear written proposals for extra work keep the budget predictable and avoid surprise invoices.
6. Ask about plant warranties
Florida heat, sandy soil and heavy summer rain are hard on new plantings. When your community invests in new beds, trees or palms, ask whether the contractor warranties what they install. A company that stands behind its plants is confident in its material selection and installation work.
7. Check references and real reviews
Ask for two or three current HOA or commercial references, and read the company’s Google reviews. Pay attention to reviews from property managers and board members, and look for comments about reliability and responsiveness, not just how the property looked on one day.
8. Think about Central Florida’s seasons
Central Florida turf grows fast from spring through fall and slows in the winter. Your contractor should adjust mowing frequency with the seasons, plan palm trimming around hurricane season, and have a plan for storm debris cleanup. A local company that works across Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Clermont and the surrounding area will already know these patterns.
Quick checklist for your next board meeting
- Current HOA, CDD or commercial clients
- Detailed written scope of work
- Certificate of insurance naming the association
- Full-service capability (mowing, trees, enhancements, pressure washing)
- One point of contact and clear response times
- Written proposals for extra work
- Plant warranty on new installations
- Strong references and Google reviews
Get a free proposal from 55 Lawns
55 Lawns is a full-service landscaping company serving HOAs, CDDs, COAs, apartment communities and commercial properties across Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Clermont and nearby communities. We provide dependable scheduling, clear written proposals, quality materials and a full warranty on the plants we install, all at a very reasonable price.
Request a free estimate or call (407) 906-9303.