Looking for a Landscaping Company Areas West of Fair Oaks Mall (Fairfax: homeowners insurance, contractors)

[sprklcl]

Have some really large bushes and short trees in our yard that need trimming before spring beyond reach of a nearly six foot step ladder that have. Any recommendations of landscaping companies you in recent times have used if live in western Fairfax County or eastern Loudoun County? Not looking for the very cheapest, but a step above that. Someone who is licensed, insured, reliable, pays attention to detail (failing of some who have used in the past), provide a written estimate, and need to speak and understand English reasonably well by owner and/or office staff and at least one of the workers as too much lost in translation otherwise (been there, done that before, not good experience). At least for now, no Miss Utility 811 clearance required as all work far from underground utilities.

Way too many reviews on Google and Yelp to sort through, with some of them fake, like with some types of business listed on those sites, so am asking here at City Data. Thanks in advance for any business suggestions.

[sprklcl]

Got my answer, thanks

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by sprklcl

Got my answer, thanks

As long as the company you hired is licensed and insured. In VA if someone is working on your property that wasn't licensed and insured, should that person get injured, your homeowners insurance won't cover it.

[DAXhound]

Originally Posted by BOS2IAD

As long as the company you hired is licensed and insured. In VA if someone is working on your property that wasn't licensed and insured, should that person get injured, your homeowners insurance won't cover it.

I disagree. It is not illegal to hire someone for informal labor. Most states have cutoffs, dollar-wise that dictate what a handyman's limits are. There is no possible way, you could do complete background checks on everyone summoned to your home.

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by DAXhound

I disagree. It is not illegal to hire someone for informal labor. Most states have cutoffs, dollar-wise that dictate what a handyman's limits are. There is no possible way, you could do complete background checks on everyone summoned to your home.

Wrong. Check the law yourself.

Yes, there is a way to check anyone you want to hire. You ask them if they are licensed and insured. If they say "yes", ask to see proof. Any legitimate handyman would gladly produce such documentation.

See? It's not hard to do that. Once again, the law in VA says that if you hire someone who isn't licensed and insured to work on your property, should that person get injured while working on your property, your homeowners' insurance won't cover it.

I've talked to honest contractors and they've explained the VA law to my husband and me.

That said, no one will stop you from hiring "informal labor". Just know that you take a big risk in doing so.