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Hiring the right land clearing company may seem as easy as doing a Google search. It’s imperative to know if the company has experienced, skillful operators and to follow through with their word when it comes to cost and timelines for completion. No one wants to hire a liability. JB Earth & Aquatics would like to share three questions ask before you hire a land clearing company.

Before we get into the questions for the land clearing company, there are a few questions we need to ask ourselves before taking on the land clearing project.

• Do you know what to expect when it comes to cost? Cost should equal quality work and meeting deadlines.
• Do you know what to expect when it comes to the time necessary to finish the project? This time should equal the actual work performed, not the company’s ability to get operators out on a job site and to stay on the job site till complete.
• How big is the property or area is to be cleared? This will help in cost estimate accuracy.
• What kind of clearing needs to be done and will there be any existing trees left? This step needs to be communicated clearly or everything within that designated space will be removed.
• Do you have margin in the deadline of your project? Is always better to start sooner just in case there are some unforeseen obstacles in the process of clearing so that you are able to still meet the deadline.

We believe that a person can never ask too many questions. Questions equal clarity, trust and confidence. You should be able to ask your potential land clearing company any question in regards to the project at hand and about the company itself. Here are a few questions we think you should ask.

1. Do you have experience working in this type of planning project?

It’s true that no two land clearing projects are the same, yet there are similarities. There could be some unexpected variables that potential company has not experienced before. This is where questions come in. Ask if they have a strategic plan of how to handle your unique project? What type of equipment you use? If in any way they seem unsure, you might want to keep looking for land clearing company. It’s simple, the more you know about what should be done and their answers corresponding with your questions, the higher the confidence level should be in getting the project done properly. If the company is skilled at what they do, they will have experience to tackle any project with all the variables.

2. Does the company have a clean safety record including drug and alcohol free.

When you hire a land clearing company, you want confidence, not a liability. This question is not just about employees, it is about operators working on your property safely. Have there been any personal injuries or accidents in the past? Has there been damage to people’s property including and not limited to hitting homes, structures, large equipment, knocking down power lines, taking up gas and water services? These can be catastrophic. Are the machine operators alcohol and drug tested? Any operator cognitively impaired behind a machine on your property is a nightmare waiting to happen.

Here are more safety questions to consider:

• Does the company follow OSHA regulations?
• Are the employees trained to handle accidents if something goes wrong?
• Does the company use safety equipment and carry first-aid on the job site?

Always safety first! Not following safety guidelines can be punishable by law. Go safe or go home.

3. Does the land clearing company offer references from previous clients?

The references a badge of honor to help build trust for any company. A clearing company that is done great work will have plenty of references. Call those references and ask what you liked or didn’t like about the company. This will tell you if you can move forward with the land clearing company you’re considering.

Bonus question: ask what the estimated cost of the project will be and get it in writing.

Remember that an estimate is an estimate, not a concrete amount. Many variables and last-minute changes can influence the end price of the project like:

• The size of the property being cleared.
• The size and number of trees that need to be removed.
• The amount of debris to be removed, hauled and disposed of.

Land clearing is a big project for anyone. An experienced land clearing company should make the process as easy as possible for their client. The benefits of land clearing such as aesthetics, property value, safety, fire risks and avoiding encroachment violations solve problems property owners face. JB Earth & Aquatics is here to help you with all of your clearing needs. Please give us a call to schedule a free estimate at 321-917-8730. We can help make your property is useful and valuable as it was intended.

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