Custom Plantings is the top choice to bring your landscape to life. Below are answers to some of the most important questions we get from clients. Still unsure? Compare our answers with other landscapers’ responses.
Are you licensed and insured?
Darcie’s Answer: Custom Plantings is fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and all my crew is legal and English-speaking.
What Other Contractors Do: Some contractors are licensed but not bonded or insured. This means you could be held liable for injuries on your property or any unpaid wages/materials, even if you’ve already paid the contractor.
Will you be on the job site daily to ensure everything is done right?
Darcie’s Answer: I personally handle all sales, designs, and I’m on-site every day to ensure everything is done exactly as planned.
What Other Contractors Do: Many landscapers have separate people for sales, design, and installation. This can lead to communication gaps and mistakes since no one person is overseeing the entire project.
How long do you guarantee your plants?
Darcie’s Answer: We offer a six-month guarantee with free replacement if a plant doesn’t thrive.
What Other Contractors Do: Most contractors only offer a 3-month guarantee, if any, which might not be enough time for plants to fully establish themselves.
How can I contact you?
Darcie’s Answer: You’ll have direct access to me, Darcie Paulin, and can reach me anytime on my personal cell. I return all calls and emails the same day, usually within an hour.
What Other Contractors Do: Many contractors make you leave a message, and you may wait days for a response, if you get one at all.
What are your ratings on Yelp and/or Angie’s List?
Darcie’s Answer: We’re the highest-rated landscaping company on Yelp, and we’ve maintained a perfect record on Angie’s List for 21 years with no negative reviews.
What Other Contractors Do: A quick search of many landscapers reveals negative reviews from clients who’ve had poor experiences with installations that went wrong or weren’t fixed properly.
How well do you know your plants?
Darcie’s Answer: With over 25 years of experience in horticulture, plus internships at botanical gardens and work at local nurseries, I know every plant in the Sacramento area and what it needs to thrive.
What Other Contractors Do: Many landscapers don’t have in-depth plant knowledge. They rely on designers to choose the plants, and the landscaper just installs them, which can lead to plants being chosen that aren’t ideal for your environment.
How many jobs do you work on at once?
Darcie’s Answer: We only work on one job at a time. Once we start, we finish it before moving on to the next project. We pride ourselves on keeping our commitments and always respond to calls and emails promptly.
What Other Contractors Do: Many contractors juggle multiple jobs, which means your project could be delayed. They might leave a job unfinished and come back over a long period of time, leaving you unsure of when the job will be completed.
Will I have a say in the plants you select, and will they be of retail quality?
Darcie’s Answer: Absolutely! We take you on a field trip to Green Acres Nursery to personally select plants that suit your taste and ensure the best quality.
What Other Contractors Do: Many landscapers get plants from wholesale nurseries that don’t offer retail-quality materials, leading to less vibrant and healthy plants in your landscape.