Conventional wisdom would seem to suggest that completing a landscaping project by yourself is a great way to save money. The truth is that paying a professional contractor to do the job for you can be a sound financial decision.

How Hiring a Landscaping Contractor Can Save You Money

At first glance, landscaping does not seem all that complicated to the average layperson. In some ways, this assessment is accurate if all you are doing is laying down some decorative stone or creating a few raised beds. Many homeowners think that any landscaping project will be cheaper if they do it themselves. In truth, a good landscaper can actually save you money for several reasons.

Fixed Costs and Economies of Scale

If all you need to complete a landscaping job is a shovel and some gloves, equipment costs don’t really matter. If you need to rent or even buy loaders, rototillers and earth augers, the price of hardware usage rises substantially. Furthermore, landscapers always buy stone and soil in bulk to get the best price on input materials. Homeowners buying small amounts of hardscaping products cannot get the same bargains.

Unforeseen Expenses Incurred During a Project

If you do not know zoning restrictions and Environmental Protection Agency regulations cold, even minor landscaping jobs can become fiascos. Being dinged for fines because you broke some strict rules about landscaping will erase any savings accrued by doing it yourself. Beyond that, there is the matter of underestimating the true price tag for a project. Quite a few homeowners assume that they can do things cheaper by themselves by not factoring in hidden costs due to inexperience.

Know Your DIY Landscaping Limitations

If your landscaping idea does not require power tools, and it can be completed in a day, then it is safe to go it alone. Beyond that, it is a better idea to consult with landscape contractors who know their stuff and hire them to do the heavy lifting. At the end of the day, you will save more money by spending a little extra up front to avoid flubs down the line.