How many quotes should I get for landscaping?
How many quotes to get for landscaping, how long they take to come back, and how to compare them fairly. Practical tips for Rhode Island homeowners.
How many quotes should I get for landscaping? For most jobs, three. One quote gives you nothing to compare, two can leave you guessing which is the outlier, and more than three usually adds follow-up work without much new information. The exception is a big project like a patio, retaining wall or full redesign, where a fourth opinion on the approach can be worth it. Below: why three works, how long landscaping quotes take, what makes them comparable, and how My Green Robot gets them for you in Rhode Island.
Why three landscaping quotes is the sweet spot
Three quotes show you the range. If two are close and one is far off, you learn something: either the outlier misunderstood the job or is including something the others are not.
For routine work like mowing or a fall cleanup, three is plenty. For a large hardscape project, it is fine to get a fourth, especially if the designs differ.
How long does it take to get a landscaping quote?
Simple, well described jobs can come back within a day or two. Jobs that need a site visit take longer, often a week in spring and fall when crews are booked.
You speed things up by giving the details upfront: town, rough size, photos and timing. The robot sends the same details to each shop.
Making quotes comparable
Send every landscaper the same description. Ask the same questions: price, fixed or estimate, what is included, start date, and how long the price holds. Otherwise you are comparing different jobs.
When one quote is enough
If you have a landscaper you trust and the job is routine, you do not need to shop around every time. Check prices once in a while to stay fair.
Red flags while collecting quotes
Pressure to decide on the spot, large cash deposits before any work, no written quote, or vague scope like "clean up the yard" with no details.
Steps: how many quotes should I get for landscaping
- Write one clear job description. Town, size, jobs, timing and photos.
- Ask three local landscapers. Shops that list the work and serve your town.
- Compare line by line. Price, scope, start date, price validity.
- Pick and confirm in writing. Book with the one that fits.
Yard jobs this guide covers
Pavers
Paver patios, walks and driveways on a proper base. Best time to book: late winter, so your project is on the calendar for spring.
Retaining Wall
Block or stone walls that hold back slopes and add flat space. Best time to book: late winter, so your project is on the calendar for spring.
Landscape Design
A plan for beds, plants and layout before any digging starts. Best time to book: March to May for mulch and planting, or early fall for shrub work.
Fall Cleanup
Leaf removal, bed cutback and a final cut before winter. Best time to book: March for spring cleanup and early October for fall cleanup.
Around Rhode Island
Providence: Most Providence yards are compact city lots with mature street trees, tight side yards and on-street parking, so crews favor smaller mowers and hand work.
North Kingstown: North Kingstown has historic Wickford homes, larger lots inland and waterfront properties on the bay.
West Warwick: West Warwick is a compact former mill town along the Pawtuxet River, with mostly small to mid-size lots.
Questions people ask
How many quotes should I get for landscaping?
Three for most jobs. Consider a fourth for big projects.
How long does it take to get a landscaping quote?
A day or two for simple jobs, longer when a visit is needed or in peak season.
Is it rude to get multiple landscaping quotes?
No. It is normal, and good shops expect it.
Should I always pick the cheapest quote?
Not automatically. Make sure the scope is the same.
Can someone get the quotes for me?
Yes. My Green Robot asks up to three Rhode Island shops per job for you.