A comprehensive guide for HOA board members evaluating landscape maintenance proposals — scope, SLAs, insurance, and red flags to watch for.
When your HOA is evaluating landscape maintenance proposals, the contract details matter as much as the price. A well-structured grounds contract should clearly define scope of work, service frequency, crew size minimums, response-time SLAs, insurance requirements (minimum $2M general liability), and performance benchmarks. Look for contractors who provide monthly walk-through reports with photos, offer a single point of contact, and have experience managing communities of similar size. Red flags include vague scope language, no mention of hurricane/storm response, and reluctance to provide references from comparable communities.