Yard work and gardening: when is it worth hiring a professional?

The yard is a project of its own. Some jobs are pleasant pottering, others are heavy or dangerous. Here are ways to decide what you do yourself and what you do not.

Do it yourself if

• the job is light and recurring (raking, watering, mowing),
• you have the tools,
• a mistake is easy to put right.

Hire a professional if

• the job is heavy or dangerous: felling large trees, pruning from a height, digging and earthworks.
• machinery is needed: paving, a driveway, drainage, an excavator.
• the result has to last: the structure of a terrace, retaining walls, drainage.
• time is short: spring clean-up, lawn care during the summer holidays.

Remember the permits

Tree felling and larger structures may need a permit. The rules vary between municipalities, so check your municipality's guidance or ask the provider to tell you. In a housing company, changes to the yard area are usually agreed with the property manager or the board.

What to say in the request

• The size and current state of the yard.
• What you want: tidy basic upkeep, a new look or a single job?
• The wanted schedule: demand is high in summer.
• Photos.

Agree recurring work with a seasonal contract

Mowing, weeding and shrub care can be agreed for the whole season. Agree the visit frequency, what a visit includes and how waste is handled.

Ask these

1. What does the price include: waste removal, machine and travel costs?
2. Is the price fixed or charged by the hour?
3. Does the provider have insurance?
4. When does the job start and when is it finished?

The household tax credit

The labour share of yard work may qualify for the household tax credit. Ask the provider whether they are in the prepayment register and ask for an invoice that separates the work.