You may choose to hire a professional contractor to repair, build, add, remove or decorate something around your home. Whether working on structures or on landscaping, their actions usually have ramifications upon your outdoor spaces.

Contractors are hired because they possess the talents, time, equipment or desire that enables them to do jobs we can’t or don’t want to do. Contractors come in all degrees of capabilities, awareness, customer service and business ethics.

1. Capability: Obviously, you want someone who can do the job they were hired to do. Saying that, many people hire someone for other reasons: cheap, a friend, best advertised, gift of gab, or fast. Know ahead of time if those things are combined with what you want accomplished.

2. Awareness: Assuming a contractor is garden savvy is a huge mistake. Contractors who are totally focused on their job may not realize the flower bed they just drove over took years to accomplish. Talking BEFORE starting your project allows you both to bring in a “battle plan” to protect your landscaping.

3. Customer Service: A customer should not make a contractor’s job more difficult because you want to micro manage. On the other hand, the contractor is your paid employee and should either conform to your needs or not accept the job. Having that discussion BEFORE you hire allows you both the option of continuing or not.

For more of Diane Gibson's column, see the May 21 Galva News.