When choosing a land clearing contractor, it is important to consider the following:
- The land clearing contractor’s reputation among suppliers
- The contractor’s work experience, which must be demonstrable
- Whether the land clearing company can provide positive testimonials
- The contractor’s knowledge of local permitting rules, and a willingness to follow them
- Whether the land clearing expert is bonded
- If the land clearing company brings other site development skills to the project
In most areas in Texas, land clearing contractors are not required to be licensed. If you ask to see one, you may get a blank look in return. As such, property owners cannot rely on licensing requirements to identify qualified land clearing contractors, but there are still many ways to verify expertise and professionalism.
The Land Clearing Company’s Reputation
Chances are that any reputable land clearing service you are considering will have supplier connections. If they work with pavement, for example, they will work with other companies to supply their material. Suppliers have excellent insight into a contractor’s professionalism because they work with the land clearing service directly.
If you are willing to contact those suppliers, they may be willing to vouch for the land clearing service or warn you of a potentially disreputable company.
The Land Clearing Contractor’s Experience
Experience and work quality are important in the land clearing and site development industry, so you will want a contractor that has that experience and attention to detail. Land clearing teams must contend with work conditions that can change and potentially worsen without warning. The site may be affected by unstable soils. Neighboring property owners may exert pressure if noise, dust or traffic are bothersome. A hidden utility line may emerge in a spot that the site plan missed. There could be additional vegetation or structures that initial site surveys did not account for.
Experience is what land clearing companies use to mitigate these challenges in real-time. That means you will want to choose a land clearing contractor that has a deep, variable project portfolio. Specifically, you should be able to visit the relevant work sites or at least have the contact information for the property owners involved.
The Land Clearing Contractor’s Client Reputation
If the land clearing does have contact information for previous clients, it is wise to follow up with those clients to investigate the company’s professionalism and expertise.
When contacting previous clients, ask if their project was completed on time and within budget. Ask if the contractor pulled the permits and if they observed safe work practices. Verify that their site was completely cleared and built on without complication. As land clearing is an early step in the site development process, any mistakes or corner cutting will cause problems later. If the site was developed and built on without incident, it is a sign that the land clearing company did their job well.
The Contractor’s Approach to Permitting
Texas land clearing companies do not need a license to take on jobs, but cities do require them to pull the relevant permits for their project. In Houston, most site development projects are only permissible with the appropriate permits, and this responsibility ultimately falls to the property owner. If the permits are not pulled and the city discovers this during the job, consequences include monetary fines and potential work stoppages.
A reputable land clearing contractor will pull the necessary work permits for their client, saving time, ensuring compliance and protecting against future delays. Your contractor should also be willing to pull them.
The Land Clearing Contractor’s Bond
Many industries operate with surety bond companies – third parties that pledge to pay on behalf of the bonded company, in the event of damage or poor work quality. This includes the land clearing field, where contractors strive to communicate trust and expertise.
Bonding is one way for contractors to do this, as it serves as a guarantee of work quality and reputation. If the bonded company provides poor work, they will lose the funds held in reserve.
If your land clearing service is willing to stake their reputation (and money) on a bond, it is a positive indicator of the contractor’s expertise.
The Land Clearing Contractor’s Other Site Development Skills
Your project will not end when your property is cleared. You may require demolition services as well, and there is plenty more to do once you have a blank slate to work with. Your land will need to be graded or shaped to fit the site plan. It will need to be compacted to ensure stability. Build pads will need to be established for each structure. Drainage structures such as culverts, retention/detention ponds and curb and gutter systems will need to be installed.
If your land clearing company can provide the skills necessary to perform the above, it will save your organization time and money as you will not have to partner with several contractors to get a single site prepared.
Focus on Experience, Expertise and Professionalism when Choosing a Land Clearing Contractor
There is not a shortcut to identifying reputable, competent land clearing services. Instead, you will need to consider several factors, including the company’s work portfolio, its capabilities, its observance of local ordinances and whether others are willing to recommend the contractor. If you are looking to choose a land clearing contractor for your project, these are the factors you will need to consider for the best results.
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