What’s your best advice for working with residential customers?

Landscape Professionals

Richard Bare
Arbor-Nomics Turf
Norcross, Ga.

“I’d rather have 1,000 homeowners than two big commercial accounts, but you’d better have the patience to handle them; otherwise, you’ll be in the loony bin within 10 years.”

Bill Bemus
Bemus Landscape
San Clemente, Calif.

Chris Joyce
Joyce Landscaping
Cape Cod, Mass.

“When working with residential customers, you need to be willing to be very attentive and flexible.”

Jerry McKay
McKay Landscape Lighting
Omaha, Neb.

“Ask good questions and listen intensely.”

Greg Winchel
Winchel Irrigation
Grandville, Mich.

Industry Consultants

Dan Gordon
TurfBooks
Newton, N.J.

Kevin Kehoe
3PG Consulting
Laguna, Calif.

“Make it easy for them to do business with you. Use software and the internet to manage invoices, payments, schedules and requests. Since they are notoriously disloyal, these services create a significant difference in the contractor relationship.”

Phil Harwood
Pro-Motion Consulting
Grand Rapids, Mich.

“Require prepayment!”

Adam Linnemann
The Green Executive
Columbia, Ill.

“Educate! A well-informed customer can make better buying decisions!”

Frank Ross
3PG Consulting
Alpharetta, Ga.

Jeffrey Scott
Jeffrey Scott Inc!
Trumbull, Conn.

“Know your niche. They are not all alike!”

Jody Shilan
FromDesign2Build.com
Upper Saddle River, N.J.