10 Things to Check Before Hiring a Landscaper in Melbourne

A new garden, lawn or retaining wall is a big investment, and the landscaper you choose matters as much as the design. Most landscapers in Melbourne do honest, solid work. But a few quick checks before you sign anything can save you from cost blowouts, half-finished jobs and problems that only show up after the first heavy rain.

This guide walks you through the 10 things worth checking, in the order you'd usually check them. None of it takes long, and most of it you can do from your phone.

1. They're a real, registered business

Start with the basics. A proper landscaping business should have an Australian Business Number (ABN), a business name and a way to reach them beyond a single mobile number.

You can check any ABN for free on the government's ABN Lookup website. It takes about 30 seconds and shows whether the ABN is active and who it belongs to. If the name on the quote doesn't match the name on the ABN, ask why.

A business that's easy to check is usually a business that plans to stick around, which matters if something needs fixing down the track.

2. They carry public liability insurance

Landscaping involves excavators, heavy materials and digging near fences, pipes and houses. If something goes wrong, such as a damaged fence, a cracked driveway or an injury on your property, public liability insurance is what covers it.

Don't just take their word for it. Ask for a certificate of currency, which shows the policy is current and how much it covers. A reputable landscaper will send it without fuss. If they hesitate or change the subject, treat that as a warning sign.

3. They're registered for structural work, if your job needs it

This is the one most homeowners don't know about, and it catches people out.

In Victoria, planting, turf and garden beds can be done by any landscaper. Structural work is different. Retaining structures are generally treated as domestic building work, and if even a small part of a landscaping job is domestic building work and the contract is over $10,000, you need an appropriately registered building practitioner. The same applies to some fencing and to verandas and decks attached to your home.

There are even specific registration types for this work, such as a domestic builder limited to structural landscaping or limited to retaining walls. Registration is now handled by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), which replaced the Victorian Building Authority. You can check whether a practitioner or company is registered using the online "find a practitioner" directory.

If your project includes a retaining wall, deck or other structure and the total is over $10,000, ask for the registration number and check it before you go any further.

4. They've done work like yours before

A landscaper who's brilliant at planting may not be the right person for a two-metre retaining wall, and the reverse is true too. Ask to see photos of finished projects similar to yours, ideally with before-and-after shots.

Local experience counts in Melbourne because ground conditions vary so much. Much of the eastern suburbs sits on reactive clay that swells and shrinks with the seasons, while bayside properties often have sandier soil that drains fast. A landscaper who knows these conditions will plan drainage, footings and turf preparation to suit, rather than using the same method everywhere.

5. Their reviews and references hold up

Online reviews are a good starting point, but read them properly. Look for recent reviews that mention specific details, like how the team handled a problem, whether they turned up on time, or how the garden looks a year later. A handful of detailed reviews is worth more than dozens of one-line five-star ratings.

If it's a bigger job, ask for a reference from a past client. Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests checking references and inspecting work the tradesperson has done, including asking past clients whether they were happy with the quality.

6. They inspect the site before quoting

Be wary of anyone who gives you a firm price for a big job over the phone or from a couple of photos. A proper quote needs someone to walk the site and look at:

• Access for machinery and materials
• Ground levels and slope
• Soil type and existing drainage
• Trees, roots and existing structures
• Where water will go after rain

These things decide how much excavation, base preparation and drainage work the job needs, and that's where most of the cost sits. A quote that skips the inspection either has a lot of padding built in, or it'll grow once work starts.

7. You get a clear, written quote

Once the inspection is done, you should receive a written quote that spells out what you're actually paying for. A good quote covers:

• The full scope of work, area by area
• Materials, including brands, types and quantities where it matters
• Excavation, site preparation and drainage
• Waste removal and clean-up
• What's not included
• How variations (changes during the job) will be priced and agreed

Comparing two quotes is only useful if they cover the same things. If one quote is much cheaper, check what's missing. Often it's the preparation, drainage or waste removal, which are the parts that decide whether the job lasts.

For larger structural jobs, work costing more than $10,000 needs a written major domestic building contract, and the builder must be registered.

8. The deposit and payments are fair (and legal)

A landscaper asking for most of the money upfront is one of the clearest red flags there is. For domestic building work in Victoria, the law caps deposits. Your deposit can't be more than 10% for contracts under $20,000, or 5% for contracts of $20,000 or more.

After the deposit, payments should be tied to stages of finished work, not dates on a calendar. That way you're always paying for work that's been done, not work that's been promised.

For larger jobs, there are also home warranty insurance requirements, and these rules have recently changed. Check the current thresholds on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website before signing a big contract.

9. Permits and approvals are sorted

Some landscaping work needs council or building approval, and it's worth knowing who's responsible before work starts. Common examples in Melbourne include:

• Retaining walls. A building permit is needed for retaining walls one metre high or more, and sometimes for lower walls built close to another building or a boundary where neighbouring property could be damaged.
• Trees. Many Melbourne councils have tree protection rules, and removing or digging near a significant tree may need a permit.
• Heritage overlays. In suburbs with heritage controls, front fences, paving and front-garden changes can be restricted.
• Underground services. Before any digging, the location of gas, water, power and communications lines should be checked through Before You Dig Australia.

A good landscaper will raise these at the quote stage, not after the excavator has arrived. Consumer Affairs Victoria also warns never to sign a building permit as an owner-builder at the request of a builder or tradesperson who'll be doing the work.

10. Warranty, timeline and communication are clear

Finally, ask how the job will run and what happens if something goes wrong:

• Timeline. When can they start, how long will it take, and how are rain delays handled?
• Who's on site. Will the same team do the work, or will parts be subcontracted?
• Workmanship guarantee. What's covered if paving sinks, a wall moves or turf fails to take?
• Plants. Is there any guarantee on new plants, and what care is expected from you?
• Contact. Who do you call with questions, and how quickly will they get back to you?

How a landscaper communicates before you sign is usually how they'll communicate during the job. If it's hard to get a straight answer now, it won't get easier once they have your deposit.

Red flags to watch for

If you notice any of these, slow down and get another quote:

• Cash-only payment or a large upfront deposit
• No ABN, insurance certificate or registration (where needed)
• A firm price without a site inspection
• A vague one-line quote with no inclusions or exclusions
• Pressure to sign today to "lock in" a discount
• A request for you to sign as the owner-builder

Quick checklist

Planning a landscaping project? TXR Landscaping Contractors inspects every property before quoting, provides clear written quotes with agreed inclusions, and carries $10 million public liability insurance. Request a free site inspection →

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