By Susette Horspool
Water rates are high these days and growing higher, oftentimes faster than the plants in your landscape. If your organization has a large landscape and is intent on reducing its water bill, you will need to start by finding out how the irrigation system is currently functioning and how you can improve it. You don't want to kill your plants, but you do want to cut back on water wasted.
There are a lot of factors to consider - existing system, plants, climate, soil, equipment upgrades, potential rebates - making a water survey quite complicated, so it's best to start by looking for someone to gather the necessary data. A professional who can conduct a large landscape survey not only knows what to look for, but also knows how a well-functioning landscape and irrigation system operates, and what is available on the market to improve it. There are several ways to locate one:
Check with your water supplier.
Many water suppliers offer special incentives for their customers to reduce water use, including free fixtures, rebates, discount coupons, and free water use surveys. If your water supplier does not offer surveys free of charge, they will most likely know of a professional company that will do one for a fee. This is your best bet for getting a good referral.
Check with friends or organizations like yours.
Let your social and business networks know what your plans are and that you are looking for a referral. If the person you check with first doesn't know of anyone, perhaps they know of someone else who does. Utilize their networks too. If none of them have ever had a large landscape survey done, they might want to see what happens with yours and you can be the one to give a referral afterward.
Search online. Look for good reviews.
If searching online you'll need to define your keywords. "Water conservation consultant" might work. If that is too narrow or doesn't bring in the right results, try "water conservation." To find someone local, add a comma and your area next to it: "Water conservation, Phoenix AZ." List those that look interesting, plus any you found in your local yellow pages, then do a search for quality. This time, key in the "name of the company, reviews" and see what you get.
Call your new list.
Call each company you ended up with and see how you like their customer service. You'll have to deal with them later if you select that company to work with. Tell the ones you like that you'll be sending them a bid request.
How to Request a Bid
Now that you've found a few water use surveyors to interview, it's time to request a bid. Many Homeowner Associations (HOA) and other businesses get themselves into trouble by requesting bids verbally, instead of in writing. Although the initial contact can be verbal, when you send out a written bid request, it helps a contractor to prepare a proposal targeted to your concerns, and later helps the interview to go more smoothly.
Let's say you are a HOA or hotel looking for someone to gather data on how you are using water in the landscape. You want them to recommend changes you can make to become more efficient, and tell you how much you can save on your bills by making the changes. Here is the general format of a good bid request.
There are a lot of factors to consider - existing system, plants, climate, soil, equipment upgrades, potential rebates - making a water survey quite complicated, so it's best to start by looking for someone to gather the necessary data. A professional who can conduct a large landscape survey not only knows what to look for, but also knows how a well-functioning landscape and irrigation system operates, and what is available on the market to improve it. There are several ways to locate one:
Check with your water supplier.
Many water suppliers offer special incentives for their customers to reduce water use, including free fixtures, rebates, discount coupons, and free water use surveys. If your water supplier does not offer surveys free of charge, they will most likely know of a professional company that will do one for a fee. This is your best bet for getting a good referral.
Check with friends or organizations like yours.
Let your social and business networks know what your plans are and that you are looking for a referral. If the person you check with first doesn't know of anyone, perhaps they know of someone else who does. Utilize their networks too. If none of them have ever had a large landscape survey done, they might want to see what happens with yours and you can be the one to give a referral afterward.
Search online. Look for good reviews.
If searching online you'll need to define your keywords. "Water conservation consultant" might work. If that is too narrow or doesn't bring in the right results, try "water conservation." To find someone local, add a comma and your area next to it: "Water conservation, Phoenix AZ." List those that look interesting, plus any you found in your local yellow pages, then do a search for quality. This time, key in the "name of the company, reviews" and see what you get.
Call your new list.
Call each company you ended up with and see how you like their customer service. You'll have to deal with them later if you select that company to work with. Tell the ones you like that you'll be sending them a bid request.
How to Request a Bid
Now that you've found a few water use surveyors to interview, it's time to request a bid. Many Homeowner Associations (HOA) and other businesses get themselves into trouble by requesting bids verbally, instead of in writing. Although the initial contact can be verbal, when you send out a written bid request, it helps a contractor to prepare a proposal targeted to your concerns, and later helps the interview to go more smoothly.
Let's say you are a HOA or hotel looking for someone to gather data on how you are using water in the landscape. You want them to recommend changes you can make to become more efficient, and tell you how much you can save on your bills by making the changes. Here is the general format of a good bid request.
- Project background - The problem you are having with water use in the landscape. What you have tried so far and how it worked.
- The request - What it is you want from the surveyor. Include the work you want them to perform and a timeline for them to submit their final report after the survey.
- Related details - Things that will help the surveyor prepare a fair bid: Size and nature of landscaped area (hilly? flat?), number of irrigation controllers and stations, existing water features, main type of landscape (turf and trees, or lots of flower beds and some turf, etc.) These will affect the amount of time it takes for the surveyor to walk the property with you.
- Restrictions or conditions - Will they need to be let into a gate? Are there dogs? Is it ok to have residents tag along? Is there a landscaping committee to work with?
- Supporting materials - Proof that they know what they're doing, like resumes, references, and testimonials from satisfied customers.
- Submission information - These are details about how you want their proposal to look and be submitted. Especially if you are requesting a number of bids, it will be easier to read them if they are all of the same format. Information should include the person and address or email to send them to, how many copies you want, and the submission deadline.
Susette Horspool is a Business Development Coordinator for WaterWise Consulting, Inc. In addition to networking and introducing the services of the company, she writes articles and proposals for them. Ms. Horspool is dedicated to wise use of earth's natural resources, and spreads the sustainability message wherever she goes. WaterWise Consulting, Inc. provides water conservation services for homeowners, businesses, government entities, and water suppliers to help them become more efficient in the way they use water. WaterWise also offers landscape training programs for homeowners and professional landscapers. See their website at: http://www.waterwise-consulting.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susette_Horspool |  |
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