[Joy1rn]

We will be snowbirds closing on a house here this month and have no idea where to start setting up lawn mowing, shrubs, pest control etc. we see signs in yards but need info. What services should we be setting up?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Joy1rn

We will be snowbirds closing on a house here this month and have no idea where to start setting up lawn mowing, shrubs, pest control etc. we see signs in yards but need info. What services should we be setting up?

I either use or have heard good things about the following:
Lawn mowing: Lugo Landscaping, Dean's, avoid Massey
Fertilizing: Massey, Dean`s may do this too
Pest: Massey
Shrubs: Lugo, avoid Massey
Home Watch: Villages Hometown Property Management

[retiredguy123]

I use Massey for everything because they are the only company that will do everything. They are not the best or the cheapest, but I got tired of hiring and firing multiple companies, or companies that don't return phone calls. If you are a snowbird, you need an irrigation service for when you get a leak. It is very difficult to get an irrigation leak fixed from out of town. Note that Deans will not do irrigation maintenance, and I don't think they trim shrubs anymore. I tried to hire Lugo to trim my shrubs, but they didn't show up. Also, Massey does not require any advance payments, like some companies do. Do not pay any company in advance. Good luck.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I either use or have heard good things about the following:
Lawn mowing: Lugo Landscaping, Dean's, avoid Massey
Fertilizing: Massey, Dean`s may do this too
Pest: Massey
Shrubs: Lugo, avoid Massey
Home Watch: Villages Hometown Property Management

What area is your house? Some providers limit where they serve.

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by Joy1rn

We will be snowbirds closing on a house here this month and have no idea where to start setting up lawn mowing, shrubs, pest control etc. we see signs in yards but need info. What services should we be setting up?

It depends on where your house is, as services differ. Asking your neighbors is a good idea. Using the same lawn service as close neighbors is a good idea, if they are pleased with the service, since a lawn company is unlikely to skip a number of houses, but might occasionally skip a lone house on their schedule.

If you are not asking specifically, but generally, you have a good start. Shrub & palm tree maintenance (rarely the same company), depend on your specific landscaping.

[Normal]

If you are in the newer area I would go with Dean’s. They do all the outside work. Grass, pests, etc. it’s about 150 a month.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Joy1rn

We will be snowbirds closing on a house here this month and have no idea where to start setting up lawn mowing, shrubs, pest control etc. we see signs in yards but need info. What services should we be setting up?

Fertigator is your one-stop-shop............over 10 years of great service.

If you are in TV, check with your neighbors.

[Ropnrose]

Ask the former home owner, who they used for these services. It's a start. If you aren't satisfied with the service, ask your neighbors who they use.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Ropnrose

Ask the former home owner, who they used for these services. It's a start.

Good suggestion..................They might show up automatically anyway.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Normal

If you are in the newer area I would go with Dean’s. They do all the outside work. Grass, pests, etc. it’s about 150 a month.

Note that Dean's does not do irrigation maintenance, and, I think they may have stopped trimming shrubs. Massey is the only company that I have found that does all of those tasks: mowing, fertilizing, grass area weed control, shrub trimming, and irrigation maintenance. I have a small yard, but I pay about $85 per month to Massey for all outside work. I had them for inside pest control, but cancelled that service several years ago, and found that I have had no inside pests since then.

[frayedends]

I use Son Life for mowing and Fertigator for insects, fertilizer, weeding.

[kidnerkim]

Do not use the The Villages Hometown Property management. I fired them.
ACI for irrigation 352-648-2783. Masses is good overall but making friends with neighbors & using same service companies always help. Having neighbors watch your house is helpful. They would tell me if I had a geyser & I could call ACI to repair before I got the huge water bill

[Justputt]

Originally Posted by Joy1rn

We will be snowbirds closing on a house here this month and have no idea where to start setting up lawn mowing, shrubs, pest control etc. we see signs in yards but need info. What services should we be setting up?

We use Deans for everything (grass, pests, flowerbeds, etc.). The have been reliable, they do good work, and will fix anything they break (e.g. sprinkler head, weedwhackers damage to screen, etc.), although they've never actually broken anything, they assured us they would take care of it at their cost.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by kidnerkim

Do not use the The Villages Hometown Property management. I fired them.
ACI for irrigation 352-648-2783. Masses is good overall but making friends with neighbors & using same service companies always help. Having neighbors watch your house is helpful. They would tell me if I had a geyser & I could call ACI to repair before I got the huge water bill

Do you have ACI for regular irrigation maintenance? If so, how much does it cost? I seem to remember calling them one time and their prices are very high.

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I either use or have heard good things about the following:
Lawn mowing: Lugo Landscaping, Dean's, avoid Massey
Fertilizing: Massey, Dean`s may do this too
Pest: Massey
Shrubs: Lugo, avoid Massey
Home Watch: Villages Hometown Property Management

Dean’s is your “one stop shop” for yard care. New homes come with one-year Massey for termites. We switched to Dean’s after that. I mow my own but I believe they do that as well. One payment every other month.