Your Villa Magazine - Desert Cities - April - May - 2023

D E S I G N + B U I L D How to find a lawn care professional With state-mandated water conservation regulations in place, Coachella Valley Water District oers rebate programs for customers who want to reduce their water usage by removing lawns and replacing them with desert-friendly plants . CVWD oers up to $3 per square-foot of turf removed in pre-approved projects. (See CVWD.org/rebates ) The cities of Indian Wells, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage match CVWD’s rebate as long as funding lasts. If you decide to dig up your lawn — a very labor-intensive project — you may want to hire a professional. To hire a company, contractor or gardener to remove your grass, here are 10 suggestions to consider: 1. Scout your neighborhood for successful lawn-removal projects. Gather recommendations from friends and neighbors whose turf- less landscape you admire. 2. Look for reviews online. Search for companies or contractors with good, valid, and honest reviews. 3. If the value of your project exceeds $500, the company or contractor should have a state contractor license. (Does not usually include gardeners who maintain landscaping. Verify the license at www.cslb.ca.gov. You can also find a list of licensed contractors in your area on this website. 4. Check references. 5. Ask for pictures of other jobs they have done or visit recently completed jobs. 6. Look for a contractor who returns phone calls in a timely manner, is friendly and courteous, and easy to contact. Make sure they can be reached through social media and email. . Ask for copies of certificates of insurance for liability and for workers· compensation insurance before the work begins. 8. Get at least three bids. Avoid assuming the lowest bid is the best. 9. Get everything in writing and read all agreements and contracts carefully. 10. Avoid paying in cash, get receipts. For more conservation tips: cvwd.org/conservation . CVWD Outdoor Water E ciency Rebates & Discounts Facebook “ f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “ f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Visit www.cvwd.org/rebates for program details and requirements. Or call us at (760) 398-2651. Programs require pre-approval. Smart Irrigation Controller Turf Conversion - now $3/square foot Sprinkler Nozzle Replacement 38 | Your Villa Magazine