A landscaping maintenance checklist for Montreal condo managers

A condo maintenance proposal is easier to compare when everyone quotes the same work. Start with a one-page property brief rather than asking several contractors for a general “seasonal maintenance” price.

The checklist below is a planning aid. It does not assume every contractor supplies every item, or that any particular insurance, contract term or response standard is included.

Define the areas and tasks

List the lawn sections, hedge runs, shrub groups and beds involved. Mark shared paths and areas that need access coordination. For each area, indicate the desired task: mowing, trimming, seasonal cleanup or assessment.

Include photographs of both the open areas and the difficult access points. A useful brief explains where work happens, not just the number of units in the building.

Separate recurring work from seasonal visits

Ask the proposal to distinguish scheduled mowing from hedge work and spring/fall cleanup. Record the proposed frequency for each task and what happens if weather or access prevents a planned visit.

Clarify whether the price is per visit, for a defined season or for a different agreed period. Specify how extra work is approved. Do not assume a seasonal agreement includes every task requested later.

Agree on the material left behind

Ask who handles clippings, leaves and other collected material. Where will it be gathered? Does the price include transport? Who checks collection arrangements for the building? Put those answers in the scope before comparing totals.

Give the contractor one contact

Identify the person who can arrange entry, answer questions and approve changes. Explain any gate codes or keys through a private channel, not a public website. List access constraints without publishing residents’ personal information.

Compare proposals using the same checklist

Choose on the basis of confirmed scope and fit, not an unsupported promise of the fastest response or the lowest headline price.