Bill Doughty Landscaping Inc. Company Profile

ou want to hire a landscaper, but you might have to make some tough choices between experience and excitement for the job. Some landscapers like their trade but are short on experience. Others simply fell into a career of planting and maintaining yards.

Is there any company in the Bay Area that has the right combination of skill and enthusiasm? We've found a Novato CA company where landscaping is a family trade handed down from father to son, and with a love for landscaping and the experience to transform spaces. 

 

Learning from the Best

Bill Doughty Landscaping, Inc in Marin county was founded in1973 by landscape contractor Bill Doughty, Sr. who after working his way through college with a landscaping company, chose to stay with his first love—landscaping—after graduation.

His son Bill Doughty, Jr. grew up in the business and went on to follow in his father's footsteps.  Inspired by the constant change of scenery and his father's love for his work, Bill, Jr. joined the staff at Bill Doughty Landscaping after college. "I just fell in love with it," he says. "I wanted to be out working in the field and turning customers yards into spaces that give them enjoyment."

Ten years later Bill Doughty, Jr. says he is able to lead because of the lessons he grew up learning from his father. "It is fun to work with someone who has been in landscaping their entire life," he says. "Whether it's your dad or someone else, a person who has been working at their trade for years has a bottomless wealth of knowledge and experience, and they teach you new things all the time."

Customers benefit from working with a family of professionals with a passion for landscape design. During a research phone call, a customer named Larry said, "They're very professional and clean. They work fast. They understand exactly what I want. They go above and beyond. Everything looks absolutely beautiful, and it stays that way."

"Very high quality work. They took care of all the details. They had a really good group of people. I was very satisfied. I'd use them again in a minute," said Greg, a customer, during a research phone call.

And a customer named Bahia said about Bill Doughty, Jr., "I liked his suggestions and his interpretation of the problems I had. He stood behind his work. He was reputable and honest. He provided a good service."

 

Tradition of Experience

Together, father and son have built on that tradition of experience by working with skilled employees who know the landscaping trade. "Not one of our employees has less than three years of experience," says Bill Doughty, Jr. "In fact, our installation technicians have worked with us for 15 years, and our head foreman just celebrated his 25 anniversary with our company."

That much experience sets Bill Doughty Landscaping apart from the pack, but Bill Doughty, Sr. and Bill Doughty, Jr. aren't content with what they and their staff already know. "Education is important," says Bill, Jr. "So we do a lot of training with our employees. There are a lot of tools and mechanisms to help keep our company on the forefront of landscaping."

As members of the CLCA (California Landscape Contractors Association), Bill Doughty Landscaping employees keep current with new developments in the landscaping field. From courses in irrigation and outdoor lighting to safety and new equipment training, Bill Doughty Landscaping employees are continually adding to their education to better serve their customers.

 

Experience Creates Quality

"Experience and quality go hand-in-hand," says Bill Doughty Jr. "When the crew is experienced, they are able to do quality work. When those two aspects come together, that is when you really see and feel you're getting a great landscaper."

"Customers should be concerned about the quality of the work their landscapers provide if they want to get a good return for their investment," he says. "If you're serious about getting a quality project, you can't hire just anyone off the street and expect a nice landscaping job that will last. You need to look for a company with experienced workers and a long history of client satisfaction."

Clients praise the employees at Bill Doughty Landscaping. During a research phone call, a customer named Michelle said, "They were on time, neat, and tidy. Everything they did was fabulous. They did a good job. The men he had working with him were extremely polite and well mannered. They did a great job."

Other customers responding to research calls said, "They are attentive, great to work with, and they have a professional crew. They are personable," said Christine. Ann said, "They were very responsive, on time, and they worked within our budget. They were very creative." And Dana said, "When I called, they came right out. That told me a lot about the company."

 

Asking the Right Questions

Bill Doughty, Jr. says their process ensures customer satisfaction. "Most of our jobs start with a phone call when a customer has questions about what we can do for them," he says. "But I have some questions for them too."

Unlike less seasoned contractors, Bill Doughty, Jr. says he and Bill Doughty, Sr. have the experience to find out what customers really want and need. "I can ask them the right questions to gauge their likes and dislikes, their plans for the space and what they already know about landscaping. Once I know that, I can help them find the answers they are looking for."

Bill Doughty, Jr. knows a personal touch matters. "After we talk on the phone, we meet the customers face to face and let them get to know us," he says. "When we personally connect with the homeowner and build a working relationship, we can make any project happen."

What about projects that need to be finished on a tight schedule? During a research phone call, customer Betty said personal attention from Bill Doughty Landscaping made her upcoming party possible. "He was prompt, on schedule, and on time. Our project had a limited timeline for an event we were having, and he was able to get it done on time," she said.

Bill Doughty, Jr. says his crew is made of imaginative and caring professionals who are committed to customer satisfaction.  "We love transforming our customers' yards into enjoyable outdoor places," says Bill Doughty, Jr. "It's a lot of fun to make a space that satisfies customer expectations, knowing they will enjoy it with their family and friends for years to come. It's very gratifying."

 

Local Ties

Bill Doughty, Sr. and Bill Doughty, Jr. are Marin County locals. Even though Bill, Jr. and his new wife Stephanie now live in Petaluma CA, he says Novato is still home. The Doughtys share a love for the San Francisco 49ers. Bill Doughty, Sr. has had season tickets for years, and while Bill, Jr. shakes his head at the team's recent record, he still loves going to the games. "Every time I go, it's like reliving my childhood," he laughs. "It's still fun to watch."

The Doughtys are active in local Rotary Clubs, and they enjoy taking their landscaping expertise to the community. As part of the Ignacio Rotary Club for more than 20 years, Bill Doughty, Sr. and his group of volunteers have adopted a section of road, keeping it beautiful by pulling weeds and planting flowers.

Bill Doughty, Jr. has worked with his junior Rotary Club for two years, taking on such projects as a children's playground renovation in Novato. "The playground was unsafe and outdated, but the city didn't have the budget to fix it," he says. "We donated about 100 hours of time and with the city's help, we put in new equipment and completely restored the lot." The Doughtys have also donated time and equipment to landscape the front lawn of a local middle school.

With a family approach that helps both customers and the community, it is easy to see that Bill Doughty Landscaping, Inc. in Marin County, headed by father and son team Bill Doughty, Sr. and Bill Doughty, Jr., is built on a family tradition of excellent landscaping design and service.

 

 

—Lauren Bongard Schwarz
Associate Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report