Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

G.H. Landscaping ("we," "us," or "our") operates the landscaping and lawn care business located in West Chicago, IL, servicing DuPage and Kane counties. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, maintain, protect, and disclose personal and property information gathered when you visit our website, submit requests for free estimates, contract our seasonal or recurring landscaping services, or communicate with us through our direct call, email, or WhatsApp channels.

2. Detailed Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our services and visitors to our website to provide a high-quality, professional landscaping experience. This includes:

• Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Your name, billing address, physical service address (where lawn maintenance or landscaping will occur), email address, and phone numbers.
• Property and Project Details: Property dimensions, lawn conditions, presence of irrigation lines, invisible dog fences, outdoor utilities, specific softscaping requirements, and photos of yards or gardens uploaded by you or taken by our professional crew during site evaluation.
• Technical and Usage Data: IP address, device type, web browser type, referral URL, page access times, and clickstream data collected automatically through standard logging and cookies when you interact with our online platform.
• Communication Logs: Full record of all direct correspondence, including emails, text messages, phone call notes, and interactive WhatsApp chats regarding scheduling, quotes, or service adjustments.

3. Legal Bases and How We Use Your Information

We process your data under clear legal grounds to deliver unmatched landscaping outcomes. Specifically, we use your details to:

• Performance of a Contract: Calculating free estimates, preparing customized care proposals, scheduling seasonal lawn cleanups, edging, mowing, plant installations, and processing billing and payments.
• Legitimate Business Interests: Monitoring website performance, improving our softscaping design catalogs, assessing work quality, and protecting our physical assets, crew safety, and corporate liability.
• Consent and Direct Communication: Direct phone call consultations, quick WhatsApp updates regarding weather delays, and follow-up emails regarding property health.
• Compliance with Legal Obligations: Verifying local municipal zoning guidelines, marking utility lines (JULIE one-call operators), and maintaining correct tax, accounting, and insurance records.

4. Zero Selling of Data & Restricted Sharing

We respect your privacy: G.H. Landscaping will never sell, trade, lease, or rent your personal details to third-party list brokers or marketing companies. We only share your data with verified third parties under strict confidentiality protocols, including:

• Operational Subcontractors: Material suppliers (such as mulch quarries, plant nurseries, or topsoil distributors) who require your service address to execute deliveries.
• Professional Advisors: General liability insurance auditors, legal counsel, tax accountants, and billing processors necessary to execute financial transactions safely.
• Utility Locators (JULIE): Public utility technicians required to mark underground electrical, cable, gas, or water pipes before we perform aeration, overseeding, or tree and shrub plantings.
• Legal Authorities: When required by federal or state law, subpoenas, or court orders to protect our rights, safety, or to defend G.H. Landscaping against liability claims.

5. Mobile Messaging & WhatsApp Communication Policy

We provide instant, responsive communication channels through direct calling and WhatsApp messaging to keep your project on schedule. By engaging G.H. Landscaping, you agree to receive manual, conversational messages regarding your property's care, scheduling, and estimates.

We strictly prohibit automated mass marketing or robotic spam. You possess absolute control over your communications: you may opt-out of text or WhatsApp correspondence at any point by replying with "STOP" or notifying our office directly. Your phone numbers collected for text message routing will not be shared with external affiliates for marketing purposes.

6. Cookies, Analytics, and Tracking Technologies

Our website utilizes minor, essential first-party session cookies and basic analytical tools to understand user traffic patterns and optimize page load speeds. These cookies store anonymous identifiers and session parameters. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, some portions of our digital features (like estimate submission forms) may not function optimally without cookies enabled.

7. Data Retention and Security Protocols

We maintain high-end physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards to defend your personal information against accidental loss, unauthorized access, modification, or exposure. Your billing and contract data are retained for a maximum of seven (7) years to comply with standard state and federal tax audits, internal accounting, and liability insurance coverage requirements. General estimate leads that do not convert into service contracts are regularly purged after twelve (12) months.

8. State and National Disclosures (CCPA & GDPR Compliance)

While G.H. Landscaping is a local business based in West Chicago, IL, we maintain institutional standards of compliance. Depending on your primary residency, you hold the following rights regarding your data:

• Right of Access: Request a full copy of the personal and property data we hold in your file.
• Right to Rectification: Request instant correction of erroneous address details, phone numbers, or property descriptions.
• Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): Request the permanent deletion of your customer history, provided it doesn't conflict with ongoing financial contract execution or compulsory legal tax retentions.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we pause data processing for specific activities.

Contact Our Privacy Officer

For any questions, clarification regarding this Privacy Policy, or to submit data deletion and modification requests, contact our primary office directly: