So, my husband and I are first-time homeowners and we're feeling a bit overwhelmed with a landscaping quote we received. We were initially looking into paving stones and a retaining wall, but the salesman persuaded us to consider having around 225 sq ft of stamped and dyed concrete poured along with a ~45 ft retaining wall for our raised garden. It started with a whopping quote of $48,000, but after some heavy sales tactics, we ended up agreeing to a final price of $23,000. This includes excavation, concrete caissons for our area's tricky soil, a recycled base for the pad, and replacing our stairs which were poorly installed. We can still cancel the contract until Wednesday, but is this price too high for what we're getting? We've received one other quote for $14,000, but it lacks certain features and warranties. Should we look around more or go through with this?
3 Answers
Cancel the contract! If they're already showing dishonesty in the sales process, that's very concerning. You should check out three more quotes before making a decision. You want to ensure you're getting a fair price that reflects quality workmanship.
Definitely don't rush into this. It sounds like a high price, especially given the pushy sales tactics. If they can find discounts out of nowhere, that raises major red flags. Think about walking away and exploring other offers to get a better sense of the actual costs in your area.
100% cancel. Being pressured into signing is a huge warning sign. They may have started high to make their later offer seem like a deal, but they likely still have room to negotiate. Don't engage with them beyond your cancellation.