Hey everyone!
I hired a landscaping contractor to clear all the weeds from my garden and lay down stones around the healthy plants. We agreed on paying half upfront for materials and half upon completion. However, the project has dragged on for two months instead of the promised two weeks. The contractor finally made some good progress recently but just sent me a message saying he's not going to remove any more poison ivy because he had a bad reaction to it this summer.
Initially, we talked about the poison ivy presence before he gave the quote and I expected it to be part of the job. I understand his concerns, and as someone who had a run-in with poison ivy myself, I can empathize. But getting rid of that ivy was a critical part of the job we agreed upon. How would you approach this situation?
Thanks for your input!
5 Answers
Honestly, any good landscaping contractor should know how to handle poison ivy. I'd suggest just paying him for the work that's been completed so far and look for someone else to finish the job. If he's allergic and can’t do it, there's not much else you can do.
Yeah, it's frustrating. Allergies can be serious, but it’s still part of the job he took on.
Man, that’s tough! If he can’t finish the job as agreed, just pay him for what he’s done and get someone else to handle the poison ivy. You need it gone, especially since that was part of your agreement. You might even want to ask him what he thinks is a fair settlement for the work completed.
It's common for landscapers to deal with situations like this, but it seems this guy might not be cut out for the task if he can't handle the poison ivy. I’d suggest reducing your payment accordingly for the portion that wasn’t completed and hire someone else for that part. Just make sure to keep your communication clear and documented.
I’d hit him back with something like this: 'I understand your situation, but removing all the weeds, including the poison ivy, is what we agreed on. If you can’t do it, I’ll find someone else to finish it and deduct the cost from your payment.' Let him know you’re serious about the job needing to be completed!
That's a solid approach! Keeps it professional and ensures he knows you mean business.
You could remind him that part of his job is to find a solution to the challenges he faces. If he's really unable to do poison ivy removal, he should recommend someone else or adjust the price for what he hasn't done. Good landscapers know how to handle it safely!
Exactly, he could hire someone who isn’t allergic to it. It’s part of running a business!
Exactly! I get that he’s facing challenges, but hiring someone means getting the job done, especially when it's part of the contract.