I recently hired a landscaping company to fix some issues in my yard, but it's turned into a nightmare. My house is built on a lot with a lot of glass and debris, and I needed to remove the top couple of inches of soil, replace it with fresh loam, and add some crushed stone around my raised beds. I got a quote from a company that initially seemed great but quickly became a problem. After several miscommunications, the price increased, and work seems to be going off track. The crew even started using the soil I wanted removed instead of taking it out, which has left me with more glass issues than before. I've tried to get in touch with the owner, but I haven't heard back. I'm really at a loss here—do I halt the work, let them finish, or am I stuck with a bad situation? What should I do?
3 Answers
It sounds like you've been dealing with quite a mess! I'd suggest that you halt the work immediately until you can get proper clarification from the owner about why they're ignoring the scope you initially agreed upon. Given that you have no itemized quote, they're free to interpret things however they like, which puts you in a tough spot. When you talk to the owner, keep it calm but firm—let them know you're unhappy with how things are going and want to resolve it before moving forward. If they threaten anything, ask for their lawyer's contact info so you can get your own as a backup plan.
It's frustrating when you go for the lowest quote and it backfires, isn't it? For future projects, maybe look at reviews more closely or get recommendations from friends to avoid this issue. As for now, definitely pause work and address your concerns. Communication is key, and if this company isn't delivering, it's better to cut your losses before they make it even worse. Keep searching for a company that values your landscaping needs!
Honestly, I wouldn't pay them any more money until you're satisfied with what they do. It seems like a lot of this could have been cleared up if you had a better contract, but what's done is done. If they can't stick to the agreed scope of work and made things worse, you need to consider finding another contractor. Just remember to get everything in writing next time, and don't compromise on quality just to save a few bucks.