I had a tree taken down by a landscaper hired by my homeowners association, but the decision was mine. They filled the hole with grass, but it never really leveled out and ended up sinking. I had the landscaper fix it a few months back, but it still sank after that. Recently, while their team was mowing, I learned that a broken sprinkler pipe underneath is causing the sinking, and they want to charge me $200 for the repair, which they say is a discount. The problem seems to have started right after removing the tree, and the landscaper confessed that his staff noticed the pipe was broken last month but didn't inform us. We're new here and haven't hired anyone else for landscaping; the previous owner used this same team. It feels like the damage might be linked to the tree removal, but the landscaper won't take responsibility. I'm wondering if I should suggest splitting the repair cost with them or just pay and avoid any conflict.
2 Answers
In my experience as a landscaper, we often break irrigation lines, but typically, our contract states the homeowner is responsible for them unless they're clearly marked. Charging $200 seems steep for a simple fix, especially since you only need a coupler and a few minutes to patch it. The fact they didn't inform you about the broken pipe until now is pretty concerning—how much water was wasted without you knowing? You might want to push back on their charge, pointing out that their negligence in communicating doesn't sit right.
Nine months is quite a while for them to wait before mentioning the broken pipe! Honestly, I’d say just pay the $200 to get it fixed and then make it clear that this needs to be resolved properly. If you're unhappy, you can always hold them accountable for future issues—just like baby elephants take a long time to grow, repairs shouldn't be a long-term hassle either!
It sounds frustrating! Without a contract, it's tricky, but their lack of transparency definitely raises some red flags. Maybe consider getting a second opinion if they continue pushing for payment.