We couldn't be happier with the work California Smartscape did on our landscaping project. Our home…read moresits on a complicated, multilevel foundation and every other contractor declined the project due to its complexity.  Andrew and the Smartscape team embraced the challenge and delivered an outstanding design that incorporated all our needs.   The project included a full pool remodel (replacing crumbling 70s brick), new concrete, a safe and modern upper deck off the second story, a refreshed entryway, and a new outdoor living area to replace an unsightly and unusable wooden deck. Andrew's 3D model helped us visualize the final product and he worked with us to incorporate slight tweaks in the design based on our knowledge of the space.   Smartscape also phased the work so we could prioritize the pool and upper deck first. Leo, our project manager, was incredibly responsive and kept us involved in every decision. The finished pool is stunning with dazzling PebbleTec, modern coping and tiles, and our old jacuzzi was transformed into a luxurious jetted spa with smart lighting. The sleek, modern decking materials not only look amazing but give us peace of mind with everything up to code.   The biggest transformation was replacing the outer wooden deck with a retaining wall and turf, creating a large fenced-in play area for our kids--something we never had before. Now we have space to kick a ball and have outdoor family movie nights.   We started this project trepidatious, knowing that most contractors go over timelines and over-budget, but Smartscape completed everything in just a few months, with expert craftsmanship and within budget. Truly a five-star experience! (Select before and after photos included)

UPDATE: 12/17/25 New Owner Jonathan reached out to me so I give him 5 stars for the timely…read moreresponse. He's going to send someone out to assess the situation and identify best way forward to address the problem. I know it's been a long time since the installation and ownership has changed, so I appreciate Jonathan trying to be helpful, even though I still have this very significant issue with huge potential costs to fix. Updated rating to 3 stars because I am hopeful for a peaceful resolution. I want to be fair and support small businesses so stay tuned. More to come. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Initially, we were very happy with our remodel of patio and landscape. Over time, issues surfaced. We had water damage buckling up on our wood floor. After consulting several other contractors, we realized that the patio pavers were incorrectly installed too high, covering up the drainage holes of the patio sliders and windows by the patio bar, which Smartscape also installed. Now we have major damage inside the house on half of the wood flooring. Secondly, Smartscape installed a shade structure and over time, we saw issues of paint bubbling but could not figure out why. Finally, after consulting other contractors, we realize that material choice of tongue and groove panels were not the best choice; thin and subject to warp; install was uneven; and heaters too close to the ceiling, resulting in melted bubbles of paint. We rely on professional subject matter experts to provide the best recommendations... the onus should not be on the homeowner. We selected California Smartscape after some research. It all seemed good and legit. They seemed to know what they're doing: Richard Hafenstein, Sal Manna, Nick Hoffman. But only to find out too late, after any warranty period, that their work was less than acceptable and continues to erode and present more issues with time. They also recommended plant specimens - half of which I removed after several years, because they were simply poor choices for growth habit and space. How is a homeowner to know?... Isn't that why we hire professionals? We are so disappointed. But still hopeful that we will hear back and they will repair the paver install problem and stop the water leak into the house and foundation. I tried to contact Richard and have yet to hear back from the company. We spent over $172,291 on this project, not including equipment and component systems which we paid separately. We already spent $$$$$ to repair the shade structure paint bubbles. I just want the water drainage issue/paver install problem to be fixed and done right.

We just finished working with Los Cabos Pools on a remodel of our old pool. Javier helped us with…read moredesign and a complete upgrade. His team is professional and put in a full day of work each and every day. Sometimes with the request to work on Saturdays, if needed. (He's happy to skip any Saturday if the homeowner prefers.) Our new pool has all the modern amenities for draining, filling, central pool cleaner. They take great care in making decisions and offering ideas for efficiency and aesthetic design. We are very happy with the experience and our new pool!!

Before writing a review about our experience with los Cabos. Here is a background on our build…read more we had contracted a non-licensed or bonded person to redo our pool and add a spa. Well, long story short that was a huge mistake. Left our project half way done and just disappeared after we gave him a deposit. After a year of searching for a contractor that was willing to finish the project we had. We were referred to los Cabos. Let me tell you what a relief that they were able to come in and finish our project. We had to get the plaster done, break down existing concrete that was done incorrectly, tile,stone. Javier, Maribel and Juan and crew all guided us through the process of finishing with recommendations, alternatives and with patience. Besides, supply delays we don't have anything negative to say. Contact was precise and clear. Deposit schedule and work was done in a timely manner and within reason from their initial end date. I would recommend, reaching out to the pool maintenance and confirm who will be treating pool and clean up after initial fill. After about a month or so that they finished our pool, my son hit his head on the sharp edges and we reached out to los Cabos and they were able to help us by sanding down the edges which are now safe. Highly recommend los Cabos pools, even being hit with a high demand on pools they were always available, patience and was easy too schedule any follow ups or inspections that needed to happen. Thank you again! Here are some pictures of the finished pool. We are so thankful that we have a pool to enjoy!

David and team were fantastic to work with throughout the entire process. From the initial quote,…read morevery detailed walk through of each step including excavating, plumbing, lighting to the installation of tile, pebble and pool deck pavers. David was always responsive to questions and was very gracious when I wanted modifications. Mother Nature delayed the project a bit, but David consistently communicated with us until the project was complete and inspections signed off. We are thrilled with the pool and spa and look forward to many years of fun and relaxation. Thanks you!!!

We met with David at Competitive Pools to request an estimate to add a pool to our backyard and…read moreimmediately felt that he listened to exactly what we wanted and understood how to make it happen efficiently. He's a great communicator and kept us informed every step of the way. All of the demo and construction was done carefully and with professionalism. Our backyard space was completely transformed in just 14 weeks. We appreciated the way David was able to expedite the work from week to week. Elio also gave us some really beautiful design ideas regarding pavers and fencing. We love the pool design he developed and it not only highlighted the current layout of our backyard, but it also highly upgraded the space to make it more functional and inviting. Each member of the Competitive Pools team approached us with a high level of respect and courtesy. Thanks to their hard work, the pool building process was fun and exciting for us! We highly recommend David and his team to anyone looking to add a beautiful pool to their home.

I have used Trevor's company multiple times for renovations and maintenance work and find the…read moreworkmanship outstanding. The projects were completed within the agreed-upon timeline and budget. I recommend Remodeling Source of San Diego based on their professionalism, reliability, and high standard of work delivered. From demo and installation, the disruption to my daily routine was minimal with clear communication and a clean and orderly workspace. They've been great every time I've worked with them.

Great service. Personal advise. Trusted and caring. Easy to work with and will work with you.read more

Pete and his crew have been servicing our pool for 22 yrs! I think the quality of their service is…read moreexcellent. Pete is very quick to respond to any issue. Je and Holly are extremely professional and truly care about their clients. I am happy to recommend them!!

We hired waterline to build us a pool and they build us a resort! It's beautiful…read more We received 5 bids and they were the company that we felt the best about not the lowest and not the highest but they got our vision and didn't try to up sell us. We put in a waterfall with REAL ROCKS a beautiful spa and pool with Baja shelf and a fire pit. They where so professional showed up everyday and always called me back if we had questions. We have enjoyed the pool so much this last summer with our family and I'm glad I went with waterline They have also done several other homes in our area.

We had a great experience working with Santa Fe Construction. From the first meeting to the final…read morewalkthrough, the team was professional, organized, and easy to communicate with. They really took the time to understand what we wanted and gave helpful suggestions that improved the overall design. The quality of the work was excellent and everything was kept clean and well managed throughout the project. What stood out the most was their transparency and communication -- we always knew what was happening and what the next steps were. If you're looking for a contractor who is reliable, honest, and takes pride in their work, I would definitely recommend Santa Fe Construction. We're very happy with the final result and would gladly work with them again.

I hired Santa Fe Construction after seeing the quality and efficiency of work they did for a…read moreneighbor. Once work began on my own project I knew I had made the right choice. My project involved adding an office/multipurpose room to the back of my home to replace an old attached sunroom. It was a project that involved removing the back wall and fireplace of my house and Jose and Jose Jr. managed every part of the job to minimize the impact of the work on me while it was being done. My front yard never looked like a construction zone after the workers left and the back area where the work was being done was clean and organized. All of my requests and concerns were addressed respectfully and the processes were explained clearly. There is always a snag or two in a project of this size but Jose handled each challenge very efficiently and the project was completed a month earlier than I had anticipated. The quality of the work is very high with good materials being used and skilled contractors doing the various jobs. There is absolutely nothing I regret or wish I had done differently in this project which is a testament to the ability of my contractor. Jose is a fair, honest and personable contractor to work with. Now to start thinking about the next job...

In late 2019, we had a flood in our master bathroom that (like many people) was the primer for a…read morefull-blown remodel. It was time to upgrade our gross 1980's shower and cheap vanity from the previous house flip. We turned to MOST Construction of Carlsbad for full design and remodel construction services and they did not disappoint! From the early scoping, contracting and through the design process, Pernille and Morten were very professional and understanding of our vision. The contracting process was very detailed to ensure all work was accounted for, and Pernille provided numerous design drawings for us to work with. Being our first bathroom remodel, we were unaware of the amount of planning and subcontractors that would be involved. Along the way, MOST provided recommendations for vendors with the experience to match our vision. Construction began with a minor hiccup when a small leak occurred in the subfloor below the shower, but this was due to an existing hole in our drain pipe. This was no fault to MOST construction, but Morten promptly mitigated this and repaired the minor drywall damage. Talk about great service! From thereon everything was a breeze! Their workers were courteous and showed up on time each day and kept the workspace as clean as possible. Their tile tradesman Sal is a true artisan! Following the framing and hotmop of the shower pan, Sal built a traditional mortar bed tile job with custom niches and gorgeous bordering. He took his time to make sure the end product was flawless, and I appreciate that level of skill. Pernille coordinated with the Countertop Company of San Marcos to have the vanity and shower dam slab cut and installed. We handled the glasswork (shower door, backlit mirror) ourselves with Cast Glass Images of San Marcos. Everything went smoothly with drywall, electrical and finish plumbing installation. In the end, MOST Construction was a pleasure to work with. They are a team of true professionals and they will be my go-to general contractor for quotes on my next major remodeling job!

Our experience with MOST was great from the first consultation through the execution of the…read moreproject. We had a fairly small project and were having trouble finding a company willing to take our project on. We wanted to install french doors for our home office where prior there was a huge doorway opening with no doors. Pernille was great to work with, offering design suggestions and showing us photos of similar work so we could get a good picture of what to expect. Once our doors were ordered (through General Millworks), MOST scheduled their installation to coordinate with the door delivery. They worked very efficiently, completing the job in a couple of days (other companies told us the job could take up to 2 weeks!). They also kept the space very tidy and clean. We are thrilled with the way they turned out!

I work for a property mgmt company and we hired Chris to handle the pool at our property in Rancho…read morePenasquitos. We were unhappy with the previous pool service company. Since Chris took over the property, we had zero issues with the pool and the tenants are always happy. We would recommend using Chris to handle monthly pool maintenance to anyone looking for it.

We are so grateful to Bluewater Pool-Spa-Fountain, and owner Chris, for the services they provide…read moreto us. We have used Chris and Bluewater for a number of years, and couldn't be happier with the service and expertise that we receive. When emergencies pop up (usually from my own errors) Chris and his team are always there to bail us out! We have recommended Bluewater Pool-Spa-Fountain to many friends and all have been completely satisfied with the service they receive.