Project period: January 18, 2021
OVERALL PURPOSE OF PROJECT
Front Yard - Remove existing plants in front yard; plant five shrubs; move existing rock to back yard; install new drip system with timer for front yard
Back Yard - Spread rock from front yard; dig up and remove seven plants
WHAT I DID LIKE
Front yard landscaping turned out very nice. Just what we expected.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE
Javier did not obtain information regarding existing underground utilities before allowing his workers to dig. They cut the waterline on the municipal side of my water meter which affected other residents. Many residents were without water for several hours. Municipal water system employees came out and repaired the water line.
New front yard timer is plugged in to my outdoor water protected standard electrical receptacle. Now this receptacle is no longer protected from rain! (estimate is silent on electrical supply connection)
If I want the electrical receptacle protected against rain, I will have to hire an electrical contractor to make proper modifications.
Front yard drip system did not come on automatically the next day.
No instructions left to operate the water new timer. As of 3/31/2021 no operating instructions provided.
Water supply for front yard directly connected to my backyard hose spigot not to a water line. Now I have no water spigot for my back yard! I do have another spigot, but it is located in an enclosed area. (estimate is silent on water supply connection)
At my expense ($160) I was forced to hire a plumber to install a parallel hose bibs to the existing hose spigot.
When workers dug up existing plants in our back yard their shovels sliced through existing drip lines including a 1/2" supply line that spewed water all over the back yard. Cuts on the lines were ragged and somewhat shinny. Obviously, they were new cuts. My first instinct was demand they return and repair the damage. Then I became concerned incompetent and unsupervised workers might cause even more damage. I repaired damaged lines myself.
I called the Eliteyardscapses owner Javier Obeso and asked him to come to my home soonest to discuss problems generated during his work period.
When I told him about damaged drip system lines in the back yard, he just turned his head and started talking about something else. He could care less. That is when I decided to publish a review on YELP.
The front yard drip system water flow solenoid valve was not adjusted to admit water flow. Javier chuckled and said, "Dave, what did you do the system? It was working fine when we left." Javier made proper adjustments.
Water still did not flow so he diagnosed the problem to sand in the valve system and repaired it. Javier said it was a common problem on new installations. Makes sense. My property is all sand. Also means the system was not adequately tested before they left.
MY CONTRIBUTION TO PROBLEMS
I did not inspect the scope of work documents as I should have.
Javier did everything on the ESTIMATE and nothing more. That said, I feel he should have discussed water and electrical connections with me. Why? Not on the estimate.
The project was not complicated, so I assumed Javier and his workers would perform the job properly and in a workmanlike manner. Very bad judgement.
BOTTOM LINE
Do not hire this landscape contractor.
Javier does not adequately supervise his employees.
Javier Obeso is butter smooth; very congenial. You will immediately like him. We did. He projected an air of confidence. We could trust this contractor.
But, in my experience he is one of those people who never makes mistakes ... you do.
My financial loses probably do not rise to a level to file a lawsuit. If they did, I would sue Elite Yardscapes, LLC for my loses. read more