When we were in search of a landscaper who could give us the best re-design of our yard and give us the best price on a sprinkler, I called 5 businesses and this was one of them.
We wanted a sprinkler to (obviously) water our yard and make it easier on us to that it was watered regardless of our schedule. Did our yard need more water? Yes. Did our tree need more water? Sure, but it's a healthy tree, so it wasn't in dire need or on the brink of death. We also wanted a better plant variety than what we had.
So, JMAS sent out their best man. He was nice and courteous, but he said several things right off the bat that tipped me off that he was full of crap. (1) He told me our tree had rough bark, which meant it needed more water. He attempted to show his point by pointing to a neighbor's tree saying our tree's bark should be as smooth as that tree. Hmm. True, both trees are oak trees, but they are different types of oak and they have different bark textures. (2) He recommended I call his brother to trim the tree because a regular person couldn't do a good enough job. (3) He recommended I call his brother to do the landscape because that was his brother's business. Didn't he just say his brother trimmed trees? Now it's landscaping? Either way, when I called this business for a sprinkler and landscaping estimate, they said they could do both; but I guess not.
After he left, I called a local tree nursery and asked about the tree bark remark. Sure enough, they shared my opinion that he was full of crap. I never called the guy's brother, and I never called them back, especially after I got their estimate for the sprinkler alone: $500/zone, 4 zones for my yard.
If you want someone nice to chat with, call them out. If you want an actual contender on your contractor list, just pass them by and call someone else. read more