I deeply regret hiring On Site Landscaping. After spending over $400,000 with this company, working with its owner, Steve Pine, has been one of the most frustrating and disappointing contractor experiences I've had.
We hired On Site for our front and backyard landscaping and front yard hardscaping. Given the investment, I expected integrity, professionalism, and accountability. Unfortunately, those were precisely the areas where this company fell short.
Questionable business practices: Both contracts included plans showing the metalwork, including our front yard side gate and backyard side railing. Yet Steve disputed their inclusion and treated them as additional expenses. I found this deeply misleading and ultimately hired another contractor to complete the work for approximately $10,000.
Blaming other contractors: When another contractor, who was not a landscaping professional, kindly helped add soil to a planter, On Site installed plants that subsequently sank as the soil settled. Steve called me first to blame the other contractor, initially influencing my understanding of what happened. After speaking with that contractor, I questioned why On Site hadn't verified the soil conditions before planting. Steve subsequently sent the other contractor an invoice for approximately $7,000. I found his handling of the situation divisive and unprofessional.
Disrespectful treatment: As the homeowner and primary decision-maker, I repeatedly felt dismissed and spoken down to by Steve. He even contacted another company working on our home to inquire about obtaining my husband's phone number, despite my being responsible for the project decisions. In a separate incident, I confronted Steve about his condescending manner during a phone conversation. His response was, "I'm sorry you decided to receive it that way." I found his response dismissive and indicative of the broader communication issues I experienced.
Overpriced, disappointing maintenance: Despite our intentionally low-maintenance landscaping and artificial turf, Steve insisted on weekly service at $1,214 per month. Several independent landscapers who inspected our property later said service every four weeks would be sufficient. One even joked that the only thing more low maintenance would be cactus. Meanwhile, I repeatedly had to identify weeds, dead plants, poor pruning, and other issues myself.
Lack of accountability: I raised concerns about declining plants while I understood them to be under warranty, yet they were not satisfactorily addressed. I was later charged approximately $274 for replacements. The amount was insignificant compared with our overall investment, but the principle spoke volumes.
An unprofessional end to the relationship: When I requested termination of our maintenance agreement effective at the end of October, On Site instead ended service earlier, leaving us without maintenance for the remainder of the month. They also backed out of a separately approved seasonal flower installation for which we had already paid a $999.71 deposit. Rather than completing the agreed work, they applied that deposit toward outstanding charges and advised that the remaining $166.10 would be refunded. I found the abrupt termination and refusal to complete the flower installation yet another example of the company's poor communication and lack of commitment to its customers.
We live in Arcadia, where reputation and word of mouth matter. I regularly recommend contractors who deliver exceptional work and treat their clients with respect. Unfortunately, On Site is not one of them.
After investing over $400,000 and enduring months of unnecessary frustration, I would never hire On Site Landscaping again. I strongly encourage prospective clients to scrutinize every detail of their contracts and think carefully before entrusting this company with a substantial project. read more
