I originally contacted Bell De Mar seeking a reputable company for long-term weekly landscape…read moremaintenance and specialized irrigation services for my extensive vegetable and flower garden. Based on the company's website, advertised services, and positive reviews, I believed Carlos Maurer and Bell De Mar had the necessary experience. Unfortunately, my experience was drastically different.
I hired Bell De Mar to repair a leaking main irrigation line, install an additional main line, and establish dedicated watering zones. What Carlos estimated at $2,250 and two days became over two weeks of chaos, nearly $4,000 in expenses, extensive property damage, and an unfinished irrigation system.
Despite advertising and verbally confirming irrigation services, Bell De Mar did not provide its own dedicated irrigation crew. Carlos instead hired an outside subcontractor, something I wasn't made aware of until three days into the project, after my yard had already been excavated. I also learned the scope of work appeared to require an Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) license, which I could not verify for either party.
By day three, serious problems were evident. The subcontractor repeatedly failed to show up, workers reported not being paid and asked me for payment directly, crew members consumed alcohol while working, and I documented multiple instances of cutting corners and claims that certain work couldn't be performed when it was entirely feasible.
My established landscape and garden beds were damaged with little regard for protecting the property. I informed Carlos that the crew was no longer welcome and requested a replacement. Given the extensive excavation already completed and Carlos's assurances that everything would be finished in one more day, I reluctantly agreed to allow the original crew to return on the condition that Carlos personally supervise the work.
Carlos came for one day, spent much of his time sitting under my gazebo, and provided little meaningful oversight. The job was nowhere near completion despite his guarantee.
When I questioned the workmanship, unfinished work, and condition of my property, Carlos became irate, raised his voice, and stated, "Who do you think you hired, Creative Environments?" He also described me as "too hardcore" for expecting the job to be completed properly. These exchanges are documented on surveillance recordings.
Carlos then refused to return and supervise the project, leaving me to manage his subcontractor and crew.
Over the following week, I personally spent four full days working alongside the crew, digging trenches and helping install irrigation lines in an attempt to get the system functioning and prevent further property damage.
This occurred in the middle of August, with no functioning irrigation to my extensive garden. After spending entire days doing physical labor that I had hired professionals to perform, I still had to manually water my property to keep my established plants alive.
Approximately two weeks after the project began, I contacted Carlos to inform him that the original leak--the primary reason I hired Bell De Mar--had STILL not been repaired, and the project remained incomplete.
His entire response was "Okay."
Carlos never followed up to confirm whether the job was completed, inspect the workmanship, address the damage, or offer a resolution.
With no resolution from Carlos, the subcontractor again failing to show up, and no completion date in sight, I terminated the arrangement. When informed he was not to return, the subcontractor became verbally combative and made statements I perceived as threats against my safety. I contacted the police and filed a report.
I have been left to address the unfinished irrigation work and extensive landscape damage myself, restoring small sections of my property while attempting to prevent further deterioration. I have extensive photographic, video, and written documentation supporting my experience.
Nearly $4,000 spent, weeks of disruption, extensive property damage, an unfinished irrigation system, threatening conduct resulting in a police report, and no meaningful attempt by Carlos to resolve the situation.
I would NOT hire Bell De Mar again and strongly encourage prospective customers to proceed with caution.
