VALLE GARDENING & LANDSCAPING

Service Provider Response

Thank you for your review, we are happy providing you with our landscape installation service, and seasonal garden Maintenace for the last several years. We truly appreciate your business.

Service Provider Response

[Member Name Removed], thank you for your review, my team and I are very happy working for you and [Member Name Removed], we do appreciate yours and [Member Name Removed] deep knowledge of what we are doing, and the great taste for the outdoor. ... Your review is a great feed back to our never ending goal "make sure we give our best to our clients". Thank you again and I'm sorry it took me a little while to answer your review

Service Provider Response

Thank you for the review, it was very delightful working for you, Just as a small token of clarification for the reeders, I estimated a full pallet of blocks to build 2 planters irregular shape, and yes we needed about 7 more blocks to perfectly finish the top of the small planters, under $30 of blocks cost, comparing with the total project it represent under 1% material increment. I prefer not to over estimate materials and get just what we need, in the event is required, getting more materials and its installation is at not charge, but the material cost is. I think is fair. I would say, I got 99% accuracy in the total project, It was very nice and inspiring doing the design and installing it, thank you for the opportunity.

Service Provider Response

Dear [Member Name Removed], I strongly and respectfully suggest you that before writing any review, read your own messages, that is a very normal and common practice. On Tuesday October 16th, 2018, I responded to you request through Angies list message center, same as you sent the message to us, which literals says: "" Thank you for considering our services, but we don't do mowing nor weeding, we do landscape design and installation. If you need our services in that regard, we will be happy to help you. Frank"" I did not receive any feed back from you regarding the services that we provide. Therefore, I assumed you found some other company to do your garden/yard maintenance. We never made any appointment; therefore, we were not supposed to show up. I don't know about the other 2 contractor that you are referring to, so I make no comments in that regard. A simple apology from you would be appreciated from the people who takes the time to read informative reviews. Thank you Frank

Service Provider Response

Thank you very much for your review, I'm glad we were able to help, and you and your husband are very happy. Frank

Service Provider Response

Thank you for the review, I appreciate that; also I'd add the fact of working together as a team, with close and effective communication makes my job easier, I can make my clients very happy so my crews and myself. As a token, the gravel that you choose, is slight different than the regular gravel, and that is exactly what makes the big difference in the finishes, with no extra cost in your end. I like that I think we all do. Frank

Service Provider Response

Thank you for the review, very precise and straight to the point, I love it, just like the designing and installation work that we did. I'm so glad you're happy with the design and work done. That's our never ending goal. Frank

Service Provider Response

Thank you for the review, and the very accurate description of the job, my crew and myself, we appreciate that. I will love to mention the fire pit in the back yard brings a very warm ambiance and invite to stay and enjoy for longer time the entire landscape. We had fun designing and building the protection for the yard, retaining walls and drainage solutions and so forth; and the new outdoor living style for you and your loved ones. Frank

Service Provider Response

Thank you for your review, I enjoyed our designing and pricing discussion, I think it was very fruitful, and you got the ideas and procedures that you needed to know. Frank

Service Provider Response

I understand you have taken the time to write this review; in my case, just to be fair with the Angies list readers, here are my comments: Due to your and your wife time constraint, we expend about 45 minutes discussing the front and back yard landscape alternatives. Both were very clear that your concern in the front yard was just to enlarge the driveway with a very affordable alternative, which indeed is what you thought, doing it with plain concrete. However, the concrete driveway shows several structural cracks, I suggested it would be more cost efficient to replace the entire driveway; however, thinking in 2 phases driveway improvement, I suggested pavers, I’m glad you liked the idea. Per your request I took the time to make measurements and quote you the 2 sides of the driveway that you intended to enlarge; You also asked me how much would be the cost for just one side, 172 sqf, $2,500, and I gladly gave you the quote per each side, including the other 154 sqf of the other side. Regarding the back yard: Your idea was settled in removing the damaged concrete patio and installing a redwood deck, about 600 sqf . In terms of design and cost efficiency, I suggested NOT to remove the concrete, but build up a new patio out of pavers, replace the disjointed steel supports of the outdoor shade structure to match the existing beautiful post holding the porch. We discussed the shape of the patio, as well as the shape of the planting beds, I also suggested to install pavers in the small pathway going to the side yard; however, your thoughts were that there was no need of it, because the concrete still looks in good condition, despite it does not flow with any new patio design. We discussed the alternatives in paver colors, as well as briefly the patterns. We expend time discussing the proposed new patio grading and its high difference in inches from the french door to the outter edge of the patio. I’m glad you were there and were able to better explain to your wife the cost efficient and large improvement that would be achieved in regrading the patio. Regarding giving estimate to prospective clients, that is a very standard practice, that’s helps the clients to make better informed decisions; independently from their budget. I believe I achieved my goal in 45 minutes of designing discussion, and answering budget questions for different materials alternatives for the front and back yard. I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same way, but is understandable, you missed about 15 minutes when I came to our appointment, and your wife missed about 15-20 minutes at the end of the discussion. Per our agreement, I look forward for your update regarding what route will you take. Frank

Service Provider Response

[Member Name Removed] thank you for the review, I look forward to hear from you when you are ready, so we can resume our work. Frank

Service Provider Response

Thank you very much for the review, my crews and I appreciate that. Frank

Service Provider Response

I fully agree with the client, one hour consultation is not enough for 1 acre property, not even for quarter acre or less, it took me more than 2 months the landscape design of 5 acres. Unfortunate, the client left after the first 10 minutes consultation, so he was not at large and active part of the discussion; however, his wife attended the meeting, before she needed to rush to go to another meeting. His wife and I discussed very large and broad conceptual designing ideas, she talked about the house remodeling and building a swimming pool, what I suggested to consult with an architect. We also discussed her primary concern before the house remodeling started with the front yard screening with fast growing drought tolerant plants, redo the entry way and the driveway with different hardscape options. We also discussed how to take immediate action to make the house to look more presentable and more organized, I suggested to set far away from the entry all the farm/fishing/hunting equipment; as well as to build a large storage area away from the future swing pool and parking area, and dispose of all useless goods; the best place to build the storage facility would be at the north side of the property, next to the service entry, and close to the poultry and goat cases. Under the understanding that they love to take care of the chickens, goats etc, as well as reading, and have meditations and so on; I suggested to replace the outdoor umbrella for a pergola near by the farm animals, but with enough room to place an outdoor table and chairs, or bench, with the wi-fi facility, as well as electrical power for any computer or sound divise. We also discussed the advantages of their farming animal hobby, and their desire of having a natural and healthy diet by incorporating a vegetable and orchard garden, and taking advantage of the animals manure, by making compost to later be mixed with the natural soil, and use it in the proposed vegetable and orchard garden, I suggested to be built on the south side of the property. We also discussed the idea of having a transition gardens to be shared with the swing pool spaces, the main parking area and and the main entry way, to give enough openness to each area, but at the same time giving to each area the feeling of being its own space. We also discussed how many visitors will enjoy the new swimming pool, it was a large number of them and different ages; naturally I suggested a large pergola with the pool facilities to change clothes, restroom, storage, etc as well as to have a grilling or smoker facilities, and out door bar, outdoor TV, and so forth. To the question if we build in house all what we discussed, my answer is always the same, yes we do that as well as other things that we have not discussed yet, such as stone work, fire places, outdoor kitchens, landscape lights and so forth. His wife needed to leave, but before that we agreed with her to resume the discussion after the remodeling of the house, and building the swing pool. I have not heard from her, until this review. We expend more than an hour discussing all those landscape items, but not sure if his wife discussed all the items; although, several of them are just the basic start, which in any circumstance needed to be addressed immediately. Indeed, one hour consultation is not enough to find out, nor to discuss a theme or large scheme of a full landscape project, mainly when the current priorities, circumstances, and asked questions are oriented to many related and non related elements, I’m sorry you were not at the meeting, to be an active part of the discussion.

Service Provider Response

We expend more than an hour discussing in your house several landscape designing ideas, that is what you pay for to Angies list. It was my understanding that you did not have any budget set aside to do the landscape work; therefore, we actively discussed some ideas that you previously had in mind, I enhanced them and add several more, and gave you rough pricing for each one. It was my understanding that you will come out with some budget, and will choose what ideas will suit you better, so I can work in an estimate for further discussion to do the work. I patiently was waiting for your input, surprisingly your review is what came first. You have a very nice house with a lot of potential, that is great, I’m sorry for the miscommunication.

Service Provider Response

Thank you for the review, it was my pleasure working with you and your sister, my crew also enjoyed remodeling your back yard. I love the little doggies. Frank

Service Provider Response

I’m responding this review because the readers have the right to be properly informed. First of all, in a landscape consultation, I do not try to sell anything, I do provide landscape consultation, and I give rough ideas of pricing, if the client is interested, and I’m hoping they will, then we go over the cost of the ideas more in detail, I prepare a proposal to further discuss, I always ask if the client have some budget in mind, or if it can be an open budget, so we discuss more in detail the landscape design and do the adjustments until we reach a confortable budget for the client. In this opportunity, On January 08th I responded his request for the “ one hour deal of landscape consultation” giving him few days options for the consultation. On January 28th, 20 days later, he responded to my email, the next day I send to him my availability time frame, He agreed to be at his house on February 12th. in the window 3-5 pm, I showed up on time, after driving more than an hour, I rang his door, unfortunate no answer, I called him and he apologized for his forgetfulness, and for not showing up at the consultation, and for not calling me before to reschedule the appointment. However, he asked for an immediate phone landscape consultation, that is not my preferred first time visit consultation, but I thought he is not on site, he has paid $49 deal to Angies list, so let’s proceed as he prefers. He’s back yard is about 10 ft by 15 ft, completely paved with concrete, and he definitely wanted to have planting areas, water feature and a new patio build with natural materials, such as stones. I explained to him the cost involved in his preferences, but unfortunate just the demolition of the concrete patio would have taken most of the budget that he had in mind, not letting enough budget to purchase stones for the patio, the planting and of course nor for the natural stone water feature. I explained to him that the budget that he had in mind was just enough to buy a premade water feature about the size that he liked, and provably 2 medium pots to plant few plants. I’m sorry but I do not set the clients budgets, nor the cost of the materials. I provide landscape consultation, as well as estimates, that can be easily compared with another contractors proposals, and after that clients makes their decision, of course I alway try to win the bid, but keeping at all cost the quality of my work, no matter the size of the project.

Service Provider Response

Thank you very much for the review. It is very condensed, with enough information of how I conduct my business, and right on target. I appreciate very much your unbiased review. As soon as I have the materials from my suppliers, we’ll proceed to do what we agreed. Frank

Service Provider Response

Respectfully to the readers, It is sad that some reviews are out of context and the result of false assumptions, here is literal the message that I sent to this gentleman "Thank you for considering my services. Currently I'm out of town, but coming back next week. What about to meet you on May 05th, 4-5 pm, please advise. Also, in case I need to reach you which is one is the phone number? Thank you Frank. I believe it is very important not to just assume situations, for many people "out of town" it is not always vacation, but other reasons as well. There is a second message from the same gentleman "Hi, Thanks for the reply, but we can't wait 3 weeks for a simple survey. Please refund out money as soon as possible."" My respond to his message was " Looks like there is a misunderstanding, I do not provide the survey services. Please contact Angie's list in regard of your request. Thank you. Frank" It is unfortunate that some times we can not communicate very well. I wish him the best in his quest.

Service Provider Response

Thank you for the review, I do appreciate that. Meeting you was very delightful, and the ideas just poured by itself, your open mindedness made my work easily and fluidly. I wish you the best. Thank you. Frank

Service Provider Response

Thank you for the review, I did enjoyed helping you with the design of the front landscape, Indeed you do have a natural designing talent. It was a very challenging project, we loved it. The design was full of constructions details, which set it fully apart and makes it completely custom made. I’m very glad you like it the work done, and have given to my workers the compliment that they deserve, we do appreciate that. My crew and I were also very happy with the end result. Re. the pole that cracked after it was installed, I need to clarify that all the poles were hand selected and installed with NO cracks, we are very careful in that regard, but it is wood and under the high temp that we had at that time one of the poles cracked. My warranty clearly states that we will replace materials that comes with defect; however, that was not the case in this opportunity. Also, in the disclaimers the warranty states that we are not liable for damage done for third parties, Natural phenomenon such as the weather, earth movement, and so forth, animales, machinery and equipment utilized by third parties, and so forth, and/or anything similar that is controlled by the mother nature. As usually, while I supervise explain and distribute the work I notice problems and give instructions to correct them, in this case was craacks in one of the poles. I spoke about it with the client, suggested the solution, and explained the details. Due to his surprise, and to keep peace and prevent misunderstandings at work, I told him that as a courtesy I will replace only one pole, but if something similar happen again, them the client would paid the materials, and I would help him not charging the labor to fix the problem, which I believe is completelly fair, becasue no one has control in natural phenomenon. Also to prevent any possible future damage, we discussed we might need to stop the work, and wait for better weather to resume the work, afortunate there was not need to wait for better weather and we did not stop the work. As the clients says, the project turned out very nice, and we all were very happy. I'm so glad when the clients are very close to the jobs, that makes the understanding of the cosntruction process very easy, as well as helps to make the propoer desicions well informed and on time. Again Thank you for the review.