Besthands Landscape Construction & Design Inc

It takes a lot for me to post a negative review..this is the 1st poor review I have ever posted! We have used Emerson Martins 2 times in the past few years and his paver team is excellent. They do great quality work. He is not cheap, but delivers a good product. My frustration with Emerson Martins and Besthands is that they are very polite and professional while doing the project, but i hope you have nothing go wrong after...he will delay, make excuses, and act as though he is doing you a favor. 1st experience: Outside Patio with Cooking island -we spent over $25,000 and I cannot complain about one thing. They did a fabulous job, on time, and within budget. Due to this great experience, we decided to use Emerson Martins for our next project without even getting other quotes. 2nd experience: Front steps, walkway, and extension of asphalt --his company did the front steps/walkway and it was great. -he sub-contracted the asphalt to someone (not sure who) as i asked if he knew anyone and it would make my life a lot easier. He found someone (again not sure who), but when the asphalt was placed..i quickly knew there was a problem. The grade of the existing driveway was sloped and the extension was flat. I called Emerson immediately with this issue and he agreed to contact his sub-contractor who told him that is how it is when you put 2 asphalts together. However, every time it rained we would have a pond about 1-1.5inches in this area. I called several local asphalt contractors who told me that it was graded incorrectly as i had said, but only real solution is to redo it completely. I was already out $2,300 for this work through Emerson Martins and so i decided to just put up with the annoyance...even buying a squeegee. However, within 6months there was a sinkhole where the 2 pavements meet from all the water collection. At this point, i again called BEsthands who told me that they have no recourse with the subcontractor and that this is why they "don't do these favors" for people..."favors"...it cost me $2,300 and it was $500 for the asphalt than the local bids! Mr.Martins told me to get it done myself and send him what i thought was fair, but again commenting multiple times that this was out of his hands and this is why "he doesn't do these favors". I had it done on my own, paid $1,800, and have a perfect driveway. My wife and I decided not to forward the bill to Besthands because we were busy and to be honest...I didn't feel like dealing with Emerson's hemming and hawing about this "huge favor" he had done us. Our friends thought we were crazy to throw our own money to redo this and that we didn't even post a negative review...well until now!! We are relocating out of state and i called Besthands to come remove 6 personalized pavers that they had installed. Emerson quickly told me how it would cost me$500 to have his guys do it because it is too far away...it didn't seem to far to take my $35,000 though! He told me it would be easier for me to find someone locally, but if he were to do it, it would cost $500. I reminded him of the incorrect asphalt and how my wife and I took care of the full $1,800 for the asphalt even though he had said to send it to him and that I though he was "penny pinching" us. He became quite frustrated..told me he wouldn't help because i was thinking about this old issue. He told me that he would only help if i sent him an email stating that "I will not sue him for his previous error". Are you kidding me?? So Mr.Emerson Martins..here is my email to you...I will not sue you for the error of your subcontractor, i will not ask you for the $1,800 that I had to pay another contractor to fix the error your sub-contractor caused, and I choose not to use your company to remove my 6 pavers. You do not have to worry about sending a person this far out in Rhode Island to remove 6 personalized Pavers you placed!! In summary...does great work and is personable when things go well. BUYER BEWARE if from Rhode Island (as it is too far for him) or if there are negative outcomes...He will not take responsibility !!!

The project required working close to the house with a backhoe which was expertly done.  It also required stone cutting and fitting which was also done with expertise.  The crew was professional and worked with us throughout the project to keep us informed of their progress and making sure that we were pleased with the work.  The finished steps, retaining walls and walkway are beautiful and we've already received compliments from neighbors for the work.
This is the second project that we've hired BestHands to do for us.  Last year, they replaced an old patio with a new, larger one and added a retaining wall along one side.  We wanted a customized, curved shape for the patio that the BestHands crew were able to provide beyond our expectations.
We recommend BestHands to anyone interested in hiring a team of professionals who can exceed expectations for the work they perform.

Emerson and his crew were amazing.  As an architect myself, I know it can be difficult to find the right contractor for a job.  Emerson worked on my own home, and we would recommend him to anyone.  His crew was extremely professional--they arrived on time, worked very hard all day, and left the site clean and safe.  On the few occasions we noticed a problem with the work, Emerson had already spotted it and had informed his crew how to correct it.  One evening, we watched the crew laying pavers from our upstairs window until about 8:00 pm--they were determined to finish that day--but they cut no corners and the last section completed was as good as the first.  We then (with difficulty) convinced them to have a burger (we were grilling) before hitting the road--they deserved it!  Emerson knows how to build a good project and how to run a business.  We wish him every success!

They came and gave us a quote for a new walkway.  We did not use BestHands because he suggested we wait until we remodel our front steps, which we are not prepared to do at this time.  I appreciated the honesty and found them to be very helpful and professional.

They were on time for appointment, received estimate and follow up call quickly and estimate was in line with others I received but I decided to go with someone else.

The estimate was casual and in-person, the owner of the company came to look over everything himself, give me options, and we discussed prices on the spot. We had to wait a couple months until the ground had thawed, but the crew arrived on the day they said, and set to work. The old retaining wall was removed, the earth was dug up and drainage was put in, then a new wall. All the work was done in two days, and they cleaned up everything after themselves.
There was a very large boulder to one side, and I expected that to be removed to make way for the wall, but it would have been a lot more money to blast it out, so it made sense to keep it, and they added some field stones around it to make it blend in, and I like the way it ended up looking in the end.
The wall is beautiful and fits in with the landscape. Rather than just go with one color of blocks all the way through, they mixed in a few off color stones, and I was concerned, but I really like the look. Two years later, the wall is still perfectly straight and level and is draining properly.
They did end up stealing one of my shovels though! Well, it was out in the yard and they packed it up with the rest of their gear. They brought it back the next day, and they left me the spare pieces of bluestone that weren't used. I'm using them for stepping stones in the garden.
Thye may not be for you if you're a control freak: If you want a team of designers to draft up perfectly measured and drawn plans that you can look over, with everything measured to the inch, you may want to go with a different design company. Well, they might offer this, but its not what they did for me- the planning stage was informal and loose. But if you are willing to let some professionals with a lot of experience to take your suggestions and needs and do what will work best for your yard and budget, and trust them, you'll end up with some really nice work.
Ill definitely use Best Hands again when I need a new walkway.

They were here everyday at 7 or 8 in the morning until 5 or 6 at night. We had rain but they still got the job done on time. They worked on the weekends to get the work done. They were very personable and always coming and asking me how I wanted things done, making sure that everything was how I wanted it. They kept me very involved in the project. They are very polite. They were neat, clean, and they cleaned up after themselves. The work they did was just absolutely beautiful. They were meticulous. Everything was very precise.

We were happy with Emerson and his professionalism. He explained everything he would do and answered our questions. We went with a different vendor who we felt had a better vision for us and was more within our budget. We would consider Besthands in the future.

The owner Emerson is a true professional. After receiving the estimate at first, he wasn't the cheapest, but it became clear that it was because others were cutting some corners. Emerson came back, worked with me on the estimate and explained the difference in his estimate. Emerson is an honest guy who takes great pride in his work and his business. He will work with you to make sure you are 100% satisfied. Before starting the work he was very patient and extremely helpful in picking materials. Emerson is very concerned with making sure the work looks the best it can. During the work, he made sure we were aligned step-by-step, calling with updates and waiting for answers if needed before proceeding. He understands that happy customers mean more customers. His team was amazing, they shared his passion for the work and were extremely hard working - sometimes working into the dark to keep on schedule. There was a universal comment from many of my neighbors - "wow, I can't believe how hard they are working." Not only were they good workers but they were very polite and courteous. The work was done very well with extreme attention to detail. Since completion I have received many complements on the work. And even after the work was complete Emerson has checked in to make everything was done to satisfaction. I am convinced that if I hadn't used Best Hands my project would not have come out as well as it did.

I spent several months discussing our project with 7 different contractors before deciding that BestHands was the right company for the job. Emerson Martins is professional, honest, reliable, personable, patient, and thoughtful. He personally drove to the house a number of times to provide price quotes, discuss the project details and address all of our questions and concerns. Emerson is very knowledgeable and creative - he consistenly offered up multiple ways of attacking certain aspects of the project and thoroughly explained the pros and cons of each. His crew is incredibly dedicated and hard-working. Most days they were at the house from 9am to 7:30pm. Emerson delivered on all his promises and finished the job on time. I couldn't be happier with the work he and his crew did and months later still marvel at the transformation the outside of my house underwent. If I had to do it all over again I would hire BestHands in a heartbeat!

They get a solid A for artistry and concept delivery. They fit us in between jobs and actually went from contract to completion in 7 days.

Emerson Martins patiently consulted with us about what we should do. He inspected the work it was finished and had any small problems corrected. We are satisfied with the work. 

Very nice. My wife and I are no longer young and we did not know what we wanted. Emerson Martins was very patient in explaining everything we could and could not do. We drew up a contract with drawings and negotiated some points and he came, when he said he would and did the work. We are both delighted with the resulting work. We paid a full fair price with this work.  

They were satisfactory and they were hard workers.  They were on time and everything went as scheduled.  They did good work.

I really liked the owner who came out and gave me a quote.  He is very personable and very in-depth.  The quote was very in-depth.  He was actually a little early.  He was very professional.  His quote was twice as much as everybody else is.  I really liked them.  I definitely would have gone with them if it weren't so much more.

 I am most pleased with the job.  Most importantly, my interactions with Emerson revealed an honest contractor with regards to pricing and all materials used. (The price I paid for the whole job was based on a higher priced paver stone.)   His workmanship is excellent and he did not mind explaining the process to me as his crew worked along.  Emerson is a solution-minded contractor which is important with a job of this size and when working underneath the surface.  (You never know what you may find.)  He knew how to solve a couple of problems along the way.  The driveway came out beautifully and we have gotten many compliments.  His crew was pleasant mannered and worked very very hard and cleaned up nicely at completion of the job.  Considering how my project came out, I understand why Emerson received a national ICPI professional award last year and why I heard many compliments about him when visiting landscape suppliers to select the stone I wanted installed.  --- M. Hunt, Mansfield, MA    

From start to finish, Emerson was a pleasure to work with. I contacted him for a quote and he came over the same day and gave a very thorough explanation of how the work would be done. He followed up one week later to see if we had made a decision. He let us know when he would start the job and called to let us know he was delayed for a couple of days due to the weather. He and his crew were polite and pleasant the entire time. The work is absolutely gorgeous; we keep getting compliments from neighbors. I would definitely hire them again.

I found Besthands on Angie's list. They had an A rating and they were from the next town over so I figured I would give them a try. When I submitted a request for an estimate called me the next day and made an appointment for a couple of days later to look at the site. I received the estimate within one day and when we finalized the job he would do Emerson told me they could come and do the job within a few weeks. They came when they said they would and completed the whole job in four days. I was really impressed with the work that they did and would have no problem recommending them to anyone I know.

July 2010. As new homeowners there is always great caution taken when hiring contractors to take on small or large projects. If this is you then I urge you to consider Best Hands because you will be more than satisfied with the process, the professionalism, the crew, and the end product. Emerson is truly committed to you and your home project and wants you to have the best end product that can be developed. In addition, his crew is the hardest working group of people I have ever witnessed and made sure that excellent craftsmanship was at the core of everything they did. Finally, our project involved building and rebuilding retaining walls, a backyard patio, a long driveway with pavers and the foundation along the side of our home. Though the project was huge, they were in and out in two weeks and though we had to add a portion to our project Emerson was honest and more than fair in our additional expense. I would recommend BestHands to everyone.

This is my second project with Emerson Martins and Besthands Construction. A year ago I converted my driveway from asphalt to pavers. This year we finished the job. Emerson promised the best looking driveway in the neighborhood and he delivered. His team works overtime, arriving at 9 AM and staying until after 8 pm regularly. One night they worked so late one of my neighbors asked them to stop. They never missed a day and worked through the rain. In short their attendance and attention to detail are exemplary. Our project went so well my next door neighbor hired Emerson's team to take his driveway from asphalt to pavers too. If that's not an endorsement of the fine work offered by Besthands Construction, I'm not sure what is.

it went beautifully; an absolute pleasure, start to finish. work began within 10 days of the earliest possible date given at the time of the estimate. the workmen started early and stayed late every day, didn't skip any days, were always courteous and quiet, and cleaned up thoroughly before leaving. we were consulted all along the way, and are delighted with the result.

We called Emerson at Besthands after seeing all the great reviews on Angie's List and on his own website. We were extremely pleased with him from the first time he came to give an estimate through the completion of our project. He made some recommendations during the first meeting but was not pushy or trying to upsell. Instead his recommendations were very helpful with our overall design. He had given us an estimated start date and said it would take approximately 1 week start to finish. He ended up being able to start earlier than anticipated and he and his crew finished within 3 days! His crew was extremely hard-working. They cleaned up after themselves each day before they left the site. The finished project was even nicer than we had expected. We would definitely hire Besthands again for any hardscaping project and highly recommend them.

The job went really well. Emerson, the owner, is very professional and manages his jobs well. Prior to my choosing Besthands, Emerson and I negotiated several items regarding the patio installation, and I was pleased to find that he kept his word on everything that we had negotiated. His crew was also professional and polite. They worked hard and did a very nice job. The job was completed as and when promised. In addition, Emerson had his crew do a few extras at no cost to me. I would definitely hire Emerson / Besthands again.

I loved it. The guys worked incredibly hard and it came out great. I would recommend them to anyone. Their website is awesome. They were not the cheapest, but they were still great and I'm glad I used them. You get what you pay for. I would use them again and I wouldn't even price it with anyone else.