Outdoor Contracting

Bill gave us a time-line as to when the expected start date would be and how long the job would take to complete once started. He kept us informed as we got closer to the start date, and indeed started when he said they would and completed the job as stated. Bill was onsite every day, and did a lot of work himself. He had his crew of 3-4 men working together every day as well. Everyone on the job was professional and courteous, and they cleaned up at the end of everyday. They even offered to help me carry groceries into the house when I was unable to pull into the driveway due to materials in the way! After the 2nd day when the bulk of the lighting was complete, Bill contacted me that evening by text to confirm the lights came on and to solicit our feedback on placements and aiming. He followed up the next day with the fine tuning. At the end of the last day, Miquel took me around the entire grounds, pointing out the work done, giving me helpful information, and asking me if I had any questions or further requests. The things I am most impressed with are: 1) the materials used are the best on the market and have the best warranties than any of the other companies I contacted; 2) Outdoor Life provides a Lifetime warranty on all workmanship; 3) the contract was very detailed listing all work to be done, materials to be used, itemized costs, and timing; 4) the communication between Bill and I was timely and consistent; 5) the workmanship appears to be 1st class; and 6) Bill's follow-up to my questions and requests for fine tuning has been swift and professional. We will most definitely hire Outdoor Life again next year with the next step in our outdoor landscaping plans.

Bill's crew completed the job in about 2 days. They completed the job efficiently but were not the slightest bit sloppy. Cleaned up after themselves completely overnight. In my case, there was a substantial wait to get the work done that was principally because my HOA took nearly 2 months to approve the work and then Charlotte had the rainiest summer ever which caused Bill's crews to fall behind. However, ultimately the timing worked out fine as I am now trying to grow grass in September instead of the heat of the summer. I also get to do my planting in September instead of the heat of the summer--which means shrubs are on sale and it's actually the best time to plant anyway. During the delay, Bill kept me completely informed of his progress with other jobs so I knew what to expect. Overall, I'm happy with their workmanship and I would gladly use them again.

Bill had great advice about how to solve our problem area. The crew that did the work were excellent, efficient and a pleasure to work with.

My husband and I knew we wanted trees along our backyard fence line but that's about all we knew! We were familiar and quite pleased with the work Bill and his team had done previously for one of our relatives so we knew exactly who to call. During the consult, we told him we wanted evergreen trees that were easy to care for and suggested the lingustrum japanicum. He also asked if we had considered adding flower beds beneath the tree line. We had not, but soon liked the idea of having a "courtyard' feel to our backyard. In addition, my husband was quite keen on the idea of having flower beds along the back side of the house to eliminate some of the weed-eating and to give our yard a more refined look. The only flower I specified was a hyrdrangea, which I remembered my grandmother having when I was child. Other than that, we left it to Bill to draw up a design, using his expertise of the soil and weather conditions, and our desire for something low maintenance. Within a week, we had a design with an assortment of plants and colors that were beyond our expectations, including of course, a tree form hydrangea, complemented by pennie mac hydrangeas along the back of our house. We signed the contract and sent the security deposit the day we received the quote. The work began about 2 months after signing the contract and took 4 days to complete. They were even able to accommodate a few additions to the original scope (adding sod and an additional flower bed) within a day's notice. The entire team was friendly and professional. At the commencement of the work, they cleaned up well and pressure washed our driveway and sidewalk. Bill has continued to be responsive and helpful with our follow-up questions on care, watering, etc. We are extremely pleased with our experience and end result and will definitely be calling on Outdoor Life Inc. for our future landscaping needs.

The work done by Outdoor Life looks great and it was done professionally. Bill Botkin originally came out and met with us, for a retainer fee, and provided a consult and later an estimate. Once we received the quote Bill was able to work with us to adjust the project to fit within our budget and meet our goals. The work was performed in a little under a week, which was quick given the scope of the work performed. Bill and his team brought the right tools to do the job in a timely fashion. Due to rain delays, our project started later than expected and therefore I was not available to monitor the job in its entirety. Despite this, I was pleased when I returned. It was good to see that the owner of the company is present to oversee his company?s work. Bill was very knowledgeable about all of the aspects of the project and it was great to know that he was truly a part of the work that was done. The Outdoor life work is truly top notch and the yard looks great. I have received complements from neighbors who enjoy the aesthetics of the yard.

I solicited three bids for my lawn irrigation project to completely irrigate the sides and back of my one acre yard. The builder installed irrigation in the front yard but we weren't satisfied with the uneven water pattern. Tthere were wet/dry areas in the front. We were requesting project bids for the back and sides only. Two lawn irrigation contractors bid the project prior to Bill. I didn't feel they were listening to my concerns about efficient watering. Both bid the project for 6 zones. I had 6 zones in the front and that was inadequate. I felt that they were using the cookie cutter approach to irrigattion and trying "the lowest bid wins." One contractor said, he would send a bid via email. He gave me a verbal and his business card. Never received his quote. I had a second contractor bid the project. He didn't seem interested in my questions about water efficiency, but he did send me a bid. I scheduled a consultation with Bill, who charges a $75 counsultation fee. The fee is refundable if he is awarded the project. The consultation fee was money well spent. Bill spent 1.5 hours discussing what he felt was necessary to fully irrigate my lawn. He recommended 8-9 zones for efficent and full coverage. We walked the yard and he gave me an overview for sprinkler placement. I felt he wanted me to participate in the process. Needless, to say, Bill won the project. I observed the professionalism the team exhibited while working on the original contract. My confidence in their professionalism led me to add a few extras. I added drippers for the landscape surrounding the house. I also asked Bill about correcting my spotty irrigation in the front yard. He added 2 zones in addition to the original 6 zones. He also corrected the original 6 zones coverage. Now I have even irrigation, no wet/dry areas. So...I had Bill's team aerate and seed my entire acre in Bermuda grass. He consulted with an agronomist before seeding and fertilizing my lawn, to have a fully successful project. With 15 years and his lenghty credentials I doubt if there is anything that Bill doesn't know about his business. If he has a question, he gets an answer from a professional source, i.e. agronomist. Bill is the only contractor I would recommend to do lawn irrigation. After viewing the website: Outdoor Life Inc., I know Bill and his crew are capable of a lot more than irrigation.

OH MY WORD! You talk about a yard transformation- ours was it! Our yard went from a barren wasteland to a beautiful, green, flowery oasis that we love to spend time in. Before there wasn't any grass, builder grade landscaping (which was pretty much nothing in the backyard), and a rusty, old fire pit that we used often but wasn't very nice on the eyes. After saving our pennies for several months, we contacted Bill Botkin from Outdoor Life. Not having any experience in landscaping at all, we didn't really know where to start. We had a few other companies come out and give estimates but we felt they were kind of wishy-washy and didn't give us a very detailed estimate. We knew that if we wanted the job done right the first time, we'd have to keep looking. Also knowing all we wanted to have done, we wanted a one stop shop. Enter Angie's List-I did a search and Outdoor Life popped up- it was exactly what we were looking for so I scheduled an appointment with Bill. He came out and spent a lot of time with my husband and I as we talked landscaping and told him what our dream backyard consisted of. He got back to us within a few days with an extremely detailed estimate which instantly put my husband and I at ease. He gave us several options for some items (for example- for the fire pit, he gave us prices for 3 different options: pea gravel, jumbo stone stamped concrete, or flagstone with mondo grass) which allowed us to play around with different options based on our budget. Whenever we had any questions, Bill would always got back to us within a day. We loved the fact that Bill didn't just sit behind a desk and send his guys out into the field, but Bill was here moving mulch and laying concrete right there with his guys. He also doesn't sub contract which we loved- it allowed the project to move along smoothly (except for the pesky weather!) When it came to the landscaping, I gave Bill free reign over what went in the yard. I told him the few things I really wanted then let him fill in the rest. I'm a self-proclaimed "black thumb" so I didn't want anything high maintenance but I wanted our yard to look pretty. He sure did deliver there! The flowers and shrubs look great and I know it's going to look even better as they grow and mature. While we found the cost to be a bit more then other estimates we got, we realized that what we were paying for was quality and that was something we were willing to pay more for. We also were confident the job would be done right the first time- we wouldn't have to worry about calling someone to come fix something in a few years. That peace of mind was worth the little bit of extra money we spent. Bill went above and beyond in many areas of our project- he's a genuinely nice guy, a great businessman, and very professional- which we've discovered is hard to find in this area of business! We would (and have) highly recommend Outdoor Life to anyone looking for a fantastic, professional local business to support.

Bill was very quick to answer my email and set up an appointment to evaluate the project. We discussed my wishes and wants and with his expertise we came up with a plan. I received a proposal by email within a week. With great anticipation and the long awaited Spring like weather to arrive, Bill and his crew were able to transform my mess of a backyard into a beatuful backyard oasis. Old landscape plants were removed, the patio was poured and texured with a Jumbo Stone embossing. Bill finished it off with an acid stain and walnut antiquing.They lanscaped w/several palnts and reseeded my yard with bermuda grass. I will definitley have them back for different projects in the very near future.

Bill at Outdoor Life transformed my yard from a barren to a beautiful and inviting. From our fist meeting, it was obvious that he is an expert in his field. He pays attention to detail and places great importance on doing things the right way. At our first consultation, he walked the property with me, viewing it from every angle and even from inside the house. He listened to what I wanted and what fit best for our family and our lifestyle. On the second visit, he came back and sketched out a design. He made suggestions for plants based on sun exposure, soil content, elevation, color, height, width, evergreen vs deciduous, relation to the house, and screening. Bill took his time walking and sketching out the layout and plant/tree choices. He explained the importance of soil amendment, drip irrigation, and mulch. When he was done, I was confident I was going to love it. Some time passed while I was waiting for the project to begin, but it was very rainy and we had some days of freezing temperatures. Bill could have started, but he wanted to wait for the best conditions to begin the project. I appreciated this attention to detail. Planting trees is an investment and I wanted it done right. Once the project began, Bill was on site every day. He was great at returning phone calls, emails, and texts. When a sticky situation with an adjacent right-of-way arose, he handled it quickly and professionally. I knew from our working relationship that I wouldn't need to return to handle the situation myself because I trusted him to take care of it. I am thrilled with my yard. The plants and trees are thriving. I smile every time I see it. I absolutely recommend Outdoor Life for your landscaping needs. I am happy with the price I paid because I know the initial investment in doing it right the first time will save me money and grief in the long run. Believe it or not, Bill's quote was actually slightly UNDER my budgeted amount!!! I look forward to working with Bill and Outdoor Life in the future.

Bill Botkin came out one evening very soon after I called for a consultation. He asked questions, took measurements, and gave us options about how the work might be done. They were able to start work two weeks later, and started work simultaneously on the front walk and the pond. I was impressed by how hard and carefully all the crew members worked. They appeared to be very precise about measuring and leveling, and cleaned the patio/walkway brick before re-laying it. The pond was artfully constructed, with careful placement of rocks and gravel. After the brick and pond work was done, grass was planted over the areas that had been damaged by the heavy equipment. I was very surprised--and grateful--that they repaired another brick walkway that had been pressed down by the heavy machinery--I had not expected them to do this at all, since we gave permission for them to cross the lawn and walk with their equipment. Without being asked, they also repaired the ruts left on the shoulder of the road where they parked their trucks, so no complaints from the neighbors. Bill (who was on site much of the time, and operated the machinery himself) and all his crew were friendly and easy to talk to while remaining professional. I was able to call Bill with questions without feeling that I was bothering him. He was also very good about keeping me informed about his plans--the uncooperative spring weather required some changes in his schedule, and I appreciated not having to wonder what was going on. A great company! I think ours was a pretty small job for them. If you want this kind of work done (smaller jobs), call in January or February before they get too busy. I felt very fortunate that Bill was able to fit us in so quickly given his other commitments. P.S. Bill also followed up a few weeks after the job was completed to make sure we were still satisfied--another pleasant surprise!

He came over for a consulation with my husband and I. he gave us great ideas to help out with the uplighting of our home. We had uplighting that was installed by previous owner but it was already damaged and only a few light were working. He suggested LED bulbs and a new transformer which will be used for our phase 2 project also. He suggested trees that would help with the curb appeal of our house The project was started very quickly and done in a timely manner. Bill is there from start to finish with his workers. Which I really like so he knows the job is getting done right. He came back at night time to make sure all the lights were set correctly and made the neccesary corrections. He is very knowledgable and had wonderful ideas. We used his services because he has done a wonderful job with our neighbors yard. Overall we were very pleased and look forward to having him back in the future for our next phases.

The job started later than we anticipated due to the weather conditions, we had a lot of rain, but we were updated on when they might expected to come. Once they arrived they they wasted no time and completed the job in about three day, as I told Bill, he was the first contractor to do everything he said he would do. We were very pleased with the whole process.

I had another contractor pour a new cement pad and complete a fence. He broke the fence,and, after a week, the cement pad was still not set, with a lot of other problems. I volunteer at Carolinas Medical Center, and the maintenance department recommended Bill Bolkin saying Outdoor Life had done a lot of work at the hospital and was very pleased with him. His foreman, Enrique, came out and showed me that the water run off in my yard goes directly to where the other contractor had placed the pad, and recommended another area. We agreed on a price, which was very reasonable, and the work started the very next day. I was impressed by thier professionalism, the quality of their work and the time it took to complete the job. I don't kow if you can say a cement pad is beautiful, but this one is! The fence is now so secure I don't have to worry about my baby grandson falling into the drainage ditch that is on the other side. I will use Bill and Outdoor Life again. Now that my faith in contractors has been restored, I plan on having the best looking property in Concord, thanks to them!

We wanted a backyard area that would be inviting to live in and have a "WOW" factor. We knew the area had to have a focal point to make it interesting. The first couple of contractors suggested a fire pit as the focal point. Then Bill came and suggested a water feature. We looked at Bill's website, other contractor's websites, and other contractor's exhibits before concluding that Bill was exactly correct about the need for a water feature to create the "Wow" factor. We met Bill at one of his completed projects (the one highlighted on the video on his website) and at his house where he showcases his work. If I had one suggestion for anyone thinking of having Bill do hardscape and landscape work for you, you must go to see his work at his house and listen to him talk about it. He has incredible knowledge about what he does and how to create the best effect. It was at this meeting that my wife and I realized that we weren't dealing with a salesman or a contractor, Bill was an artisan in every sense of the word. We gave Bill our wishlist for our project given all of the incredible examples of work that we had seen. When the cost exceeded our budget, we thought we would have to drop a major part of the project out to get the price down but Bill instead came up with a different plan for the fire pit area to get the cost down. Once Bill and his crew started the work, he tweeked the plan (the stream leading to the waterfall was altered to take advantage of the natural lay of our property) to improve the end product. He was meticulous in selecting the right stone for the stream and waterfall in order to achieve a desired effect. His process for sanding down the pebbles in the aggregate concrete provides a stunning patio surface. I could rave about every aspect of the work done. The lighting in the waterfall and under the water surface are done in a way that I would never had thought about but Bill has. Thoughout the entire project, we got a sense of the pride that Bill and his crew have in doing high quality work. And as a result, we have a backyard patio that has an incredible "WOW" factor. We could not be happier with the final product.

I contacted several landscape companies to get a bid for the installation of an irrigation system, reseeding the yard and the new landscaping around the house and deck. Due to delays, on my part, in having a dedicated water meeter installed the project did not start until early November. The reasons I selected Outdoor life is because of their great reviews, and during my initial meeting with Bill Botkin he listened to what I wanted to do in the yard and he offered some helpful suggestions on what could be done. Also, Bill was the only one who recommended amending the soil as it had become very hard and compact over the years, making it difficult for grass to grow grass in the yard. While the project took longer than projected the yard was seeded with a mix of fescue and winter rye so I have grass growing in the winter time!

We found Outdoor Life Inc through a landscape architecture professional he had worked with in the past. Bill walked the site and met with committee members to discuss and revise the project plans. He had suggestions to bring the cost down and worked closely with us on plant selection. We had to make some adjustments once excavation began and we were able to trade easily to enhance the project. The results are outstanding, everyone asks why we didn't dress up the area sooner! Even other landscape professionals have looked at the work done and commented how great it looks. It was a relief to have confidence in the oversight Bill provided because he was on site, and he understood our expectations. He also understood and performed all of the trades involved so we didn't have to schedule multiple providers. The project was completed on time and professionally - Bill and his crew are great to work with and obviously enjoy what they do.

We have a large back yard that was a blank canvas after having a large stand of small pines removed. We were not sure what we wanted to do so had several landscapers come out to talk with us and give us some ideas and prices. I did not think I wanted a water feature at all, but we already had a patio with firepit and based on the size of the back yard, something dramatic and large was needed. Bill from Outdoor Life came up with the idea for the pond, with walkng trails to it and several sitting areas. It was hard to envision but Bill was confident that our back yard would look great with these additons. We liked his enthusiasm and independent vision, so we decided to go with Outdoor Life. I had told him that I would not be able to be on site all the time and did he need me to be? He said he often is given free rein to create and since I don't like to micromanage, I just let him do his thing. As the pond and waterfall took shape, with every rock and boulder chosen for a specific spot I realized that Bill was an artist at his job. The pond and the whole back yard really came out beautifully, and when we decided we needed to add some trees for privacy, Bill found us some great,large Cryptomeria and put them in the same day. The workers Bill has were always very polite, on time and cleaned up after themselves.

My wife and I decided to improve our home's appearance by upgrading our landscaping and adding an irrigation system. Initially we called several local nurseries for referrals. One person responded but never contacted us after the initial visit. This led to our decision to join Angie's List. Each company on Angie's List contacted us promptly to set appointments and followed up with quotes on the tasks we wanted performed. All of the people who visited us were friendly and knowledgeable. Yet, we chose Outdoor Life Contracting based on the depth and range of knowledge of both landscaping and irrigation systems exhibited by Bill Botkin, the company's owner. My wife and I have no knowledge of plants and had a lot of questions about the overall process. Bill was extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and his ability to provide numerous choices for plantings was a huge help. Before investing in the full landscape project, we paid Bill to come out and help us choose plants, mark the yard as it would appear, and draw an overview of the planting plan. This was money well spent. Bill provided numerous suggestions which, now that the project is complete, added immensely to the finished visual effect. He also explained the volume of water each planting would require and how the irrigation system would be designed to meet these requirements without over-watering. We would highly recommend Outdoor Life Contracting. Bill helped us create a fantastic front yard that has a great balance of color and visual interest. From the first visit to the final stages of the project, it was a pleasure to work with Bill and his staff. The contract we were provided was clear and the project was completed to our satisfaction. A few things we learned through this process might be of assistance to others considering a landscaping project. 1) Choose a landscaper with whom you have a good rapport. A good part of a successful project is having someone who can answer all your questions and communicate all aspects of the process clearly. 2) Realize that deciding you want to landscape on Saturday doesn't mean the project will start the next week. Good contractors are busy. Be patient. 3) Think about possible future projects and relay this information to your contractor. You don't want to have a tree planted where you're later hoping to have a fire pit. 4) Irrigation system design and installation is an art. All of the houses in our neighborhood have irrigation systems, yet their lack of precision causes parts of their homes, their driveways, the street, etc. to also be watered. Ours is much more accurate and we feel the money spent on water further enhances the finished project. Overall, we are extremely satisfied with the work we had done. We have already recommended Outdoor Life to friends and would not hesitate to recommend them in the future to anyone else.

Bill Botkin was very professional , communicative, punctual , delivered on expectations Work very high quality , on time , on budget Initiall was skeptical to pay a 'consultation fee ' which was applied to repair; but it was well worth it second project -they repaired an extensively damaged brick wall . Initialy the mortar did not quite match existing mortar so they took down repaired wall and rebuilt using mortar which matched exquisitely - that is definition of service and pride in your work

Since we had been very pleased with some extensive work Bill and his crew did for us a few months back, I called him to troubleshoot the lighting problem. He's good, as evidenced by the Angie's List rating, and therefore busy. So I had to wait a few extra days, but it's worth it. I never once considered calling anyone else. He came out on two separate Sunday nights to squeeze us in. Very trustworthy, and clearly takes pride in his work.

When I first met with Bill, he asked me a lot of questions about what I wanted to see in the front yard. I am not a gardener and probably needed Bill because everything in the front yard was overgrown, covered with weeds, or just unsightly. I put my faith and my money in Bill's hands and just told him to make it look nice. When I arrived home on the last day of the job, I was so thrilled to see what Bill and his team had done. He surpassed all of my expectations and now I constantly receive compliments from the neighbors on how great the yard looks now. In addition, the team from Outdoor Life was punctual, kept me informed of any schedule changes, and they were perfectionists in everything they did. It is my plan to hire them again to do a backyard renovation next year.

Bill and his team at Outdoor Life did a great job. They showed up on time and where very professional. Bill was very good about communicating the entire process so we knew what to expect. We where able to use his extensive landscaping experience to get some good suggestions on how to shape our walk ways, staining them and different landscaping options. Bill takes customer satisfaction seriously and it shows in his commitment to excellent work. I would recommend giving Outdoor Life the opportunity to bid on any landscaping or concrete project you are considering.

My backyard was grossly overgrown and very dated. The brick fence was also broken so my dog has not had a free-roam yard for 2 years. I could not be more delighted with the outcome! Bill is overwhelmingly patient and meticulous. You can be sure - whatever he is doing, he will do it right. It was so refreshing to work with someone conscientious and not looking to cut corners. He was honest about things that I needed to do versus wanted to do and that is also a huge gift when working within a budget. He likes to visualize all the varying options which is helpful in crystalizing what you ultimately want. My backyard is truly fabulous now and I go outside every day to sit for a moment and enjoy it... even in the summertime heat. I will absolutely call Bill/Outdoor Life whenever I need anything done again and HIGHLY recommend this company.

We hired Bill/Outdoor Life after seeing his other reviews in Angie's list and are thrilled with the entire aspect of the work. He helped us design a new outdoor living space that is a major WOW but still fit our budget. He was very patient in listening to our dream list and then worked with us to prioritize things to our budget. They removed two large trees, poured a beautiful stamped concrete patio and then finished it off with gorgeous landscaping, lighting and irrigation. They were very careful to try and disturb as little of the yard as possible and left things spotless when they were done. Bill even came back a week later to check on everything and make sure we were happy.We were very confident all along in his ability to handle all aspects of the work without having to "sub out" to other people or us having to "project manage" it for him. Very pleased and we're already planning to have them back to overhaul the front yard!

He came out to take a look, spent over an hour discussing it. Came out for the treatment on time and completed work quickly but thoroughly. Very professional