Skip To The Finish

Description of Work: I had asked Skip Rinehart to keep my budget around $1000 to $1500 and that I could spread out the job over several years with no more than $1500 spent each year to put in a paver patio, a raised 26' x3' herb garden next to a garage and various steps and gardens. He said he was experienced in drainage and putting in patios as well as plant selection. He then proceeded to take up the sod and bring in a mini-bulldozer. He sold the sod and removed 5-6 truckloads of dirt. The yard became a mess with a pond in it. You could tell the drainage was not correct and the raised herb garden was a mess even after they had removed it and put in a new one. He charged me for the hours, when I thought we had a set price. When we hit the end of the second weekend and he gave me the next bill of $740 (I had paid him $200 and then $901.01 for the week before) that's when I knew I was in trouble. I am attaching a photo of what he left me. He wanted another $2300 to finish just the patio and raised garden. In other words, he wanted almost $4000 and that would not include any plants or other gardens. When I told him to stop the project because I wanted quotes from some other landscapers, he got agitated. I asked him to give me a quote as well. The other 3 landscapers shook their heads at the job he left and 2 of the contractors were under his $2300 quote. They all said the work should have been no more than $300 for what he had done and that you could tell he was very inexperienced.