Dustin and his crew were here on June 7, 2012. I have a medium to large backyard wich needed a small maple cut, my lilacs rejuvinated, a number of bushes trimmed, a large maple groomed and some small dead trees cut down. There was no stump grinding or removal of stumps requested.
1.) one lady the arbourist came at 12:20 on the day which we had not yet booked a solid date for so I was unprepared.
2.) she worked alone for 2 - 2.5 hours and got little done as it was just her, but she was knowledgable and worked with care.
3) 3;15 -3:30 the rest of the crew comes and just starts sawinging down things like mad men, dragging trees and limbs through out my yard to the chipper, mowing over flowers, knocking over flower pots and not picking them up or moving them out of their way.
4) the dragging of trees and debris accross my fire pit displaced the rocks and stones THROUGH OUT my yard, carport, driveway all the way down to the street and sidewalk.
5) I asked Dustin if they would be cleaning up the debris and putting back the rocks, he said yes. They did not. I have easily a 1/2 tonne truck load of branches and cut debris within my yard on the lawn, the deck and patio area, my carport, driveway and sidewalk as well as where they removed trees and cut some of the bushes. they just let everything fall where it may and do a clean up and removal.
6) he cut down my Honeysuckle Tree that he was not supposed to cut down. In their carelessness and brute cut down free for all, he cut down my honeysuckle. when I noticed I told him. he had not listned to my directions nor spoke to his arbourist that was there who knew everything to be done. he said he would put in a new one eventually.
he repeated the word eventually 3x and the word at some point once. What does that mean? he didnt even turn off his saw so he could hear me ask the question?
7) when he arrived at 3pm he told me "ohhh there is more that you want done than we discussed it will be more than $1200." I replied, not true, and took him through out the yard and went over everything that was said about every part of my yard at our 1/2 hour consultation. He said" ya your right i remember" he asked about the corner he was concerned about whether I wasnted all the ;lilac cut down and I said yes cut it down. he took that to mean everything on that side of the yard which included my honeysuckle and part of another tree. Again,just not taking the time to pay attention and actually listen.
8) I had to go in for an Operation the next day, so was not physically able to be outside the whole time. I wrote him his check and gave it to him so I could lay down even though they were still working. It seemed that there was at least another hour and a half work to be done. he stopped everything to tell me i had forgotten the $60 gst. I wrote another check and went to rest in the living room. Seriously, not 20 minutes later there is no more noise. no saws, no chippers. I assumed the big stuff was done, they were finishing the bushes and small stuff and doing clean up. I waited about 10 minutes went out to see, and they were gone!!! THE WORK ISNT EVEN FINISHED!!!!
9) i was physically unable to tour my yard, but from my window I could see that one of the lilacs wasnt even touched, no pruning, no rejuvination, there was debris all about, and some of by bushes that were to be trimmed had not been done. What could I do? I called no answer left a message.
10) I am out of hospital yesterday, my mom came and we both toured the yard. Yeah, like I said tonned of debris that I cannot pick up, they did a hack job in my trees and bushes, and didnt even touch one of my lilacs and 2-3 medium bushes to be trimmed.
11) they did not give me a receipt, I thought at first maybe it was getting late 4:45pm and they knew there was more to be done and they were coming another day to finish and plant my honeysuckle tree they cut down. I wouldnt know because I called and left a message again today and have not heard back and I cant put a stop payment on the check cause it went through yesterday.
All in all, not as professional and knwledgable as I thought. Was too eager to get in and get out fast, his workers were careless with the rest of my property, and he and his workers did not do cleanup and removal which was part of job requirement. only cared about the check, not the customer service or the way they yard looked once they had clopped and chopped through it.
Reccommend: No. - maybe if you have a big ass tree u need cut down and thats it. make sure u are there to watch every move and instruct him and his workers to cut the limbs ect into smaller pieces and not drag the whole thing through your yard. With this contractor, get everthing in writing, make your own check list and make sure EVERTHING is checked off before you give him his money.
NOTE TO DUSTIN: if you read this, when am I getting my honeysuckle tree planted and my yard completed? read more
