California Smartscape

We're so glad we chose California Smartscape! We met with several landscaping companies before choosing them, and we found the entire team at California Smartscape to be more knowledgable, attentive and professional than all the other firms we met with. We had a very clear idea of what we wanted to do with our landscaping plan. Richard and Mark really helped bring the ideas in our heads to life by completing the design and using their landscape knowledge to help us make choices on how to lay out our new yard. Once the design work was completed; Jay, Bob, Marcelino and the rest of the crew were fantastic. The entire job took about 3 weeks. The entire team was meticulous in their approach to the job. Our yard was kept clean and tidy despite the chaos of a major job such as this. Everyone was ultra-responsive to our questions and concerns as the work was being performed. In the end, our landscape project turned out an incredible success. What previously was a wasteland of dead grass, overgrown cacti and ugly poured concrete pads became a park-like oasis for our family. The hardscape work is first-rate, it looks great and drains perfectly. The irrigation installation was also perfectly done. And the sod and plants/trees selected by Mark and team make our yard a dream to spend time in. My only negative in the whole experience is in a bit of fencing work that was performed. As part of our job, the team relocated some fence sections to a new location in our yard. This required them to install a new fence post to support the re-use of an existing gate. Unfortunately, the post was installed out of alignment. And it's in a concrete footing. So just months after the job was completed, we now have a fence gate that sags severely and drags on our patio. Since the post itself was installed incorrectly, no amount of tinkering with the gate will solve the problem. So at some point I'll need to spend a weekend ripping out the very same gate and post they installed and re-doing it correctly so the gate can swing properly on a level post.

What a great experience. During our first meeting with Andrew and Jay we talked about what we wanted and our budget. The next week Andrew came back with plans for the perfect backyard and all within our price range. The project was started and finished on time. Bob and his crew were were great. Everyday they showed up on time and kept us updated on the progress. All of the workers were polite and professional. California Smartscape did what they said they would do for the price that we were quoted - no surprise extra charges - and completed the project on time. Thanks you guys, we love our new backyard.

After reading some good reviews about California Smartscape and after not being that impressed by a few other contractors we had bid our project, we had Andrew come out to our house. He was extremely easy to deal with, listened to what we wanted and then designed (for a small fee) a plan to remodel our entire yard. He came back a few days later with an amazing computer generated image of our house and what our yard would look like complete. My wife said "looks exactly like what we want". Their pricing seemed fair / competetive so we said lets go. The hardscaping (pavers) went in immediately (basically 7 days), then quartzite, stucco'd walls, outdoor shower, stepping stones, sod and new BBQ / fire pit area. Basically done in 30 days! Jay, one of the owners was involved in the job and Really wanted us to be happy with the work. Let's face it, no job involving contractors is much fun but California Smartscape is about as easy as it gets. I would highly them and would use them again. We are very happy with our project!

From the original meeting with Richard and Alison, to the finished result, I could not be more pleased with the experience and outcome. The front yard totally needed to be redone and Richard and Alison listened to what I wanted and worked within my budget. The design concept included all of my requirements plus ideas they had that made the whole project exceed my expectations. From the preparation of the yard (taking out the old), to replacing a concrete walkway with pavers, redoing the irrigation (some drip and some sprinklers) and finally installing the new plants and grass, the crews were always professional and did quality work. The paver work was beautifully done and really added to the overall new look. Each day, the crew would answer any questions I had and touched base to make sure we were still on the same page. I would definately use California Smartscape again and would highly recommend them to others.

Everything went very smoothly. Everyone was friendly, super professional, on time, and listened exactly to what we were looking for. The end project looks great, and we are very happy. When we ran into a little snafu with the irrigation system, they repaired everything very quickly. They have excellent customer service skills and are very efficient. I would use CA Smartscape again for additional projects.

We had been talking about renovating our backyard for several years. We never could decide on exactly what we wanted or how we would achieve it. I was extremely hesitant to use a contractor because of poor experiences with other contractors in the past. We finally made the big decision and moved forward with California Smartscape. We were able to talk to the designer and he immediately understood our vision. My husband and I had a few differences of opinion and the designer was able to bridge our two ideas into something beautiful. Our designer stayed with the project throughout the entire renovation to ensure that what we had envisioned came to life. I also worked directly with one of the owners of the company which is unheard of these days. He was beyond kind and patient as I made small changes throughout the project. Our time schedule was met; we stayed within budget and the entire team at California Smartscape was responsive to my needs and questions. They actually explained what was happening each day as the project progressed. I would ask questions about the different processes and they were always more than willing to explain to me what was happening and why it was happening. I learned a lot during the process about proper techniques within the construction industry. We are beyond pleased with our backyard and could not have been more appreciative of our experience. Our backyard is beautiful and we love to entertain as much as we can.

From consultation to completion, it was a pleasure to work with the employees of California Smartscape. They were always prompt and construction moved along timely and predictably. Bob, the on-site supervisor, kept me posted of progress and when he said something was going to happen, it happened. All employees were courteous and hard working. The quality of work was outstanding; Bob made sure everything was just right, from start to finish. This company was very easy to work with, always available when needed and quick to respond to concerns or questions. I have never worked with a company as reliable and dependableas this one, and this includes all trades and services. I would heartily recommend them to anyone.

Our experience with California Smartscape was excellent! They worked with our busy schedules. California Smartscape was paitent with us and communinicative. They were detailed with their estimates. They were very helpful with their suggestions. Their crews were quick, efficient, professional and did a high quality job. They transformed the exterior of our home to be what we wanted it to be. Their results were beautiful!

California Smartscape estimated the project would take about 6 weeks start to finish, which we thought was aggressive, but they were exactly on time with their estimated schedule. We've never worked with a contractor that was so accurate with their timeline estimate. They also were extremely clean, the driveway and garage, which went through the work area, was usable throughout the project. And most important, the end result looks amazing. Friends and neighbors also have complimented and appreciated the end result. We're very excited to have such a beautiful yard and outdoor living areas!

The entire project went beyond our expectations. Staff was professional, easy to work with, were adaptable to changes and kept me advised as the project progressed. Everyone I came in contact with were absolutely fantastic. All of the work completed was flawless. The pavers on our driveway, patio and walkway look amazing and the stone wall and bbq areas turned out beautifully. The company designed a fire feature which was built into an existing wall...very unique and very beautiful. I am thrilled with all the work completed. Do not hesitate in hiring California Smartscape. They are wonderful, honest and deliver what they promise. I would recommend them for any project big or small. Thanks to Jay, Alex, Bob, Chad and Andrew! You are all fantastic and a pleasure to work with!

The results were awesome. The yard was transformed from a semi-usable space to an extension of my home with ease of access and flow. I celebrated with a party to show it off and everyone agreed the change was fabulous. During the project, everyone was accessible available as to questions and any issues. Response was great and anything necessary was addressed timely. They made me feel that the project was OURS not just mine. I would definitely use them again and would recommend them to anyone who asks.

We found California Smartscape on Angie's List and met Richard Hafenstein and Andrew Vesey for a consultation. We shared with them preliminary drawings, sample photos, and described our need to contain our dog. Andrew was also interested in how the space would be used and what it meant to us (e.g., it would be our "sanctuary"). Andrew came back with a computer rendering that we jointly modified. Andrew had respected our basic preferences and improved upon our concepts, with many beautiful cosmetic and functional enhancements, resulting in a design for a perfect backyard. In fact, we were so pleased with his vision and with our original discussion with Richard that we didn't check other companies (which is why we can't comment on price -- we have nothing to compare it to). Construction started on time but turned out to take several weeks longer than estimated. This was because an extra concrete slab under the wooden deck was discovered during demolition. In addition, the pillars of the gazebo were found to be termite ridden, and they needed to be rebuilt. Jay Gardner, who managed the entire job, and Bob, who managed the concrete work, were in contact with us constantly, as we had to make decisions that changed the work timeline. The gazebo issue was such that Jay had to call in another contractor who specialized in that kind of work (an additional cost over the original estimate). After demolition was completed and the gazebo repaired, frames were laid for the concrete sections, flagstones were cut and installed (a time consuming and exacting job that took several days), a short wall and ironwork fence were built, irrigation and electrical wiring for lighting were installed, and pea gravel was brought in. Tony did a beautiful job on the ironwork. We should note that there were small hitches along the way where things needed to be redone. For example, we chose a color for the wall that was too bright; Andrew and Jay disliked it so much that it was repainted without cost to us (it looks much better!). The final phase was landscaping the slope and the selection of potted plants. We trusted Andrew's aesthetic judgment and let him make decisions for us. We are extremely happy with how the backyard turned out. While it took longer than expected, we knew that the additional time was necessary to get the result we all wanted. All members of the team -- Jay, Andrew, Bob, Tony, and the various crew members -- were extremely professional and committed to doing the best job possible. We recommend California Smartscape wholeheartedly!

The project went extremely well from start to finish. We were amazed at how quickly the project moved along from design to demolition to construction and ultiimately finished product. The team that we initially met with (co-owner and designer) was very professional and came up with an incredible design that we absolutely loved. They really listened to what we wanted and brought that vision to life. Our project involved quite a bit of demolition and construction, and the team was constantly working very hard and always ahead of schedule. The construction manager (other co-owner) was very hands on to ensure that what we had agreed upon was what we got and that we were happy with the project every step of the way. I never expected our yard to look so amazing and in such a short period of time. We have been so excited to gain an outdoor living space where we can entertain or just relax and not have to worry about huge upkeep and maintenance with regard to both time and cost.

From our first meeting until the job was completed two days ago, the experience has been incredibly positive. Jay and his team are young, very professional and everyone (including their laborers) were nothing short of super to work with. They finished ahead of schedule which is a real accomplishment relative to any construction job. The following are other of our key feelings regarding California Smartscape: 1. Their price was very fair in my opinion and we received excellent value for money. 2. After ever workday, the guys would really clean up the job site. The place looked very good at the end of each day considering the extent of the work we had done. Our neighbors were amazed and as impressed as we were. 3. Jay said he would only take a job if he was fling to do it right. And....HE DID! He would re-do some things that were minor issues and he ended up doing more than we contracted for to make sure it was "perfect" without "Nickel and Diming" us at every turn. 4. Jay told me on the front end that he would come to the site every day to check on things and to make sure we were happy. He did and his supervision and commitment to making sure the job was done right and that we were happy was beyond excellent. 5. The fire pit started as a very low priority for us, but has become a major focus of our backyard and we are already over the moon regarding our enjoyment of it. 6. The quality of all of the work performed was excellent and beyond all of our expectations. The bottom line, would we use them again? Obviously, our answer is heck yes! It is so nice in this day and age to meet a team of young professionals who are smart, honest, and just fun to be around! Folks who know my wife and I, know that we won't waist time praising people who perform on a sub-par basis. I am writing this positive review for no other reason than Jay and his team deserve every positive word I have written above. One last thing, before I signed a contract with California Smartscape, I called several references that were given to me by Jay. One very nice lady told me that she was so impressed with the job that Jay's team did for her that if we proceeded with CS and did not like the work they did that she would pay for my job! I thought wow....she is either a very satisfied CS client or she is Jay's sister! :-) Seriously, California Smartscape far exceeded our expectations and I would use them again without hesitation.

Every single person who worked on this job from start to finish was superb, way above average, extraordinary. I can't imagine that there is any other company in existence that pays such close attention to detail, is as thoughtful towards their customers, as intelligent in every step of the process, and as dedicated to perfection, as the people who own and work forr California Smartscape. I am a very discriminating person who has lived in many places and traveled widely. I have rarely had the pleasure of dealing with a company as wonderful as this one. Each worker arrived exactly when they said they would; they kept me informed at every step; they were unfailingly polite, courteous, and cheerful. When in doubt, they always went the extra mile in my favor. Jay and Andrew were always reachable and returned my calls promptly. The few problems that came up were resolved very quickly and always to my satisfaction. They were such a pleasure to have around that we were sad when the job was finished. Watching Chad and Alex pour and finish the concrete was like watching artists at work. The landscape design by Andrew shows that he has real talent. I now have a beautiful backyard that is very low-maintenance, with all drought resistant plants, lots of flowering shrubs, and a gorgeous spring. It looks like it was always here -- that's because Andrew's design fits the space so well. I can't recommend this company more highly. They are out of this world.

The job began on a Tuesday and finished four days later. The crew consisted of 3 hard working men that showed up early everyday and worked a full day. Jay Gardner, the company's managing partner, also came by from time to time to check on the work status. He also was involved in plant and materials selection. When advice was needed or decisions needed to be made, Jay made himself available and personally took care of things. Overall, I was very happy with the final result of my back yard make over and the professionalism of all.

Richard was very professional, helpful and friendly on the phone. Thank you!

While visiting one of the home shows in town we stopped at the landscaping displays and decided to have several of the major award winners come visit our backyard. We choose Calif Smartscape for a variety of reasons. They were the most enthusiastic about the project, they worked with us on the pricing, and they spent enough time up front to get a good understanding of what we wanted. As the project progressed they brought to the table many suggestions that only enhanced our ideas. Starting with Andrew, the designer, he spent many hours with us on site and on the phome to develop the vision we had and did an excellent job on site design and plant selection. Jay, the managing partner, had, as everyone else did, a can do attitude and a we will make this right for you no matter what it takes approach. Javier, the crew leader, was beyond efficient, and often finished the task at hand before I could turn around just to see what he was doing. Bob, the hardscape and patio covering lead, was beyond accommodating with all the questions we had and did an amazing install. These attitudes extended to everyone we dealt with at California Smartscape - they were all very nice, easy to get along with, beyond patient with us as the project progressed and as the plans kept evolving. They were a great crew who truly cared that we were happy with the results. And happy we are. The end results was better than we imagined possible. Our goal was that of a comfortable, relaxing, creative and interesting backyard. We now have that and beyond. From the waterfall to the gazebo to the firepit to the walkways amongst the beautiful plants they all did a great job. I would highly recommend them to anyone for any size job.

California Smartscape created a plan to turn our bland backyard into a showpiece! Richard and Mark listened to our needs for a larger patio, smaller grass area, raised veggie beds, more color and interest. The work was completed on Wednesday, August 17 and we couldn't’t be more pleased! The hill and the yard below have been unified with the addition of echoing semicircular paved areas . Once our fountain is delivered, the yard will be complete. We solicited 3 bids and chose California Smartscape for their landscape plan, expertise, professionalism, Angie’s list recommendation, clear and concise contract and affordable. In a short time (13 work days) our yard has been transformed into a lush park setting with room for the dog to play, space to grow vegetables and herbs, room for entertaining and it’s just beautiful! California Smartscape made it so easy! Several samples of the pavers, wall blocks and rocks were brought to the house for selection and the merits of each were discussed. I commend Chad and his crew on their knowledge, work ethic, courtesy, efficiency and punctuality. California Smartscape provided our family with the yard we always wanted. A highlight was selecting the plants at Miramar Nursery with Mark (landscape architect). This yard is as functional as it is beautiful. Cutting the size of the lawn saves water and mowing time. The new flush paved edge is easier to mow and edge; the rocks all around keep the weeds from growing. The change from a concrete patio to several subtle shades of pavers in 2 shapes was dramatic; providing a classic Old World appearance. Enlarging the patio better fits our needs and there’s lots of room to entertain. I give California Smartscape my highest recommendation. This is a dream yard!

Finished ahead of schedule results excellent a true tropical oasis richard and his crew did a superb job everyone who sees the result is truly amazed

California Smartscape came the closest to my original budget and I thought did a lot for the money and in a very short amount of time. I was very happy with the work they did. The speed, professionalism, cleanliness of the crew were all stellar. I would have preferred travertine or tile but could not afford it with my original budget. However, California Smartscape tried to get the closest in selecting a concrete paver for me that had a little more of a natural feel and color and did a different design element so it would not look like concrete. They were also the only company that including lighting and full irrigation in my budget so those were not considered "extras".Overall, great experience and I would easily choose them again under similar circumstances. Andrew was my designer and I loved working with him as well.

They were wonderful. I didn't use them because I did not have a plan yet and I was having problems with my neighbor but they were very good. They were very professional and knew what they were doing. The people were very nice. The owner was extremely nice. I still may use them but I just haven't got around to it yet. I haven't had any work done but I have seen their work. They were really good.

Jay and his team are awesome!!!! My husband and I are in our mid 40's and have had lots of work performed on different houses we have owned in the past. We just moved to California (La Jolla) and had no idea who to hire to rework the front of our house. We wanted to have a new fence/gate built, a stucco gas fireplace built, some stone masonry done, new landscaping, reworking of the currant irrigation and some new landscape lighting. Working with Jay and his team was the best contractor experience we have ever had! He is smart, punctual and extremely professional! He completely understood what we were asking for, made a few phone calls (to check on supplies, job dates, etc) and then gave us a quote right there. No irritating song and dance and "we'll get back to you in two weeks". He also worked with our budget and didn't try to add on a few more thousand dollars (like most contractors do). It was such a refreshing experience! And the work..........top notch! Our stucco gas fireplace is exactly what I asked for (beautiful and the highest quality craftsmanship)! Our new fence and gate are also exactly what I asked for (down to every detail), top quality wood and craftsmanship! He has specialists in every dept. There is a person that does the irrigation work, people that built the fence and fireplace and a guy that handles the gas lines, etc. You can rest assured all your work will be done correctly! We got bids from other companies before we found Jay. They either gave us some completely ridiculous quote or we never heard from them again. Working with contractors can be a total nightmare! When you hire Jay and California Smartscape you are hiring the best! We get nothing but raving complements on our front courtyard now! So glad we found them!

We will demo the backyard & get a firmer bid ASAP. I will write another review when work is completed.

He was very nice and very helpful. It's just that he was a little bit more than what we could pay.