Creative Outdoor Design

In 2015 we purchased a home that had recently (06/2014) installed a $13,000 flagstone patio built by Creative Outdoor Design and Lawn Maintenance. In the asking price of this home was the inclusion of this "upgrade" to justify their increased home value. As such, we consider ourselves an equal customer of Creative Outdoor Design and Lawn Maintenance and thus assume that we would be treated with the respect and courtesy afforded to a customer. We had our first "incident" with the patio in the Fall of 2015 when a piece of the interior of the fire pit popped and sent pieces of concrete and firewood onto the surrounding patio. We called to contact Creative Outdoor Design and Lawn Maintenance to come and assess the integrity of the fire pit before we used it around our kids. We were told THREE times over the course of several weeks that Owner Stacey Dillard would stop by and check it. Stacey failed to show on any of these three times. We chalked it up to poor customer service and a lack of accountability in work that had already been "paid for". This spring (2018) we began to notice a cracking that continued the width of the patio as well as cracking and "sinking" along the perimeter of the patio. Water was starting to collect when in rained at thus gave the appearance that the middle of the patio may be "sinking" and creating a bowl. We called immediately as we wanted to have Creative Outdoor Design and Lawn Maintenance come to assess the cause and assist in planning a correction to prevent further damage and preserve the structure. We were initially greeted with an "appointment" and asked to provide our email address so as to have a way to send an invoice once they came out. Never was there a moment in which anyone from the company expressed empathy for the fact that a $13,000 project hadn't lasted 4 years, nor a sense of accountability to ensure the project was performed properly before an INVOICE for more business was discussed. On the day of the "appointment" I received a voicemail about a family emergency that arose and that I should just send some pictures of the patio via text. Stacey said he would look at the pictures and then send a quote. With my concern that not only did they seem to have no empathy for this significant issue with their work, they didn't seem to care to come and assess the potential cause(s) for this failure to ensure a proper resolution, but would gladly send a quote to fix it sight unseen. When I replied with a text that I would still like someone to come and assess how a $13,000 patio has failed in just 4yrs and that while I'm not the original customer, I am paying for this in my mortgage, I received a reply from the Owner Stacey Dillard: "if your looking for me to fix it at no charge there is no reason for me to come". Once again, inexcusably poor customer service and no accountability for work integrity once the job is "paid in full". I was not the original owner that chose Creative Outdoor Design and Lawn Maintenance, but after experiencing the lack of courtesy, customer service, and accountability for a $13,000 project that couldn't last 4 years I encourage you to avoid this company at all cost and find a reputable company that stands by their work and their customers!!

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