CLASSIC LANDSCAPING

My experience with this company has been horrendous, and I strongly advise everyone reading this to NOT HIRE THEM. The owner is a very charming man, but my entire experience has been terrible. Here's a synopsis: 1) This is a luxury home on a very small lot in South Charlotte. The landscaping budget was very high ($50,000) given the small lot size. The landscaping installation took so long to complete that approximately 30% of the plantings had died by the winter of 2010. The "lifetime guarentee" on plantings that this owner offers is a total sham. Most of the dead plants have been removed and have not been replaced. 2) The total budget for the landscaping portion of the job was $50,000. However, the company misappropriated the budget for each landscaped area; thus, when the bills reached $50,000, the job wasnt finished. There is still one entire side yard of the lot that has no landscaping; it's as bare as it was when I bought the home. 3) A few days before Christmas 2010, I received a handwritten note on my door from the owner informing me that I owed his company $9,000, and that I was to pay it immediately. At that point I had already paid the company approximately 65,000-- 50,000 for the landscaping/hardscaping and 15,000 for water wells and irrigation. All of the previous bills had been sent on a professional invoice. I was supicious of the handwritten invoice, and decided to pay 50% of the bill immediately given the "desperate" nature of the note. A few weeks later, when I reconciled all of the bills, the owner admitted to double-billing me on the $9,000 (of which I had paid $4,500). However, the owner was unable to refund me the overpayment. Instead, I have had a "credit" on file that is being used toward maintenance. 4) The field employees are very good-- when they show up. The maintenance has been performed sporatically. IF YOU ARE READING THIS, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU AVOID WORKING WITH CLASSIC LANDSCAPING OR MR. GARY SIKES. THE COMPANY IS POORLY MANAGED AND MY EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE.

THE COMPANY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SLOW DURING THE PROJECT AND NON-RESPONSIVE NOW THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE PLANTS.