Keystone Landscaping & Design LLC

I initially posted a positive review (October 13, 2012) for this company and we haven't had any problems with them since the initial review...until today. Four weeks ago, Keystone Landscaping mowed our lawn last. They have been mowing our lawn regularly for about 9 months. Two weeks ago, our normally scheduled mowing was on July 4th and it was also the week that we were on vacation out of state visiting family. My husband called them and they said they would reschedule with us. Last week, on Thursday, they called us while we were out shopping and asked us if we could meet them at our house to mow our lawn because they had an opening. When we arrived at our house, it had rained and was still raining lightly. My husband called them and told them that it had rained and that the grass was wet but they said they wanted to mow it anyway. My husband asked them to not mow it while the grass was wet and he said that Joan told him that she would have to mow it twice next week and charge him double if it was too high. Today, Joan knocked on my door and said that she would have to mow our yard three times to cut it and that it would destroy her lawn mower. I asked her if she was saying that she didn't want to mow our lawn any more and she said yes and left. We have always paid them on time and I am not aware of any other reason why they would want to stop mowing our yard. I guess their mower will not mow one month's worth of growth. I don't really feel like it was our fault since we couldn't control the holiday or the rain and it seems to me that if this was really the case, she might have offered to return to mowing after we mowed it once ourselves which we will be doing with our push mower. My husband and I were both shocked that Joan suddenly didn't seem to have any interest in working with us anymore at all. My best guess is that they already have plenty of business and do not need our business any longer and so decided to just drop us.

We do the lawn ourselves now because we are retired, but they are an exceptional company. I would highly recommend them. I liked the fact that you could depend on them and they did a good job. They also did extra stuff; if they saw some trees that needed some branches taken down, they did it. They did excellent edging. We had to take out grass and they rent us the tool to do it. They were great.

Everything from above including weed removal in flowers, warning about fire ants & even including a plant that might need to be fed. Their company is very professional, personable,owners & employees & you could not have a better company for your lawn & yard care.

I wanted to have them give me some ideas and do some work . They told me I had to wait at my house between the hours of 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. I had my wife take off work an hour early and I received a phone call at 5:40 PM saying the representative was lost and that she would have to reschedule. She should have gone out her way knowing that we had waited almost 2 hours. To arrive late is better than not arriving at all. I can't imagine how they would have completed my job. I know anyone can make a mistake it's what you do to correct that mistake that counts.

They are the best landscapers and the nicest people you could ever know!

Came out to talk to us as soon as we called them. Gave an estimate and began work immediately. Very professional and easy to work with. They had a good understanding of what we wanted and worked quickly.

Came out quickly to give me an estimate and got the job done shortly after I accepted the contract. Put in lots of shrubs, a dwarf weeping maple tree and a decorative, spiral looking tree at the end of the house to give it some character. We did have a miscommunication about a palm tree by the porch. I didn't want a really tall tree, like the 25-30 foot tree across the street. They installed a dwarf palm tree, I have no idea of the technical name but more of a form and little trunk. I wasn't happy and sick on top of that. My husband contacted Joan the next day. He told her that was not what I expected and she quickly arranged to have that tree removed by a palm tree company and replaced with a sable palmetto tree. The difference in cost of $160, which is included in my estimated price above. I thought this was very reasonable. The tree was installed about a week later and unfortunately the company made several ruts in my yard with their truck. We sent pictures to Joan, she and her husband came out just a few days later to level, seed and fill the ruts and place more mulch around the palm tree, at no additional charge. She wanted to make sure we were completely happy. My yard looks great and I'm sure the neighbors know we did not do it, it's been a weed pit for years.

Joan and John were great to work with. They were very responsive and accommodating on time and schedules. They did not rush through the initial consultation and were very helpful with ideas and suggestions. They were punctual and finished the job on time. The pricing was very reasonable and we were very satisfied with the finished job. I have confidence that Joan and John will stand by their work and we look forward to working with Keystone Landscaping for a long time.

In October, 2012 I was making a trip to Europe and would not be home for some time. I had already been planning on enlisting the services of a landscaping agency to tend to my lawn on a full-time basis anyway, so I called Keystone Landscaping based on their Angie's List reviews. By this time, I had already left town but was still in the US, but Joan called me back promptly. She went to our house to have a look but unfortunately while she was there I lost track of my phone and wasn't able to make contact again while she was on site - totally my fault. We did end up speaking again, though, and she agreed that they would cut my lawn for me while I was out of town, but silly me whilst speaking forgot to get a price quote. I told them they could do it anytime it was convenient for them and considered the matter settled. A few days later I proceeded on to Europe with the knowledge that my lawn would be taken care of for the month or so that I was away. Upon my return to the States I was dismayed to find a voicemail from Joan stating that they had changed their mind and wouldn't be maintaining my lawn after all. Of course since I was out of the country, I didn't get Joan's message until several weeks after she had left it. I promptly called Joan to ask for an explanation, and no matter what I asked, she would not provide anything but defensive answers of the sort that that "the business was theirs and they could do business with whom they wanted and don't have to provide an explanation". I asked then why our business wasn't good enough for them but she refused to give a satisfactory answer of any kind. I also asked if they're turning my business down, why they continue to advertise a coupon on Angie's List for new customers, a question which she answered with "I don't know what you want me to say". but then went on again to say defensively (paraphrasing) that it's their prerogative. She did bring up one good point, though, that since we hadn't agreed on a price they could've ripped me off, which is valid but I would simply have hired another landscaper in the future if such a situation were to occur. At then end I informed her I would leave a negative review, to which Joan stated that's certainly my right. Keystone left me high and dry and with no lawn maintenance while I was away, and to be honest I don't think I did anything to be treated this way - I had been nothing but polite with Joan. If there was a valid explanation, Keystone certainly didn't think highly enough of me to share it. I should add that I hadn't told them I was going overseas but that shouldn't matter; when you agree to do business with someone you see it through. You don't change your mind after the fact, and when questioned about it you don't stand on your soapbox preaching that the business belongs to you and you can do what you want. I must also add that the fact that they can do business as they please isn't in question, but rather whether choosing to exercise this right in a capricious and self-righteous manner is good business. as well as leaving a customer whom you've agreed to work for high and dry without a smattering of explanation. On the contrary, that's bad business and I certainly would not recommend Keystone Landscaping to anyone. *****RESPONSE TO KEYSTONE LANDSCAPING In response to the Keystone's response, I must set the record straight as their response contains a number of falsehoods about what really occurred, but one particularly large falsehood I will deal with first. 1. Your repeated claim that you never spoke with me again after visiting my property and before I left is an utter falsehood. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and not call it a lie but rather a poor recollection of events. We did indeed speak again that very evening. My phone bill shows your call to me at 5:30pm on the 9th of October, and my return of your call at 6:06pm on that very same evening. Indeed, we spoke for six minutes. I would be happy to furnish the phone bill in proof. I apologized profusely for missing your call when you visited my property. We spoke shortly after you left my property, and we agreed to defer work on the items other than cutting the grass for several weeks until I came back, but you did agree to cut the grass. I even said that since you couldn't access the back garden, I was only really concerned about the front as that is what my neighbors have to look at, and told you you didn't have to cut the back lawn at all at that time. You agreed to do the work at that point, despite the fact that I had already missed your call. Your entire retort is based on the demonstrable falsehood that this conversation never happened. The reason for my initial review is that you missed the opportunity to gracefully decline because you did accept the job. At that point, this entire enterprise became about you breaking our arrangement. 2. I am not in the military, and have never claimed to be. 3. I was out of the country for less than three weeks, not two months, as you claim. I was away from my home for about one month. Again, this is easily proven. Furthermore, I never even told you I was leaving the country at all. I merely told you I would be away for a few weeks, therefore your claim to fear over my being overseas and not paying is false as well. 4. My mail was forwarded and all of my business was handled while I was away. You would've been paid. To leave a new customer high and dry over a fear of not being paid is sophomoric. 5. Don't scold customers for not taking care of business properly - that is on you as the business owner, not me as the customer. But nevertheless, that's what I was trying to do and you had the opportunity to complete the transaction before I left, but didn't, thus leaving me hanging. You could at any time after our agreement have called to ask for my contact info or a check up front and I would've done it, but you instead chose to cancel the whole thing. Even if your reneging voicemail had instead said that you didn't feel comfortable doing it until we made those arrangements, I would've understood and still done business with you, but you didn't do that - you just completely backed out. And when I finally did ask for an explanation, you didn't mention fear of not being paid at all, but rather stood on your soapbox prattling on about how it was your business and you can do what you want with it. 6. You are correct in stating that I should've taken care of all of this before departing. My garden was an afterthought, and it was the very reason I called you because I was in fact trying to be responsible by taking care of something I had forgotten about. I was counting on you to help me out of the trouble I had created for myself and you agreed to take the work. And rather than apologize, you use the fact that I had called you when I was in a bind to deride me. The relief you provided by agreeing to mow my garden was palpable. Reneging was not helpful at all, and left me in a bad position. 7. If you wanted my email address or contact info, I would've gladly provided them, and I would've happily mailed you a check. I was also available via phone for several days before my overseas departure, after you'd accepted the job. You accepted the work on the 9th, and I departed the country the evening of the 12th, so you had at least those three days to ask me for them. And since you didn't even know that I would be leaving the country and thus couldn't take calls, in reality there should've been a voicemail asking for email or payment, but there wasn't. There was only a voicemail saying you wouldn't be doing what we'd agreed upon. This needn't have come to this. 8. I offered a mea culpa over missing your call, but the fact that I missed it doesn't excuse how you conducted your business. You agreed to do the work after that had occurred, and the basis for your entire argument that you did what you did because I hadn't returned your call is thoroughly bogus - I did return it and can easily prove it. You may want to consider offering an apology for your role in this, as well as misrepresenting what really did occur. What I have said is the honest truth to the best of my knowledge, and I stand by it. This is the last I will write on the matter.

All you have to do with Keystone is ask and they will get the job done, RIGHT!

On time, job finished quickly, professional, quality work. Everything was done that I expected plus some little extras I didn't pay for. Keystone is top notch in the landscaping industry.

At first i had only asked for an estimate for my front yard so Joan scheduled to come out that Thursday and if i agreed she and her crew would do my yard work. They started on it right away after i said to do the yard. They were very efficient and did a great job. And they cleaned up all the grass and leaves when they were finished. Now i have a manicured yard which is how i like it. I am definitely going to use this company again.

We had been using different lawn services for four years. Problems tend to arise after a while with no-shows, unreturned phone calls etc. We were so happy when we found Keystone landscaping who are punctual, do great work and return phone calls.

Hopefully the initial review will be reinstated here soon. Meanwhile see, the current review on July 18, 2013.

It could not have gone better. There was a lot of work to be done. We had let things overgrow so much that it seemed a daunting task. I wasn't sure they could do it in one day. I think they were here almost 4 hours. They filled at least 20 bags with leaves. They had great tips on how to grow our grass (there are several bare spots) and what plants would grow under our trees. I have decided to keep them on to perform a bi-weekly maintenance.

They were very good to work with overall. We started working with another company that’s closer to our home, but we liked Keystone a lot!

They were highly recommended by Angie’s List. She came out to give me an estimate, and within a few days, an estimate was sent to me via email. They were nice people and were fairly priced. I never followed through with the work, but I plan on calling them back in the future.

They are absolutely wonderful. John & Joan are the most professional couple, and they do a fantastic job on my yard. I would highly recommend them to anybody and can’t imagine using anybody else for my lawn!

The service has been going very well overall. They’ve been dependable and have done a good job.

They gave us an estimate and told us what they would plant, but didn’t give us an architectural drawing of what the backyard would look like. I thought was strange since it is a design company. Their estimate was also high, so we didn’t follow-up with them.

Always comes as scheduled and personal contact if the weather was not suitable for grass cutting.

Overall, I was pleased with the quality of the service & hope it continues.

I called Keystone to inquire about lawn service as a new customer. Within 1.5 hours, Joan returned my phone call. She informed me that they would not be able to provide service in my area, but she referred me to another service and even called Mike at Mission Lawn for me. As I was leaving a voice mail for Mike, he called to arrange a visit and provide an estimate. Joan was a pleasure to talk with and her professionalism and enthusiasm were exceptional! Thank you.

I really to hate to leave a bad review, but I am thoroughly disappointed. I was able to initially speak to someone at this company a few weeks ago regarding a quote for my home. At the time we had tenants living at the home and they were being evicted. The person I spoke with agreed that it would not be safe for the company to give me a quote at the time and asked that I call back when we had the property back in our possession. I sent an email last Saturday (6 days ago) and called and left a message for the number listed on the website on Wednesday (2 days ago). They seem like nice people and I know that they may be busy, but I am a client that is ready and willing to hire and have yet to hear from them. I can't speak about their work, but their communication is definitely lacking. I am no longer interested in their services and am now busy looking for another company to hire.

All I can say is that, they did a great job. I don't have very much interaction with them, they just come and do their work and after that, they just go. So far, I do not have any problems with them.