Two years ago we selected de Haas to do an extensive revision of our front and back yards that dramatically improved the look and use of our space. We selected him after admiring another job they did in our neighbourhood and then obtained a quote from him and 3 competitors. His quote wasn’t the least expensive one, but I felt like it was the most realistic, and it proved valid, as he stuck to the budget we agreed on (just to be clear, I added one or 2 or 10 things along the way when I realized how great it was going to look but he wasn't responsible for any added cost). Upon completion of the project we were very pleased and we remain so – we are also about to enter our 3rd year of garden maintenance and are happy with that service as well.
Our front yard (standard 122 x 33 lot for our hood) was an extensive project including; removal of cement walks, unusable plants/trees, and the lawn, and addition of pavers for walkways and patio areas, beds, foliage, trees, lights, fence and an arbour. We also did a less extensive job in the back yard which included low stone walls and beds, pavers, and foliage. Nico had great vision for our space, but he also balances the artistic with the functional, for example, he met our request to select plants for our low maintenance lifestyle, added privacy to the yard, and also accommodated our request to build up the garden over time. He gracefully modified some of his great ideas to meet our budget (although he may be back one day to do the stone bbq area!) and I never felt any pressure. As the work was being done, Nico checked in with us about any changes and was extremely responsive throughout. Our project was finished in the quoted time and within budget. In addition to improving the look and feel of our small city space, the work that was done also effectively increased our space, as we now regularly utilize areas of the front and back yard that we never did before.
We remain extremely pleased with the project that was done 2 years ago, and also find the ongoing maintenance to be an easy pleasant relationship. Nico’s guys are always polite and respectful, not just to us but also to our neighbours. The yard always looks perfectly tidy and trim after they’ve been here, and they’re extremely tolerant when the kid and dog toys are in their way. They take the time to answer any questions I have but are otherwise efficient and unobtrusive. I really appreciate that in both the landscaping project and ongoing maintenance, Nico has tried wherever possible to recycle and reuse plants and garden material (even sharing for free between projects in some cases where I’m sure he could have made a profit by sourcing new instead) and is very responsible in general with trying to reduce waste wherever possible.
In summary, Nico and his team are reasonable and easy to work with, and the work we had done was novel, beautiful and functional.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $50,000.00