Bloom Concrete & Landscape LLC

Initial Business Response / [redacted] */ [redacted] full scale landscape design was provided to the client as agreed upon [redacted] hand written cost estimate for the design fee including what would be included was given to the clientThe completed landscape design (preliminary and final) was given to the client both in hard copy format and in electronic formatThis design included [redacted] full survey of the property that is reflected in the accurate scaled drawingsThis drawing was provided with [redacted] preliminary estimate of cost broken out in section (or phases of work) so the client could distinquish the approximate cost of each section and decide to move forward as [redacted] whole or in sections (as this had not been decided on yet)At this time payment for the design fee was given in full upon receipt of these drawings and supplementory documents as agreed upon Further drawings, meetings, and gathering of estimates by [redacted] Concrete & Landscape were conducted with the understanding of the client that as [redacted] whole this project was too big for this company, but we supplied them with [redacted] reputable company who could do the work well and in fullNot as [redacted] subcontractor, but with [redacted] direct relationship between the homeowner and the company Adjustments to the design were submitted as progress occurred, all with the understanding that the alternate company would complete the workAll estimates from the alternate company were directed to the homeowner with no changesIt was clear by reading these estimates that landscape lighting was not on the estimatesThese estimates were in the possession of the homeownerFour different designs with discussed changes were given to the clientAlong with cost estimates from another company to install the work, plant pictures, and take-off estimates that included all the square footage amounts and quantities of needed material for the project Our typical design hourly fee is $Over hours have been spent on designing, putting together documents, site meetings, survey, and adjustments to the drawings and documentsThe full value of the design fee has been accomplished, and I am still willing within the fee already paid to provide further services to help this client achieve the installation they are desiring with the right construction company for them, and at [redacted] appropriate cost This has been expressed to the client many times The attached email documentation will show my willingness to keep helping them reach their goalThis company is unable to install the full project at this time, and within the time frame that is desired by the client Also, it was expressed to the client that the 50% of the design fee that would be rebated if he used [redacted] C&L as [redacted] construction company would be applied to the alternate companies estimate if he approved to use themThis is not [redacted] typical practice but was extended to the client in this case Below is an excerpt from the attached email documentation that was sent to the client on June 9th, and was not responded to by the clientThis Revdex.com notice is his first response " [redacted] C&L has provided [redacted] full scaled design with several alterations to it, [redacted] planting plan, [redacted] lighting plan, square footage amounts and descriptions of everything that you need to proceed with what you want to do I want to keep helping you as [redacted] consultant toward the installation of what has been designed according to what we have been working toward This is the completion of the design services detailed to you and paid forThese services have already been executed and you have more services at your disposal if you would like to keep moving forward The design fee was due at the time of preliminary drawings and was paid as agreed uponThere is no refund of this fee as the hours and materials are now in your possession All paper and emailed designs, scaled drawings, estimates, and supplementary pictures and documents and descriptions are yours, and can be easily given to other companies to estimate If you would like to get other estimates, from other concrete and/or landscape companies I will be happy to help If you'd like to proceed with the changes that we discussed on May 28th without the two aoptions, I will get you [redacted] revised estimate from CDI." Many more documents that prove the scope of work provided can be submitted for review than what are attached (due to size restriction) Sincerely, [redacted] Principal Initial Consumer Rebuttal / [redacted] */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) This is not accurate and does not address the question of why they will not honor the proposal that was provided initiallyFirst, it wasn't stated that we could not have the work done by [redacted] until we asked to have [redacted] actual perform the work for the estimate that was provided which included all featuresAgain, we stated upfront that the main reason we were selecting [redacted] is because they were the one supplier we have meet with that could do design and implementation of the concrete and the landscapingWe were assured that was accurate and [redacted] differentiator for their firmAdditionally, the design plans provided don't define the type of concrete to be used, the thickness, the type of rebar required, what plants go where and many other detailsTo get approval from our HOA, the plans will need significant additional work and they are not executable by another firm because so much detail is missing I have attached [redacted] copy of the proposal that we are referencing, which I have sent to back to [redacted] several times before filing this complaint with our same concerns here Final Consumer Response / [redacted] */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Again, the response here isn't accurateThe fee of $was paid at the time of the first review of the design before it was accepted as required by [redacted] ***We were provided with two options or draft drawing of possible designs at that first review meetingThat was when [redacted] proposal for [redacted] Concrete and Landscaping to do the work was introduced, along side [redacted] proposal for CDI (sub contractor) to do the workBoth proposals were stated to be "exactly the same work" at that time and the CDI proposal was already $higher than the [redacted] proposalThey were supposidely both based upon layout *We made some minor revisions, which resulted in [redacted] layout C, at which point we were told that [redacted] couldn't do the work and that the CDI bid was our only optionWe also discovered it was exactly the same and was missing the $6,in landscape lighting that was included in the [redacted] bid so that increased their bid to $93,vsthe [redacted] bid of $86,353, before the $credit for half of the design work The designs are not complete, as stated beforeSee my previous response for the detail hereAfter the dishonest approach (bait and switch) taken here, I don't see how we could work with this contractor to complete the plans and have any confidence in their workSince starting this complaint, I have been told by other contractors that the plans aren't complete, don't provide enough detail to be valid/executable and that their are significant challenges to these designsWe were told t the beginning of this process that the plans [redacted] would prepare was complete, detailed and architectually designed so that "you could take them to any landscape company for execution"So, far, I haven't found one that agrees If they want to make this right at all, the company should at least refund half the design credit of $There is no other outcome or offer than is acceptable to resolve this complaint Final Business Response / [redacted] */ We are more than happy to continue working on the plans and any takeoffs requested by the other companies you would like to work with to get them what they may requestWe stand behind our design work and our design process We stated to the client that our company is not large enough and set up to handle the full project at one time (would be onsite for 4+ weeks)We do smaller projects and could take portions to do in smaller 1-week incrementsThe miscommunication about whether or not lighting was included on the 1st bid from the other contractor was unfortunate, but the line item list of what was included was in the hands of the client to review as well - nothing was hidden that couldn't have been clearly read by all partiesWhen this was discovered I negotiated to see what the additional cost would be to include the lighting from this contractor, but what items may have to drop off the estimate to keep it within your budget and include lighting so we stayed in the $86K range At this time it would have been appropriate for us to continue our communication to adjust the design and estimate just as we had been doing priorIt took us off guard that the client decided to contact the Revdex.com instead of continuing the conversation that we were working onWe are ready to continue to help the client get the project installed by [redacted] landscape and concrete contractor that can do it all at once if that is what is still desiredOr if preferred to do in smaller phases we are still here to work with

Initial Business Response /[redacted]/
* full scale landscape design was provided to the client as agreed upon. * hand written cost estimate for the design fee including what would be included was given to the client. The completed landscape design (preliminary and final) was given...

to the client both in hard copy format and in electronic format. This design included * full survey of the property that is reflected in the accurate scaled drawings. This drawing was provided with * preliminary estimate of cost broken out in section (or phases of work) so the client could distinquish the approximate cost of each section and decide to move forward as * whole or in sections (as this had not been decided on yet). At this time payment for the design fee was given in full upon receipt of these drawings and supplementory documents as agreed upon.
Further drawings, meetings, and gathering of estimates by [redacted] Concrete & Landscape were conducted with the understanding of the client that as * whole this project was too big for this company, but we supplied them with * reputable company who could do the work well and in full. Not as * subcontractor, but with * direct relationship between the homeowner and the company.
Adjustments to the design were submitted as progress occurred, all with the understanding that the alternate company would complete the work. All estimates from the alternate company were directed to the homeowner with no changes. It was clear by reading these estimates that landscape lighting was not on the estimates. These estimates were in the possession of the homeowner. Four different designs with discussed changes were given to the client. Along with cost estimates from another company to install the work, plant pictures, and take-off estimates that included all the square footage amounts and quantities of needed material for the project.
Our typical design hourly fee is $75. Over 30 hours have been spent on designing, putting together documents, site meetings, survey, and adjustments to the drawings and documents. The full value of the design fee has been accomplished, and I am still willing within the fee already paid to provide further services to help this client achieve the installation they are desiring with the right construction company for them, and at * appropriate cost.
This has been expressed to the client many times.
The attached email documentation will show my willingness to keep helping them reach their goal. This company is unable to install the full project at this time, and within the time frame that is desired by the client.
Also, it was expressed to the client that the 50% of the design fee that would be rebated if he used [redacted] C&L as * construction company would be applied to the alternate companies estimate if he approved to use them. This is not * typical practice but was extended to the client in this case.
Below is an excerpt from the attached email documentation that was sent to the client on June 9th, and was not responded to by the client. This Revdex.com notice is his first response.
"[redacted] C&L has provided * full scaled design with several alterations to it, * planting plan, * lighting plan, square footage amounts and descriptions of everything that you need to proceed with what you want to do.
I want to keep helping you as * consultant toward the installation of what has been designed according to what we have been working toward.
This is the completion of the design services detailed to you and paid for. These services have already been executed and you have more services at your disposal if you would like to keep moving forward.
The design fee was due at the time of preliminary drawings and was paid as agreed upon. There is no refund of this fee as the hours and materials are now in your possession.
All paper and emailed designs, scaled drawings, estimates, and supplementary pictures and documents and descriptions are yours, and can be easily given to other companies to estimate.
If you would like to get other estimates, from other concrete and/or landscape companies I will be happy to help.
If you'd like to proceed with the changes that we discussed on May 28th without the two add-on options, I will get you * revised estimate from CDI."
Many more documents that prove the scope of work provided can be submitted for review than what are attached (due to size restriction).
Sincerely,
[redacted]
Principal
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /[redacted]/
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
This is not accurate and does not address the question of why they will not honor the proposal that was provided initially. First, it wasn't stated that we could not have the work done by [redacted] until we asked to have [redacted] actual perform the work for the estimate that was provided which included all features. Again, we stated upfront that the main reason we were selecting [redacted] is because they were the one supplier we have meet with that could do design and implementation of the concrete and the landscaping. We were assured that was accurate and * differentiator for their firm. Additionally, the design plans provided don't define the type of concrete to be used, the thickness, the type of rebar required, what plants go where and many other details. To get approval from our HOA, the plans will need significant additional work and they are not executable by another firm because so much detail is missing.
I have attached * copy of the proposal that we are referencing, which I have sent to back to [redacted] several times before filing this complaint with our same concerns here.
Final Consumer Response /[redacted]/
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Again, the response here isn't accurate. The fee of $1450 was paid at the time of the first review of the design before it was accepted as required by [redacted]. We were provided with two options or draft drawing of possible designs at that first review meeting. That was when * proposal for [redacted] Concrete and Landscaping to do the work was introduced, along side * proposal for CDI (sub contractor) to do the work. Both proposals were stated to be "exactly the same work" at that time and the CDI proposal was already $2804 higher than the [redacted] proposal. They were supposidely both based upon layout *. We made some minor revisions, which resulted in * layout C, at which point we were told that [redacted] couldn't do the work and that the CDI bid was our only option. We also discovered it was exactly the same and was missing the $6,500 in landscape lighting that was included in the [redacted] bid so that increased their bid to $93,007 vs. the [redacted] bid of $86,353, before the $750 credit for half of the design work.
The designs are not complete, as stated before. See my previous response for the detail here. After the dishonest approach (bait and switch) taken here, I don't see how we could work with this contractor to complete the plans and have any confidence in their work. Since starting this complaint, I have been told by other contractors that the plans aren't complete, don't provide enough detail to be valid/executable and that their are significant challenges to these designs. We were told t the beginning of this process that the plans [redacted] would prepare was complete, detailed and architectually designed so that "you could take them to any landscape company for execution". So, far, I haven't found one that agrees.
If they want to make this right at all, the company should at least refund half the design credit of $750. There is no other outcome or offer than is acceptable to resolve this complaint.
Final Business Response /[redacted]/
We are more than happy to continue working on the plans and any takeoffs requested by the other companies you would like to work with to get them what they may request. We stand behind our design work and our design process.
We stated to the client that our company is not large enough and set up to handle the full project at one time (would be onsite for 4+ weeks). We do smaller projects and could take portions to do in smaller 1-2 week increments. The miscommunication about whether or not lighting was included on the 1st bid from the other contractor was unfortunate, but the line item list of what was included was in the hands of the client to review as well - nothing was hidden that couldn't have been clearly read by all parties. When this was discovered I negotiated to see what the additional cost would be to include the lighting from this contractor, but what items may have to drop off the estimate to keep it within your budget and include lighting so we stayed in the $86K range.
At this time it would have been appropriate for us to continue our communication to adjust the design and estimate just as we had been doing prior. It took us off guard that the client decided to contact the Revdex.com instead of continuing the conversation that we were working on. We are ready to continue to help the client get the project installed by * landscape and concrete contractor that can do it all at once if that is what is still desired. Or if preferred to do in smaller phases we are still here to work with.