Designscape Plus LLC

I incorrectly applied the cost of my 2nd best option Instead of "Second best is to refund to me the total cost of the patio and trellis ($12,056.47)" it should be "Second best is to not finish the project, and refund to me the cost of the patio, which was designed specifically to include a curved trellis structure($7,384.76)

Attached you will find the original proposal, the revised proposal and paid invoice (which reflects the second proposal) that we have with the clientThe said trellis was removed from the proposal as I had let Susan know that we were not able to build the curved trellisShe was never charged for it nor are we contractually obligated to it as it was removed from the proposalWe did discuss other options for an angled trellis verses a curved trellisThis options was presented to client which she refusedThe price was higher than the original allowance by $We offered in good faith with the client to split the difference.Thanks,Mike [redacted] , Owner, Designscape

To whom it may concern,As you could see from our original proposal, the amount shown for the work was an allowance amountThis amount was removed from the revised proposal for reasons as stated before in our last correspondenceFurthermore without an active contract and deposit, we cannot guarantee pricing as our proposals are only valid for daysPricing does not change as supplies and labor constantly increaseWe did our best effort to offer a solution for the clients trellis needs but the dollar amount given for the project with the credit was rejected

I am rejecting this response because:
The July 28th version of our agreement was created to add the retaining wall and back garden.  Noticing the trellises were omitted from this version, I contacted Mike asking him to confirm both front and back trellises were still included in our agreement at a cost of $4671. There was no question they were still part of our agreement; we exchanged over 20 emails about the progress and status of building and installing them.  From the email exchanges it’s clear a) trellises remained part of the agreement, b) Mike couldn’t or wouldn’t deliver the original design, c) I questioned having to pay more than the original quoted price for a less desirable alternative design, and d) I’ve waited a full year for a resolution.  Additionally, almost all of the correspondence, phone calls and texts have been at my initiation.  July 28, 2016I contacted Mike asking him to confirm both front and back trellises were still included in our agreement at a cost of $4671.August 22, 2016 I emailed Mike for an update on the trellises.  On August 23rd, Mike confirmed $4671 total cost for front and back trellises, and $245 for clematis in front.Sept 10, 2016 I emailed Mike for status of trellises.  Mike responded saying the curved beam has been a challenge to build, and he hoped to “wrap up by next few weeks and install” the trellises.  October 7, 2016 I emailed Mike for status; Mike advised he may try to outsource building of the curved trellis.  Mike made a comment at this point about underbidding the curved trellis.October 9, 2016 Eager to wrap up this project, I emailed Mike suggesting we discuss alternative options given the challenges he was encountering.  November 1, 2016 I emailed Mike again to see if we should talk about other solutions.   November  27, 2016 Mike finally responded, promising me a new concept by “late next week.”Mike did not provide a new concept as promised.  Later in December I sent an email with other ideas for alternative designs.  The costs were prohibitive, however, so those options were scrapped.   March 17, 2017 ‘Mike emailed me to see “where we’re at.”  I responded by asking if we could meet to discuss options.  April 19, 2017 I emailed Mike after having left several messages with no response.  I sent another photo of a potential solution – an angled trellis design instead of the curved one.  Mike responded that this option “pushed the budget with corbels and overhang.”May 5, 2017 I stated we should go back to the original, non-curved trellis design (from the original drawing in April 2016, which by Mike’s own admission during the planning phase was a lower-cost option than the curved trellis).  Mike responded that he’d get back to me “by next week.”May 22, 2017 I emailed Mike asking for an updateJune 7, 2017 Mike advised that his “deck guy’s” quote for the original non-curved trellis design came in $900 over the $4671 price and suggested I work directly with the deck guy to avoid any markup.  I said I’d work with his sub-contractor, if by doing so he honors the commitments in our agreement on timing, pricing and warranty, and plantings are still included per our agreement.  I also asked to see the final drawing to ensure we’re on the same page with the design.June 9, 2017 We agreed on a non-curved design, Mike said he’d work on getting a plan from his sub-contractor so I could see what would be installed.  Mike said he’d split the cost of $900.June 10, 2017 I asked Mike to speak in person vs emails to help me understand why I should be expected to pay anything more than the original quote – especially since the trellis was reduced to an angled (therefore less costly) design.  The patio was designed, installed and paid for with the curved trellis as part of that overall design – and, the round patio is now left with a strange narrow, rounded edging in which we’re somehow going to fit an angular structure.   Considering this less-desirable design was a concession on my part – being asked to pay more for it was insult to injury.June 22, 2017 No response at this point from Mike.  After investing over $23,000, after waiting an entire year for this last component of the plan, after initiating 20+ emails, several phone calls and texts - and in the end being ignored with a job left undone - I submitted this complaint to the Revdex.com.

I incorrectly applied the cost of my 2nd best option.  Instead of "Second best is to refund to me the total cost of the patio and trellis ($12,056.47)"  it should be "Second best is to not finish the project, and refund to me the cost of the patio, which was designed specifically to...

include a curved trellis structure. ($7,384.76).

Attached you will find the original proposal, the revised proposal and paid invoice (which reflects the second proposal) that we have with the client. The said trellis was removed from the proposal as I had let Susan know that we were not able to build the curved trellis. She was never charged for it nor are we contractually obligated to it as it was removed from the proposal. We did discuss other options for an angled trellis verses a curved trellis. This options was presented to client which she refused. The price was higher than the original allowance by $900. We offered in good faith with the client to split the difference.Thanks,Mike [redacted], Owner, Designscape