Great Work...Questionable Business Practice
There is a lot of GOOD that came out of my experience with Todd's Services. The job was originally new pavers and stairs in FRONT and BACK of my home. The price was well above our budget, however my wife and I decided that we would replace the back yard patio and stairs to the walk out basement. PRICE was still a bit steep, but we liked the salesman and the product.
Job started later than we would have liked, but it started with the knowledge that it would be a 2 week project.
At the onset, we spoke of a possible "add on" pathway through our garden which was ballparked at around 3K.
When the work began, the "add on" was approved and the guys started work. My yard was torn apart immediately, but the agreement called for lawn restoration with SOD, SEED and HAY. As the project went on, my yard was destroyed even in areas that the work was NOT being done.
At that point, the salesman (Andrew) said that Todd's was going to cover the lawn repair. Then went on to say that it would be "Seed and Hay" only. I understood that decision because the area of lawn that was destroyed was much greater than 80 SQ FT of SOD could cover.
The crew worked pretty hard when they were working, but did seem to take a lot of breaks. The days were hot, so I didn't make a big deal about it. Just noticed that some of their breaks lasted a good 30 minutes in addition to their lunch break. (AGAIN, not a big deal. 2 Weeks for the project apparently included their breaks).
There were two days in particular that I awaited the crew's arrival and they did not show up. The first time, there was no rain in the forecast and had to contact the office to find out that the crew would NOT be in that day. The second time, there was a 10% chance of rain. When the crew did not show up, I checked my phone and then my email to find out that they would not be showing up.
At the end of the 2 weeks, the project was not complete and I was told that it would be a couple more days to complete the following week.
They did finish the following week and OVERALL, my wife and I are very pleased with the workmanship of the new patio and stairs as well as the path through the garden area.
What I am not pleased with was the lawn restoration. While I made concessions to forego the SOD since I was told that Todd's Service's was going to "Take care of it". My final bill included a lawn restoration charge of $1,700!!! I'm not sure exactly how much seed and hay I can purchase for that amount of money, but I would guess that I could have purchased what they provided for about $200.
They also failed to use "Full Sun Grass Seed" as there is no shade in the area that was destroyed. As for the Hay...I live in the country. I could get a few bails of hay from my neighbor for FREE or no more than $20. YEP...$1,700 to toss grass seed and hay down which I have to water 3 times a day. I am not happy with the "Lawn Restoration" that was promised to me at no charge only to pay a great deal. KNOWING that I will have to purchase another solution to repair the lawn.
Finally, the subject of the walkway through the garden. I realize that (Andrew) was ball parking and spit balling a price of 3K. However, it showed up on my final invoice at 10K. So more that 3 TIMES his ballpark was what I was charged. Ball parking 3K and being charged 4 or even 5, I could have lived with. I questioned it and received no direct contact. Not even a phone call. I received an email stating that grass will sprout in a week or two and no comment on the excessive pricing on the walkway.
Had they done what they SAID they were going to do and CHARGED what they SAID they would charge, this would be a 5-Star review.
Would I use them again? NOPE!!! There were questionable business practices, unfulfilled promises, lack of follow-up, very little communication and when they finished with me, they forgot me and simply moved on unconcerned with my satisfaction for the job.








