AIBU or is the landscaper

[Gazumpled]

I recently contacted a few local landscapers to give us ideas and quotes. Our garden is split level and the top half is unusable, so we wanted to see what could be done. We're in the south so knew it wasn't going to be cheap.

All three came up with different ideas, from one wanting to remove all the earth at the top, and the others wanting to just bring the earth down to make a more useable level. We decided to go with second option as it was cheaper. However, he initially quoted "between 8k and 10k based on materials used and if we add lighting or any further details".

We're not getting lighting or any fancy details and I said 8-9k was more our budget, he said it'd be coming in "more at 9k". I asked him for a breakdown of everything (as we're not getting all the bells and whistles, so expected the quote to have come down by more than just £1000 from the original top price. He then said "that's astro turf, building and rendering a wall and paving. A complete garden overhaul" but said he couldn't really break it down any more than that.

Obviously it's a sizeable amount of money and I would feel happier having an itemised breakdown, but don't want to come across as pestering, especially as I've already asked and got the answer he's happy to give.

He seems like a nice guy and we're happy with the plan....would you ask again? If so, how would you do it in a breezy way that will hopefully not annoy him?

He seems like a nice guy and we're happy with the plan....would you ask again? If so, how would you do it in a breezy way that will hopefully not annoy him?

This is business. There is no need for being "breezy." You will be spending a lot of money, you need an itemised breakdown so request one. If he hedges at all to produce that, you do not want to hire him.

He's figured out what you're good for and that's what he's charging. You want a detailed, written quote. Do you want a rendered wall and astro turf? What's the wall made of, what render is going to be used, what type of astro turf? Honestly contractors like this are all about what's easiest for them and how much they think they can make from you.

Exactly. Why would you hesitate to ask for very detailed specifics? This is your money. You need to know exactly what he has planned, what materials, how much of those materials, what happens if he needs more of something, etc, etc.

No way would I be doing this without a detailed written quote.

Personally, I think you should get more quotes, and stop showing your hand. If you say your budget is 8-9k, of course they are going to throw out a quote at the higher end of your budget. If a contractor asks how much you have to spend, don't answer. Let them just provide you a quote for what you ask for.

Get another landscaper over to quote for the same work.

I made the mistake of not being assertive when we had work done to the house. I finished up being grossly overcharged. Didn't have the steam to argue, because DH had a stroke the last day of the work.

Learn from my mistake, OP.

YABVVU any kind of artificial #shitlawn and that is a split level hill I will die on.

But definitely do ask for a detailed quote, and preferably not just from this person but another landscaper who wouldn’t touch astroturf with a bargepole.

Hmmm, I think the only reason you want a more detailed quote is to haggle.

what are you going to do with the information that he’s ordering 5 tonnes of sub base, x sqm of paving, 2 pallets of bricks etc etc? Say only buy 4 tonnes please?

I would be wanting more detail of the job. How tall a wall? What measured area of paving, spec of the paving, waste removal details and length of job etc, type details.

is it a quote or an estimate?

I do a lot of gardening and used to work with a landscape gardener. Looking at it as the contractor, I would really want to know what is under the soil surface, because if it is rocky down there then it could add a huge amount of work. I slightly wonder if it may be hard for him to quote really accurately until he has seen what is under the soil surface when he starts work?

YANBU to ask for a breakdown or even getting more quotes.
YABU to cover you garden with plastic grass.

Please don't get astroturf!

YABU for even considering astroturf a good idea.
Leave the garden alone if you can't be bothered doing something decent with it.
If you were sensible, you'd be thinking about ways to mitigate the potential problems of heavy rainfall and making sure it helps to protect your house from flooding, not adding to the problem.

when I had mine done (much smaller job)

I got a breakdown of costs of materials then labour per day on top and they told me the estimate of how long they thought the job would take as a maximum so I knew roughly how much that would be but that it may be less.

they instead of a deposit had me pay for the materials which I got the receipt/invoice for while they were there buying them and have them delivered to my house and made sure the day they were due they arrived early enough to take delivery and then start the job.

the balance to be paid was the days they worked which I was told could take up to x amount of day but if they got done earlier than that I’d be charged less.

this meant that all materials belonged to me (turns out they were pretty bang on so I wasn’t left with much leftovers)

and I knew the job could last a maximum of for example 3 days which could cost £xxx But I knew it would likely be less and as it in the end was less.

I would also suggest not astroturfing either, it’s terrible for the environment and wildlife in the area and as others have mentioned in terms of flooding/rain it’s not great either. People I know who’ve had it done have regrets as it’s basically a plastic coating so things like if a cat craps on it you have to wash it off etc but that’s nothing to do with me! Your garden your choice. I don’t need to live with it!