[JohnZ]

Recommendation: If you are considering modifying your landscaping, get several competitive bids. I emphasize several. We embarked on a small landscaping project in July and it was an eye opening experience. We removed some sod (about 450 square feet) and put-down some washed river rock. We solicited three bids with quotes of $455, $1,200 and $1,700. We did something stupid and went with the low bid (not really knowing the cost of materials or labor needed). We paid the low bidder, JJJ Tree and Landscaping, 200 bucks up front to do the work and waited over a month to come out to work. I got fed-up waiting and cancelled my work order. It's been two months since and JJJ still has not returned our money despite numerous calls and letters. Soooo, I did a little more shopping to get this project done. I went to Brown Distributors in Lady Lake (hwy 441/27) and priced 5 cu. yds. of river rock....there are two grades ($90/cu. yd. and $50 cu. yd.). The less expensive rock has a little bit of fine grit in it but it looks just fine for landscape jobs. I bought 5 yards of rock, 500 square feet of weed barrier and pins for about $375 delivered. I found a free-lance landscaper (through Brown Dist.) who removed the sod and placed the rock for about $400. Total project price tag was $775. After costing-out this project myself, it became clear that JJJ Tree and Landscaping could NOT do this job for the price they quoted us (in writing).....but they accepted our deposit and perhaps later determined they'd lose money if they did the job (very close to fraud IMHO). Be careful out there folks.....the references these contractors provide are often their friends....rely instead on personal references of your friends or acquintances, check with the BBB and NEVER pay up front. There are a lot of unscrupulous contractors in these here parts. Had we gone with the high bidder....we would have paid a 100 percent mark-up over the actual cost of materials and labor.....but the work would probably have been done. And I'm not done with JJJ yet....they'll be getting a notice to appear from the Marion County Court this week.