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Interesting story from the US highlighting issues when Clients use multiple Contractors/Trades to maintain overlaping sections of their property.

Read it.

I think there's always something to learn, consider and take away from such stories...

Let's Talk!

That's what it says in big letters on Bill's Professional Pressure Cleaning's website. Unfortunately, William Campbell, who owns the company, wouldn't talk to me. On my first call he said I'd have to call him back. After that, he never answered the phone nor did he reply to an email.

That's why this column and Jane Crawford's picture of her dead plants will have to do the talking for him.

Crawford lives in Caloosa Yacht and Racquet Club in Fort Myers. She hired Campbell through the online site Thumbtack, where you list the service you are looking for and various companies bid.

One of the things Crawford was concerned about was her landscaping. She mentioned it a couple of times in the solicitation and Campbell assured her he knew what he was doing.

"As far as the plants go we water everything down very thoroughly to make sure this (sic) no damage done to plant life, feel free to check out our website at pressurecleainingswfl.com or our Facebook at Facebook.com/ProfessionalPressureCleaning for over 2000 before and after pictures," Campbell wrote in an email to the homeowner May 12.

As far as pressure washing goes, Bill's Professional Pressure Cleaning did a great job that day in late May, Crawford said.

"Initially, I was so excited about how bright the roof was. And the pool cage was spotless. I went on Thumbtack and gave him five stars. I had no idea what was going to unfold."

What unfolded was a die-off of much of the mature landscaping around her home. She called Campbell in early June to tell him some of her bushes "looked dead." He told her to give them time. It was the rainy season and they should perk up, he said.

They did not. And Campbell lost five hibiscus plants, eight Japanese privets and 19 Simpson's stoppers surrounding her home. The jasmine on her fence also died.

Campbell agreed to replace the plants. The homeowner didn't bother with the jasmine, but asked for compensation for the rest. Campbell told her to get an estimate from her landscaper and he would get a price from his nursery and they could compare.

Crawford's landscaper gave her an estimate of $1,261 which included $250 for taking out the dead plants. He warned her, however, even though she could replace them with three-gallon and seven-gallon stock, it would take a few years for them to catch up with the plants that survived Bill's Professional Pressure Cleaning debacle.

After telling Campbell what it would take to replace the plants and sending him the estimate, she came home to find 10 plants — no hibiscus — in one-gallon and two-gallon containers outside her home. "It didn't even scratch the surface," Crawford said. "It was a joke, just a joke."

I'm not laughing. I believe this is terrible and Campbell should be enough of an honest businessman to replace Crawford's landscaping. Instead he's not responding to her or to me. And Crawford is filing a small claims lawsuit and making a complaint to the BBB.

Before the Crawford job, Bill's Pressure Washing had glowing online reviews. Accidents happen, I understand that, but you need to own up to mistakes, correct them if you can and then apologize. It's not too late for Bill Campbell to do that. But he'll have to talk.

Link to original ariticle