-
May 2024 by Paul S.
I have a house I need to sell that had no curb appeal. Liaison Landscape to the rescue. They redid my front & back yard installing all new irrigation, new plants & lawn at a competitive price with good communication
-
March 2024 by Tyson Quick
The Worst Business Owner I've Ever Worked WithFirst, I want to mention that I am also a business owner with 15 years of experience, so I understand the challenges of running a business. That said, Markus at Liaison is the worst business owner I've ever had the misfortune of working with.I first contacted Liaison in September 2021 and received a top-end quote of $99,646. I signed the contract expecting work to begin within a month. However, seemingly because Markus took on every project he could get, my project was delayed until February 2022. Then, when work was supposed to start, they said they forgot to get the permit, pushing the project back again to March 2022 - a full 6 months after I signed the contract. The project finally ended, unfinished, in October 2022 - an astonishing 7 months after it began. During this entire time, my yard was torn up with a portable toilet in the front. There was no sense of urgency or efficient project management.I wish the delayed start was the end of my issues with Markus and Liaison, but it was just the beginning of the worst contracting experience of my life. Once the project finally started, I was informed that Sean, the project manager I originally met with, had quit. I was left without a project manager for weeks while the subcontractors tried to figure things out on their own. I had only met Markus in person for 10-15 minutes when he came to tell me Sean left.The project began with demolition and trenching. The trenching bill came in at exactly the high end of the original quote, even though it was supposed to be based on hours worked. It became clear that hours weren't being tracked in detail and Markus planned to simply bill the maximum for each line item. The original quote only included a line for "Retrofit existing - Time and material at $85 pr. hr." Yet I was billed $7,200 for trenching alone, not even the irrigation retrofit. No change order was ever made for this major scope increase.Next was the hot tub pad and decking, which ended up costing nearly $50,000. Issues included:- The deck was finished before the gas line was hooked up, requiring boards to be pulled up- The deck finish needed to be redone by a third party- The removable stairs to access the hot tub panel were misaligned and wobblyFurthermore, despite repeatedly communicating our desire for a clover lawn, Markus' crew showed up one day and added gravel, compacting it down because they thought we wanted grass turf. This not only added cost but required completely tearing up the yard later because they didn't fully remove the gravel, leaving the soil too compact for growth.When it came time for planting, the crew brought about 20% of the wrong plants. After I rearranged many of them into the correct layout, we later discovered that some still weren't the ones we originally selected.Many aspects of the project were changed without any negotiation. When I brought this up, I was told that I had made the changes myself, without any evidence or even an in-person conversation. This is the result of a detached business owner who has taken on too many contracts, a lack of project management, poor business organization, and/or blatant dishonesty.After more than a year, $125,000 paid, going through two project managers who did next to nothing, a budget overrun of nearly 30%, much of the original plan scrapped, and having to redo a lot of the work ourselves, I was done with this disorganized company. The only positive was working with Ernie, the electrical/gas subcontractor, who demonstrated integrity, communication, respect, and quality work.I strongly encourage anyone considering a project larger than simple decking or fencing to find a different contractor. Even for those, I'd advise finding someone more organized and honest to work with than Liaison.The experience was so bad, I am likely considering a lawsuit against Markus and Liaison.
-
March 2024 by Tyson Q.
The Worst Business Owner I've Ever Worked With First, I want to mention that I am also a business owner with 15 years of experience, so I understand the challenges of running a business. That said, Markus at Liaison is the worst business owner I've ever had the misfortune of working with. I first contacted Liaison in September 2021 and received a top-end quote of $99,646. I signed the contract expecting work to begin within a month. However, seemingly because Markus took on every project he could get, my project was delayed until February 2022. Then, when work was supposed to start, they said they forgot to get the permit, pushing the project back again to March 2022 - a full 6 months after I signed the contract. The project finally ended, unfinished, in October 2022 - an astonishing 7 months after it began. During this entire time, my yard was torn up with a portable toilet in the front. There was no sense of urgency or efficient project management. I wish the delayed start was the end of my issues with Markus and Liaison, but it was just the beginning of the worst contracting experience of my life. Once the project finally started, I was informed that Sean, the project manager I originally met with, had quit. I was left without a project manager for weeks while the subcontractors tried to figure things out on their own. I had only met Markus in person for 10-15 minutes when he came to tell me Sean left. The project began with demolition and trenching. The trenching bill came in at exactly the high end of the original quote, even though it was supposed to be based on hours worked. It became clear that hours weren't being tracked in detail and Markus planned to simply bill the maximum for each line item. The original quote only included a line for "Retrofit existing - Time and material at $85 pr. hr." Yet I was billed $7,200 for trenching alone, not even the irrigation retrofit. No change order was ever made for this major scope increase. Next was the hot tub pad and decking, which ended up costing nearly $50,000. Issues included: - The deck was finished before the gas line was hooked up, requiring boards to be pulled up - The deck finish needed to be redone by a third party - The removable stairs to access the hot tub panel were misaligned and wobbly Furthermore, despite repeatedly communicating our desire for a clover lawn, Markus' crew showed up one day and added gravel, compacting it down because they thought we wanted grass turf. This not only added cost but required completely tearing up the yard later because they didn't fully remove the gravel, leaving the soil too compact for growth. When it came time for planting, the crew brought about 20% of the wrong plants. After I rearranged many of them into the correct layout, we later discovered that some still weren't the ones we originally selected. Many aspects of the project were changed without any negotiation. When I brought this up, I was told that I had made the changes myself, without any evidence or even an in-person conversation. This is the result of a detached business owner who has taken on too many contracts, a lack of project management, poor business organization, and/or blatant dishonesty. After more than a year, $125,000 paid, going through two project managers who did next to nothing, a budget overrun of nearly 30%, much of the original plan scrapped, and having to redo a lot of the work ourselves, I was done with this disorganized company. The only positive was working with Ernie, the electrical/gas subcontractor, who demonstrated integrity, communication, respect, and quality work. I strongly encourage anyone considering a project larger than simple decking or fencing to find a different contractor. Even for those, I'd advise finding someone more organized and honest to work with than Liaison. The experience was so bad, I am likely considering a lawsuit against Markus and Liaison.
-
January 2024 by Matthew C.
Markus and his team at Liaison did a stellar job transforming our SF jungle of a backyard into a beautiful and functional space. Markus was extremely professional and straightforward from the initial consult all the way to the closeout walk thru. We came to them with a general concept of our vision, and he helped us finalize and execute the plan within our budget, ahead of schedule, and with no surprises along the way. A contractor myself, I cannot speak highly enough of the quality, value, professionalism, and ease of execution we experienced with Liaison. I wish more contractors of this caliber existed to service Bay Area homeowners!
-
January 2024 by Paulo G.
I'm very grateful that Markus and Chrissy took the time to hear me out on the particular needs of my project. They called at the agreed upon time, were friendly and personable, and wasted no time getting right to the heart of the discussion. I left our chat with a clear idea of their working model and the services they offer. This is clearly one of the top tier landscaping companies in the Bay Area. If you have a landscaping need, I encourage you to put them on your short list of folks to call.
-
January 2024 by Dominique K.
I recently had to find a contractor to repair the sidewalk in front of my house due to inspection requirements from my home insurance company. I was given strict parameters and a timeline for the repair. Markus and Chrissy from Liaison Landscapes were extremely timely, thorough and super professional to work with from bidding to work completion. They even looked at the weather in advance and given rain forecasted, planned and completed the job in half the time originally allotted. Phone and email readiness and follow-up was good all along plus the work team itself was friendly and efficient. Nothing but 5 stars here. Highly recommend Liaison Landscapes!
-
December 2023 by Chelsey L.
Liaison Landscapes is amazing! I had a design and development project that I needed to get done on a timeline. They were able to creatively deliver a great finished product (on time & on budget). Thanks for the great service and efficient turnaround. Highly recommend!
-
November 2023 by Paul W
From start to finish, Liaison Landscapes exceeded my expectations. I had a vague concept of what I wanted in a backyard, but I needed profession help! I had a list of must haves, wants, and aspirational items. Elliott was able to help design a project that we could work on in stages. I gave them a budget and we were able to get the majority of the things I wanted within the budget!The team was professional, courteous, and efficient! I can't believe how quickly they were able to finish the project, and they left the space neat and clean. I appreciate the flexibility when I wanted things moved or changed (even while the project was happening). I appreciate Markus' availability to review the work and his desire to make sure I was happy with the final results. If you are looking for a landscaping company to help you design your outdoor living space, and then bring it to life, Liaison Landscapes is your place!
-
November 2023 by Michael Dechert
Markus and his team did an INCREDIBLE job on our major backyard renovation. The design itself was creative and beautiful. Markus listened to everything we wanted and incorporated it into the design perfectly. The work itself was done on time and within budget. His entire team was very professional and effective. It was a disruptive project but we had multiple neighbors tell us how great all the workers were throughout it. They were flexible with our timing and requirements and the communication was great throughout the entire project. We've had numerous people over to the backyard since it was completed and everyone is amazed by how beautifully it turned out. We honestly can't recommend Liaison Landscapes highly enough.
-
November 2023 by David Ragone
Liaison Landscapes Transformed My Backyard into a Dream Space!I recently had the pleasure of working with Liaison Landscapes to revamp my backyard, and I cannot express how thrilled I am with the results. From start to finish, the team at Liaison Landscapes demonstrated unparalleled professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail.First and foremost, the communication throughout the entire process was exceptional. The team took the time to understand my vision for the space, offering insightful suggestions to enhance the overall design. They were transparent about the timeline and budget, ensuring there were no surprises along the way.The transformation itself is nothing short of magical. The unused, messy area that once plagued my backyard is now a stunning basketball court surrounded by lush turf sitting areas. The integration of plants and lighting has added a touch of natural beauty while making the space functional and inviting, even during the evening hours.What truly sets Liaison Landscapes apart is their commitment to quality craftsmanship. Every detail, from the choice of materials to the precision in the execution, reflects their dedication to creating outdoor spaces that stand the test of time. The basketball court is not only a joy to play on but also a visually striking centerpiece that has become the envy of my neighbors.Moreover, the team demonstrated a genuine passion for their work, and it was evident that they took pride in delivering beyond my expectations. The project was completed on schedule, and the end result far exceeded what I had envisioned.I wholeheartedly recommend Liaison Landscapes to anyone in search of a professional and creative landscaping team. They have turned my backyard into a haven, and I couldn't be more pleased. If you're looking for a company that combines expertise, creativity, and a commitment to excellence, look no further than Liaison Landscapes. They've earned every bit of this 5-star rating!Services: Landscape design construction
-
November 2023 by Matt M.
These guys were fantastic! Spoke to the owner Markus who was very knowledgeable and easy to work with. We were not exactly sure what we wanted, but he took his time to give my wife and I plenty of ideas to think about. We went ahead and booked Liaison Landscapes and their team did an amazing job. Our backyard was a major source of stress but now it is a relaxing and tranquil place to spend time. We updated the walkway as well, and it gave our house a whole new look. Really happy with everything these guys did, and I would absolutely recommend them. Just overall a really great experience.
-
November 2023 by Paul W.
From start to finish, Liaison Landscapes exceeded my expectations. I had a vague concept of what I wanted in a backyard, but I needed profession help! I had a list of must haves, wants, and aspirational items. Elliott was able to help design a project that we could work on in stages. I gave them a budget and we were able to get the majority of the things I wanted within the budget! The team was professional, courteous, and efficient! I can't believe how quickly they were able to finish the project, and they left the space neat and clean. I appreciate the flexibility when I wanted things moved or changed (even while the project was happening). I appreciate Markus' availability to review the work and his desire to make sure I was happy with the final results. If you are looking for a landscaping company to help you design your outdoor living space, and then bring it to life, Liaison Landscapes is your place!
-
July 2023 by Javier Rey
Markus and team did an awesome job on our backyard. We gave them a rough idea of what we wanted and they came up with a great design that fit our budget. They got the work done quickly and were very professional. Every guy on the team took a lot of pride in their work and made sure it was done correctly. They worked with our last minute adjustments and made sure the final result was something we were happy with. We used to avoid going in our backyard because of the mess that it was but now we love it!
-
July 2023 by Valerie McKeown
I am writing this review with a heavy heart, having harbored a high level of optimism when my husband and I first decided to entrust our mid-sized San Francisco project to Liaison Landscapes. Regrettably, our experience with them turned out to be far from satisfactory and left us feeling extremely frustrated and disappointed.A successful project relies heavily on proficient project management. However, the team at Liaison Landscapes seems to lack this critical skill. The organization of our project was haphazard at best, which led to numerous delays and countless inefficiencies. For a company that prides itself on professional service, their handling of our project was simply unacceptable.Communication, or rather the lack of it, was another major stumbling block in our interaction with Liaison Landscapes.There seemed to be a pervasive disconnect between us and the team assigned to our project. Our concerns and queries often went unanswered, and when they were addressed, the responses were vague and unhelpful. This lack of clear and timely communication added an unnecessary layer of stress and confusion to the already chaotic situation.It is with sincere regret that I find myself compelled to advise potential customers to think twice before engaging Liaison Landscapes. We put our trust in them for our landscaping project and unfortunately, we were met with a disastrous experience. It's imperative for any professional service to understand the importance of competent project management and effective communication, and it is clear that Liaison Landscapes has considerable room for improvement in these areas.
-
July 2023 by Daniel J.
Liaison Landscapes are professional and cost effective, they did great work