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5 Years of Horror Stories

⏱️ 1:53:48 🎤 Mike Pletz, Andy Molder, Mike, Jordan Kile, Nick, Dan, Matt Heiner, Liz, Kenny, Phil, Jeffrey Schmidt, Chuck Gillon, Jeremy, ET, Ken Demer, Patrick Murray, Greg Brunette, Nick, Rocco, Landon, Alex Casaline, Jake, Glenn Curtis, Graham, Elmer, Shane
AUDIO EPISODE
5 Years of Horror Stories
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Introduction & Sponsors
    Mike Pletz introduces the episode, a compilation of hardscaping horror stories from the past five years, and thanks sponsors like Cycle CPA, Patio SEO, Hardscape North America, and Knowledge Tree Consulting.
  • 7:06
    Unpaid Invoices & Micromanagement
    Andy Molder shares stories of an unpaid final balance and a micromanaging client whose sprinkler leak issue led to damaged trees.
  • 19:11
    Unpaid Final Payment
    Mike from Creekside Outdoor Living recounts a hostile client relationship that resulted in an unpaid final payment of $12,000-$13,000.
  • 25:19
    Change Order Lessons
    Jordan Kile of Evolved Design Build discusses a client who refused to pay for $5,000 in verbally agreed-upon change orders, emphasizing the need for formal change order forms.
  • 34:13
    Disputed Steps & Lawyer Client
    Nick from Earthworks Landscaping describes a large retaining wall project where a lawyer client refused final payment over disputed step dimensions, leading to Nick abandoning the final payment to avoid litigation.
  • 43:43
    Landscape Repossession & Plot Plan Error
    Dan from Wason Nursery shares a story of repossessing plants after a client refused payment and another about building a pickleball court on a neighbor's property due to an incorrect plot plan.
  • 16:39
    Commercial Project Nightmare
    Matt Heiner details a devastating $150,000 commercial water feature project that was continually delayed and then canceled, leaving him with significant debt and lost opportunities.
  • 30:31
    Manipulative Client & Draw Schedules
    Liz and Kenny from VonsCapes describe a client who intentionally tried to make them breach contract and refused a large final payment, leading them to revise their draw schedules.
  • 41:31
    Indecisive Client & No Profit
    Phil from PJE Lawn Care and Landscaping recounts an 18-month, half-million-dollar project with an indecisive client that, despite many revisions, resulted in no profit due to a lack of formal change order tracking.
  • 1:48:07
    Legal Battles & Learning
    Ken and Patrick from Local Roots Landscaping discuss a $24,000 boulder wall job where they lost $8,000 in court due to a poorly worded contract and another $60,000 loss on a project where they ignored red flags.
  • 1:49:59
    Elderly Gentleman Accident
    Greg Brunette of Niagara Outdoor Landscaping shares a story where his crew accidentally knocked over an elderly man with their trailer, leading to a broken leg and a surprising positive outcome.
  • 1:54:04
    Demanding & Deceptive Client
    Nick and Rocco from NRX Landscaping recall a client who imposed extreme rules, accused them of damage to an old table, and later made false claims to withhold $5,000, ultimately leading them to nullify the warranty.
  • 2:08:13
    Lawyer Clients & Wall Dispute
    Landon from Planet Green Landscapes details a complex case with personal injury lawyer clients who refused to pay for a retaining wall, sued them, and forced a settlement despite clear evidence of the firm's innocence.
  • 2:15:14
    Landlord From Hell
    Alex Casaline of Casaline Landscape Group describes a harrowing experience with his former landlord, involving forged documents, illegal debit withdrawals, equipment theft, and a suspicious truck fire, ultimately ending in a legal settlement.
  • 2:33:36
    Fencing & Chipped Pavers
    Jake from JFS Property Care shares two stories: one about a fence installation where a client refused to pay until an unconventional solution was found to close gaps, and another about a client complaining about 'chipped' tumbled pavers and a non-existent cracked table.
  • 2:42:02
    Hit Gas Line & Plowed Police Car
    Glenn Curtis from Plantenance shares two personal horror stories: hitting a gas line on a job site due to not calling for locates, leading to a street being cordoned off, and plowing into a police car due to falling asleep while snow plowing.
  • 2:51:41
    California Wildfire & Business Rebound
    Graham recounts losing all his tools and equipment in a Northern California wildfire, forcing him to rebuild his business from scratch, go into debt, and return to New Hampshire to restart.
  • 2:54:54
    Uncalibrated Laser & Wrong Pitch
    Graham shares a story about a concrete walkway and driveway project in Hawaii where an uncalibrated laser led to incorrect pitching and drainage, requiring costly rework.
  • 2:58:31
    Subcontractor Hits Gas Line
    Elmer from Potted Luck describes a subcontractor hitting a gas line while installing a fence, only discovered months later, highlighting the unpredictable nature of job site issues.
  • 3:04:08
    Worst Backfill Ever
    Shane from Novac Landscapes recounts an experience with exceptionally bad backfill material (mulch, stumps, logs) on a raised patio project, requiring extensive and costly excavation.

Speakers

M
Mike Pletz
Host
A
Andy Molder
Molder Maintenance and Services
M
Mike
Creekside Outdoor Living
J
Jordan Kile
Evolved Design Build
N
Nick
Earthworks Landscaping
D
Dan
Wason Nursery
M
Matt Heiner
Heiner Outdoor Living
L
Liz
VonsCapes
K
Kenny
VonsCapes
P
Phil
PJE Lawn Care and Landscaping
J
Jeffrey Schmidt
Down to Earth Landscaping
C
Chuck Gillon
Down to Earth Landscaping
J
Jeremy
Walgate's Landscaping
E
ET
Lajer Landscaping
K
Ken Demer
Local Roots Landscaping
P
Patrick Murray
Local Roots Landscaping
G
Greg Brunette
Niagara Outdoor Landscaping
N
Nick
NRX landscaping
R
Rocco
NRX landscaping
L
Landon
Planet Green landscapes
A
Alex Casaline
Casaline Landscape Group
J
Jake
JFS Property Care
G
Glenn Curtis
Plantenance
G
Graham
Instagramsky
E
Elmer
Potted Luck
S
Shane
Novac Landscapes

Key Takeaways

✦

Always use detailed, lawyer-reviewed contracts to protect your business, especially for payments and change orders.

✦

Implement formal change order forms for any alterations to a project, no matter how small, and secure client signatures.

✦

Be vigilant for red flags from clients during initial interactions and be prepared to walk away from projects with potentially problematic customers.

✦

Ensure clear communication and realistic expectations with clients, potentially using 3D designs, to avoid misunderstandings and disputes.

✦

Maintain strict control over your schedule and financial liabilities, ensuring profitability even on large or complex projects.

✦

Prioritize proper site preparation, including calling for utility locates, to prevent costly and dangerous accidents.

✦

Do not overextend your capabilities or cut corners, even when eager for work; stick to your rules and expertise to avoid mistakes.

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