I called 3 companies to get quotes for a sprinkler system installation. The requirement for the companies I chose was irrigation certification accreditations.
The first company I contacted (highly rated on homestars) was quite rude in email and telephone conact until I mentioned Homestars, then the tone changed and the person gave me an over the phone, site unseen estimate. Not going with that company.
Two companies came out for site inspections and provided an estimate.
One company's representative was quite 'rough around the edges'. He changed his answers / descriptions of work to be done such as:
- accessing a portion of the yard on the opposite side of driveway
- use of my home's existing 1/2 copper piping vs. installing 3/4" water supply to accommodate better water flow
- drilling through the concrete house foundation vs. going over the foundation (avoid drilling) based on questions I asked I learned from research and other installers
- variance in the estimate pricing for items crutial to a system installation. Not going with this one either.
The third company I chose for an estimate was UNIVERSITY SPRINKLERS.
Chad was my estimator, he was VERY INFORMATIVE, HONEST, OPEN, REALISTIC and very detailed in his discription of what the job would entail - location / types of sprinlkler heads, access lines and control boxes. Chad provide honest / realistic answers to ALL questions I had and never made me feel like I was bothering him with my 'need to know the whole process brain'. Chad even contacted the city on my behalf to request the curb stop house water supply be repaired as it was broken (had been since I lived in the house, 13 years).
I felt VERY comfortable with the information Chad provided and the estimate was very appropriate for the amount of physical labour and the materials required for the job.
The installers came out on time, cleaned up after every days work (so well that I could not tell they were even in my yard!), did an amazing job with the grass relacement (could not tell where they had lifted the sod and laid lines), placed sprinkler heads in very strategic locations and so much more. They even locked the back gate so my dog would not get out. I felt like they cared.
I have had many companies / workers in my home over the years and I can HONESTLY say that this was THE BEST EXPERIENCE I have had with work done on my home. I am looking forward to a long and happy relationship with University Sprinklers.
Thank you University Sprinklers!