Terms and Conditions

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By approving an estimate, paying a deposit, scheduling work, or allowing Balch Outdoor Services to begin work, the customer agrees to these Terms and Conditions. The approved estimate describes the scope of work to be performed. Any work not specifically included in the written estimate is excluded unless added through a written change order or approved additional estimate.

Balch Outdoor Services may provide recommendations based on site conditions, customer goals, drainage concerns, plant selection, budget, and general landscaping best practices. Final approval of the project scope, materials, and design direction remains the responsibility of the customer.

Estimates are based on the visible and known conditions at the time of review. Pricing may change if there are material price increases, changes in project scope, unexpected site conditions, customer-requested revisions, access limitations, or other factors outside the original estimate.

Unless otherwise stated, estimates are valid for 30 days from the date issued. After that period, pricing may be revised.

Unless otherwise stated, an initial deposit of 50% of the total cost is due to arrange scheduling and final payment is due upon  completion of the agreed scope of work.

Balch Outdoor Services reserves the right to pause or stop work for late payments, non-payment, or failure to approve required changes. Past-due balances may be subject to late fees, collection costs, or other remedies allowed by law.

A 50% deposit is required to reserve scheduling, purchase materials, secure labor, and begin project preparation. All deposits are non-refundable.

Deposits are applied toward the total project price. If the customer cancels, postpones indefinitely, materially changes the project, or fails to provide necessary access or approvals after a deposit has been paid, Balch Outdoor Services reserves the right to retain the deposit to cover scheduling, planning, administrative time, labor allocation, material procurement, and lost availability.

Project start dates and completion timelines are estimates and may be affected by weather, supplier delays, labor availability, site conditions, permitting, customer availability, or other circumstances outside of Balch Outdoor Services’ control.

Outdoor work is especially dependent on weather and ground conditions. Rain, excessive heat, freezing conditions, saturated soil, or unsafe working conditions may delay the project. Balch Outdoor Services will make reasonable efforts to communicate scheduling changes, but exact completion dates are not guaranteed unless expressly stated in writing.

The customer is responsible for providing clear access to the work area, removing personal items, unlocking gates, securing pets, and identifying any known underground utilities, irrigation lines, drainage systems, septic components, low-voltage wiring, invisible fencing, private gas lines, or other subsurface improvements.

Balch Outdoor Services is not responsible for damage to unmarked, improperly installed, shallow, hidden, or privately installed underground lines or systems that were not clearly identified before work began.

The customer is also responsible for obtaining any required HOA approvals, permits, neighborhood permissions, or property-owner authorizations unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Any customer-requested change, addition, upgrade, substitution, or revision may result in additional charges. This includes changes to materials, layout, quantities, plant selection, drainage design, hardscape layout, grading, hauling, disposal, or labor requirements.

Balch Outdoor Services may pause work until the customer approves the additional cost or revised scope. Verbal discussions do not modify the original estimate unless confirmed by written approval, text message, email, invoice update, or change order.

Plant material, stone, soil, mulch, gravel, pavers, edging, drainage materials, and other landscape products may vary in color, size, shape, texture, and availability. Natural materials are not uniform and may differ from samples, photos, or prior installations.

If a specified material or plant is unavailable, Balch Outdoor Services may recommend a comparable substitute. Substitutions will be discussed with the customer when practical. Price adjustments may apply.

Plants are living materials and their long-term health depends on watering, soil conditions, sunlight, drainage, weather, pests, disease, maintenance, and customer care after installation.

Plant warranties are provided on a case-by-case basis and only when expressly stated in writing. Unless a written plant warranty is included in the estimate or invoice, Balch Outdoor Services does not guarantee plant survival after installation.

Any plant warranty, if offered, may be void if plants are not properly watered, maintained, protected from extreme weather, protected from pests or animals, or cared for according to the instructions provided. Plant warranties do not cover neglect, overwatering, underwatering, freeze damage, heat stress, storm damage, animal damage, pest damage, disease, vandalism, or changes in site conditions after installation.

The customer is responsible for watering and maintaining all new plants, sod, seed, and landscape areas after installation unless ongoing maintenance services are included in writing.

New plantings and sod require consistent watering, especially during establishment periods and extreme heat. Balch Outdoor Services may provide general care guidance, but the customer is responsible for following proper watering and maintenance practices.

Balch Outdoor Services may provide drainage improvements such as grading, catch basins, downspout extensions, French drains, swales, gravel installation, or other water-management solutions. Drainage work is based on visible conditions and reasonable landscape practices.

Because drainage performance can be affected by rainfall intensity, soil conditions, neighboring properties, roof runoff, existing grades, buried obstructions, municipal systems, and site changes, Balch Outdoor Services does not guarantee that a drainage solution will eliminate all standing water, saturation, erosion, or runoff issues unless specifically stated in writing.

Additional charges may apply if unexpected conditions are discovered after work begins. Examples include buried concrete, rock, roots, construction debris, poor soil, drainage problems, irrigation damage, hidden utilities, unstable ground, excessive grading needs, or other conditions not visible during the estimate.

If unforeseen conditions require additional labor, equipment, materials, hauling, disposal, or design changes, Balch Outdoor Services will notify the customer and may provide a revised price before continuing.

Customers should provide as much notice as possible for cancellations or rescheduling requests. Because landscaping work requires scheduling labor, equipment, materials, and project time, cancellation or delay by the customer may result in forfeiture of the deposit and additional charges for materials already purchased, work already performed, or costs already incurred at the discretion of Balch Outdoor Services.

The customer agrees to provide safe and reasonable access to the project area. Balch Outdoor Services may decline, pause, or reschedule work if the site is unsafe, inaccessible, excessively cluttered, affected by aggressive animals, or otherwise unsuitable for work.

Customers, children, pets, and other individuals should remain clear of active work areas, tools, materials, equipment, vehicles, and machinery.

Balch Outdoor Services will use reasonable care while performing work. However, landscaping work may involve digging, hauling, grading, demolition, equipment use, and movement of heavy materials.

Balch Outdoor Services is not responsible for pre-existing damage, hidden conditions, normal disturbance to surrounding areas, or damage caused by unmarked utilities, unknown irrigation lines, unstable soil, improper prior installations, or conditions outside the agreed scope of work.

To the fullest extent allowed by law, Balch Outdoor Services’ liability is limited to the amount paid for the specific service giving rise to the claim.

Balch Outdoor Services may take photos or videos of the project site before, during, and after work for documentation, quality control, marketing, website, social media, and portfolio purposes. Customer names, addresses, and private identifying information will not be shared without permission.

Customers who do not want project photos used for marketing should notify Balch Outdoor Services in writing.

Balch Outdoor Services will make reasonable efforts to complete work in a professional manner consistent with the approved estimate. However, exact results may vary due to natural materials, site conditions, soil conditions, drainage, sunlight, weather, plant health, and customer maintenance.

Renderings, photos, examples, and prior project images are for general reference only and do not guarantee identical results.

Any workmanship warranty must be stated in writing on the estimate, invoice, or separate warranty document. Warranty coverage, if provided, applies only to the specific work described and does not cover damage caused by misuse, neglect, lack of maintenance, weather, erosion, settlement, animals, third parties, irrigation issues, improper watering, or changes made by others after completion.

Balch Outdoor Services may update these Terms and Conditions at any time. The version posted on the company website or provided with the estimate at the time of approval will apply to the customer’s project unless otherwise agreed in writing.

These Terms and Conditions supersede and replace any prior or conflicting language contained in estimates, quotes, proposals, invoices, text messages, emails, or other project communications, unless a specific exception is expressly agreed to in writing by Balch Outdoor Services. By approving a quote, paying a deposit, scheduling work, or allowing work to begin, the customer agrees that the most current Terms and Conditions published govern the project.