Pacific Landscaping Company Profile

Bay Area homeowners have disappointing stories to tell about landscape contractors they've hired who just never did what they said they would. It's a common refrain.

Are They Good On Their Word?

There's a landscape company in Walnut Creek CA called Pacific Landscaping whose customers, when they received research calls, told exactly the opposite story, over and over again.

Previous client Lori made it a point to stress that Pacific Landscaping was "...timely and did what they said they were going to do. The crew was fantastic and they exceeded my expectations." And Mike, also a previous customer shared, "When they said they would do something, they did it on time, just like it says on their business card." The comments of a previous customer named Andrew kept the pattern going, "They came out when they said they would, and they did a beautiful job. I've recommended them to several people."

Why so many similar raves from customers about a landscape company that actually does what it promises? It turns out it comes down to the owner, Vic Cvijanovic, a married father of two children who's called Walnut Creek home for over 22 years, and whose landscape installations have won awards from local city associations.

It shouldn't be surprising then that people who know him describe him as honest and straightforward, and that he's proud of the many satisfied clients who sing his praises. "I make it a point to deliver what I promised," said Vic when we asked, "so I can show people, here is my book of previous clients. Call them and they will tell you."

Aren't Some Complaints OK?

Vic's makes a point of Pacific Landscaping's 100% complaint-free record. But are a few complaints really any big deal? Isn't it true that if a company deals with the public long enough, eventually it's going to come across a minority of unreasonable people who cause trouble? "That's true only to a degree," answered Vic, "but complaints are definitely a red flag and a reason to be more concerned about that contractor."

He says that the reason his company Pacific Landscaping has a clean record of zero complaints with the state and with the Better Business Bureau is not just that he keeps his promises but also the quality of the workmanship. Many homeowners have been burned by landscapers who were so hungry for money they did anything just to get the job, then cheated on material costs.

Dealing With The Owner

Homeowners sometimes complain about the discrepancies between what a company's salesperson said, and what they actually got. Vic told us he's heard about that too, and is one of the reasons his customers prefer him. "I'm the representative they first meet with, and the owner, and the installer. So there's never a difference between what was initially promised, and what is actually done."

Scheduling In Advance

It's not unheard of for Pacific Landscaping to be booked up for a little while, with new jobs needing to be scheduled anywhere from 2 weeks or 2 months out. At first, this might seem like an inconvenience in a modern world where some people expect instant gratification at all times. We put this question to Vic. How did he answer? "Another company might promise a more immediate start but then they tear up the yard on the first day and then disappear for days or weeks while they're off on other projects for other customers. It's different with me. Once I start a project for a client, I'm on the job site every day until it's finished. Customers who have used me say it's worth the wait for that reason alone."

Old-World Quality Craftsmanship

We saw a landscape installation of Vic's in Danville CA that included a deck with a built-in bench that he made from hand, as well as an outdoor stone fireplace he built. Vic explains in his traditional accent that this quality work is due to the ethic of old world craftsmanship that he brought with him from Europe where he was raised with a father and brother who were also master craftsmen.

In addition to landscape design and installations involving planting, Pacific Landscaping also specializes in softscape, irrigation systems, drainage systems, retaining walls, gazebos, arbors, trellises and more. Vic puts so much into each customer's landscaping that he offers a lifetime warranty on it. "My motto is that if I wouldn't want something in my own yard, I won't put it in someone else's. That means I won't cut corners or use something cheap and shoddy," he explains.

Previous customers express their appreciation of the lifetime warranty at Pacific Landscaping, though it doesn't seem it's hardly ever been needed. Most comments from clientele of Vic Cvijanovic and his company Pacific Landscaping came back to their amazement at their good luck in finding a landscape contractor whose word is actually good. Previous client Chris Bybee of Danville summed it up he said, "He is one of the few contractors that I have ever worked with that does what he says he is going to do and when he is going to do it."

—Scott Rhodes
Managing Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report