>> And I would plan to be on scene while the work is being done.
A well-recommended guy who does nothing but yard work, recommended by a good-gardener-neighbor, did some basic clean-up. Among other things, before I could stop him, he laid his hands on the dead woody part of a very old Rhododendron that had died back severely and was just holding on by a thread. I had carefully cut off what I could without endangering the fragile connection between the small live part and the roots.
RRRIIIPPP
"I can clear this out for you."
After the work was over, he tried to increase the price he had quoted and gave as the reason "unexpectedly high" rates at the dump he uses every working day. I had anticipated him and checked those prices myself: flat lie.
Then he also
just walked out in the middle of the job, saying nothing and leaving tools
plus an open plastic bottle full of gasoline sitting IN one raised bed.
Then he didn't answer his phone for a few days. When he felt like coming back, his "explanation" was that "something came up". Then he had the amazing gall to think that I would hire him again.
Fortunately Becky overheard some of that conversation and communicated with him more clearly than I was comfortable doing. After that, he fled in considerable haste.
>> What luck (good or bad) has anyone had with this?
Not so good.
>> And I would plan to be on scene while the work is being done.
