Sportscapes Splashscapes Showscapes
We are Conejo Valley Recreational Area Specialists, Inc., a California class A (General Engineering) company, license #765944, which includes a Home Improvement Certification. We primarily serve the Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Camarillo areas. We are a custom residential contractor whose specialties include:
Landscape,Irrigation & Drains
Pools & Spas
Sportscapes (Putting Greens, Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, Volleyball Courts, Tetherball Courts, Shuffleboard Courts)
Waterfalls & Fountains
Lighting
Concrete/Masonry
Patios & Patio Covers
Barbeques/Wetbars
Outdoor Fireplaces & Firepits
You need landscaping. You need a pool & spa. You need a patio and a barbeque built. You WANT a putting green. Most people would hire up to 4 different specialty contractors to build their projects, and they'll PAY DEARLY for it, through the four separate contracts, each with a healthy profit margin. Let me ask you: Do you think you could buy 4 different cars from 4 different dealers, and get a better deal than if you negotiated the price on all 4 cars at once with just one dealer? At Rec Area Specialists, we do it all, and that SAVES YOU MONEY. PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION! (But please read on, anyway)
We all spend most of our time (when we're not working) at home, so home really should be one of the most exciting and enjoyable places you can be. Please allow us to put together a free estimate of your project to see how we can turn your home into the SHOWSCAPE you've always dreamed it could be. We're a local company, so we can easily direct you to jobs we've completed in your neighborhood. From simple, economical projects to simply incredible craftsmanship that rivals the great landscapes, hardscapes and waterscapes of the Las Vegas Strip, San Simeon and the Disney resorts, we can build YOUR VISION of the greatest 'scape (or escape) of all... your home.
My name is Kevin Stokes, and I'll take the measurements and write up the details of your project, according to your wishes; I'll also have photos and examples of several jobs we've recently completed; you may well find that these pictures will help define or inspire your vision and design for the project, after which I will soon return to you with drawings and a competitive estimate for your approval. Once we begin construction, the average job takes about 3 weeks to complete. This is a process you can feel good about, because there's no pressure to deal with. I'm not here to sell, but rather to offer excellent craftsmanship and service for your project. We make it a point to perform to the highest standards. This is "our backyard", so to speak, and your satisfaction and our reputation means everything to us.
I simply want to leave you with my cell phone number, the office phone number (just leave a message for KEVIN on the answering machine, if you can't reach my cell) and the office fax number:
Mobile: 805/953-5075 (Try calling this number first)
Office: 805/495-1357 (Leave a message for me on the answering machine)
Fax: 805/445-6673
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...
******STOP! AND READ THIS BEFORE YOU HIRE A CONTRACTOR...******
Make sure they're licensed--call the Contractor's State License Board Info Line at (800) 321-2752.
NEVER give more than a 10% deposit.
Ask for bond information before they start work.
Ask for General Liability Insurance information.
Ask for Workers Compensation Insurance information.
Create a fair payment schedule with your contractor prior ro commencement of work and stick to it.
Have a complete understanding of what the work will cost, so that if additional work is required, you'll know what that additional cost should be (for example, the price per square foot for concrete, cost per lineal foot for block walls, price for plants per 1, 5, and 15 gallon sizes, tree sizes (such as 24" and 36" box), and the price per square foot for grass).
GET REFERENCES!!!
Try to get the phone numbers from the last three jobs the contractor has been on. It's easy for any contractor to supply a referral list, but the most recent customers will give you a more exact understanding of the contractor's current work habits.
Questions to ask when CALLING REFERENCES:
Did they give you a contract you were comfortable with?
Was the payment plan reasonable, & did he stick with it?
Was the job completed on time?
Did he respond & come back if there were any problems?
Did you feel comfortable with your contractor & his crew working at your home?
IF YOU FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS, YOU WILL BE LIMITING YOUR EXPOSURE TO POSSIBLE FUTURE CONFRONTATIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS
Thanks for your time,
Kevin Stokes
Estimating and Client Services
ABOUT KEVIN STOKES:
Kevin has worked on the wholesale staff at Boething Treeland Farms, Inc., Woodland Hills, California, one of the West Coast's largest nurseries. He was also the Purchasing Agent for Sun-Belt Landscape & Maintenance, Inc., Sun-Belt Concrete Contractors, Inc., in Anaheim, California, and as a production consultant for Mesa Pacific Growers, Inc., of Riverside, California (Mesa Pacific is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun-Belt Landscape), and is currently the Sales Manager for Performance Nursery, with locations in Moorpark and Redondo Beach. A former Navy Lieutenant, he served in the Persian Gulf War. He now lives in Ventura with his wife and three teenage daughters, where he writes short-story fiction in his spare time.
Send E-Mail to: kevinstokescvras@webspawner.com
Copyright © 2001 Kevin Stokes. All Rights Reserved