Testimonials

The Christmas 2010 Blizzard dumped up to 28" of snow in some parts of New Jersey, leaving many people in the state stranded. It was the 5th worst in NJ history. People in New Jersey have high expectations and want to be on the road as soon as a big snowstorm is over. Our Live Oak Maintenance Team worked hard to meet those expectations and kept the roads clear for our clients, even returning several times.

Alan, I read the emails regarding the snow removal and I have a few things to add. Hearthwood was the only community I did not get a complaint from, regarding snow removal. It was refreshing to know Alan and his team were organized and efficient, it made my job much easier. Alan, Thank you for the great job you and your crew did. I look forward to continuing to work with you.

Joyce Gilbert
Community Manager
Wentworth Property Management

Good Morning Everyone:

I am not sure if any of your sites are going to be going out for bid for landscaping in 2011, but I wanted to inform you that the landscaping company we hired this past season for Evergreen Woods Park Association was excellent and we received positive feed back from our community which consists of 804 homeowners. The name of the company is Live Oak Landscaping and if you are interested in having them submit a proposal for the 2011 season, you may contact Alan or Amanda at 732-752-8030. Ex 105

I am pretty sure your community will not be disappointed in the excellent service that they provide.

Enjoy the upcoming Holidays!

Brad Cranmer
Impac Property Management

I, too THANK YOU and your team for a job well done!! The crew removing snow was working very hard in my area, and did a great job! The parking lots in my area have been cleaned up twice or more, since those who did not move their cars before the storm, later dug their vehicles out and put the snow from around their cars back into the road.

Thanks again!!
Manny Reyes
Board Member, Hearthwood Community

Yes I agree and your guys that plowed the parking areas were wonderful to blow their horns to let us know that they were there to have the cars moved so they could plow. They even shoveled around a car that we could not get moved so they could plow and have all the snow removed. Thanks for a great job.

Pat Johnson
Board President, Hearthwood Community

Alan, I just wanted to let you know that it is my opinion that our complex looks great. We got a ton of snow and your team did a great job. Thank you very much. Have a great new year.

Brian K
Past Board President, Hearthwood Community

Dear Ginny,
I am sure you have people who are complaining about the snow removal but I want to commend the company that you use. I have found that they have done a wonderful job. After the major storm that we had after Christmas, the snow was removed from my quad on Monday so that if I had wanted to I could have driven out. Of course the town wasn't cooperating so you really had nowhere to go. I am now going out to clean off my car (being the lazy person I am I just got up) and the streets are cleared and ready to drive on.

Just wanted to tell you that I am grateful for their work.

Peggy
Property Manager of Village Green, Hazlet, NJ

We all seem too busy to stop for a few minutes and share what we think. But we are so pleased with the service we receive from your crew each week, I must stop and share this with you. The first year of service was good but last year and especially this year the work is outstanding. Your crew members are courteous to us. They always smile, stop, and move aside when we walk by. They thoughtfully keep our property as if it was their own; clean, neat, trimmed, and cut. We often leave our personal items on the walk, in the lawn and all around. Even so, the crew works around them, moves them but only as necessary, and always does a good job. I can hardly believe that they can blow the leaves and clippings out of the way but they do no matter what obstacles we forget to pick up.

This is truly professional landscaping at a reasonable and competitive price. We had others do the work in the past but there is no comparison the the professional work your crew is doing. They should be very proud of the work they do. They work hard no matter how hot, dry, wet, or cold it is outside. They never cut back on service because of a 'bad' day. Rarely do you find such consistently good work done week after week.

We believe that the best salesmen don't have to sell at all. They do not even need to be salesmen except to show the good work they do. Your crew sells your services and we rarely get to speak with each other. We gladly continue to look forward to Live Oak maintaining our property. In fact, I recently asked you for a proposal on some new work. I can honestly say, that we called only you, Live Oak for a proposal and do not intend for anyone else to work on our landscaping.

I am pleased to accept your proposal for the work we wish to have done in the backyard near the garage. We would like the steps, patio, drainage, clean, and grading done as you outlined. Please let me know what paperwork we need to get started.

Please extend our warmest thank you to your crew and supervisor.

We would like to meet with the crew when the next season starts so we can talk about how they can help us guard against any misunderstandings about seedlings, new plants, and small plantings we may have on the property.

Best Regards,

Al & Maggie F.

Dear Alan,

On behalf of the camp staff and volunteers on the Golf Classic Committee, we appreciate your thoughtful gift of $1,000 Birdie Package in support of the 10th Annual Camp Speer-Eljabar YMCA Send A Kid to Camp Golf Classic.

We very much appreciate your continued support of our mission to develop the mind, body, and spirit of individuals through a unique combination of School, Summer Camp, Retreat, and community based programs. I hope you'll visit us at Camp and see what a difference your support makes.

Thank you for helping us be advocates for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility and for helping ensure our ability to serve all youth regardless of their financial abilities.

Sincerely,

Cherie Hammond
CEO

Dear Alan,

Thank you again for your generous donation to the Sundance Parents Association (SPA) Annual Gala and Fundraiser. We are proud to say that we had a record breaking year and we owe it all to the support of the businesses and individuals who were kind enough to lend their support.

This year, among other things, SPA was able to purchase 'wish-list' items for the Sundance School classrooms, contribute to an enhanced sound system, fund assemblies, sponsor a number of family fun days and a staff appreciation day, and produce a family directory and a DVD year book for each student. We are grateful that we will be able to continue to fund similar projects for another year.

Thanks, again,

Sincerely,

Stacey Gordon                         Angela de Montegnac
SPA Co-Event Coordinator         SPA Co-Event Coordinator

The finished retaining wall project is fabulous. My compliments to all at Live Oak who got this all finished while I was away. Our house is my sanctuary from a very stressful work environment so I was pleased that it came out so well and was all done.

Don

Hi Alan,

I have had a crazy winter and am just getting around to looking at the contract. If I write the full check can I have the 7% discount? You are the only business whose prices keep going up even through a recession... If your customer service hasn't been as good as its been, we would be getting quotes elsewhere. So, I guess your model works.

Hope you are well.

Lisa Jackman

Alan

The team did a great job yesterday. We were very pleased with the trimming and clean up. George did review one point for follow up with Fernando as it relates to the back patio.
This is the block patio, not the bluestone. We had a few blocks settle that we would like to have re-set. This patio is all set on concrete.

Thanks.

Rosemary Callahan

Our landscape contractor has to be the 'director of first impressions' and live oak helps us wow our guests. Their crews have an owner's mentality and take care of the details without being asked. Other landscape contractors I have worked with did the essential functions but never followed through. We recently began a landscape renovation project with a very short deadline that was vital to a huge business opportunity. The COO personally supervised the project to ensure it was completed on time and to our specifications. That is the kind of responsiveness that keeps our loyalty.

Jason Reader
General Manager - The Doubletree Hotel

In an industry that is often filled with "more sizzle than steak", the Live Oak Landscape Company has met our every expectation and their every promise. We have recently extended our contract with Live Oak to ensure this great service into the future.

Brian O'Gibney,
General Manager - Fairway Mews Community

Well our property looks great now. Your crew cuts, edges, weeds, cleans up and genuinely cares about the work they do. It is a pleasure to deal with a true professional and quality company. So I felt compelled to say, "Thank You".

Michael Kauffman

Live Oak did an outstanding job of designing the patio and landscaping at my former home on Bailey Court. You also provided excellent recommendations on enhancing the landscaping at my present home on Alden Ave. I have recieved many compliments on our landscaping from my new neighbors. I also want you to know I am delighted with Live Oak's landscape and snow removal services. The members of your crew are professional and courteous. My property always looks fantastic after Live Oak makes a weekly visit.

Richard J. Nisivoccia

Live Oak has been a partner for 6 years with various extensive projects. They designed and refurbished our entire yard including a lighting and irragation system. We just added a customized designed paver patio with expansion opportunities. The work has been excellent and if any questions arose, they were addressed "in person" immediately.

Live Oak Landscaping Contractors delivers a great product for a great value. There proactive approach is what every company should follow.

Thomas Parsekian

April Showers is wonderful. The people who work there are polite, professional and very easy to work with. They do a great job and I would highly recommend them.

Nancy Maguire

Alan,

I am writing this letter to thank you for taking such good care of the property around our house in Westfield.

It has been more than ten years since Live Oak first designed and installed our rear landscape and now two years have passed since the front landscape was completed. We have developed quite a relationship and we are pleased that Live Oak continues to be creative, innovative and more importantly reliable and responsive to our needs.

We have been living in Westfield for almost 25 years and the lawn and landscape has never looked better.

Sincerely,

Mike and Marjorie

Dear Mr. Milstein,

Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get, We make a life by what we give." It is evident that you understand the value of helping the community. Thank you for your generous donation to our school. The new garden is thriving and the children are respecting its space. It already has enhanced the school grounds and will remain as a place of beauty for our McKinley School community to enjoy.

Thank you also for your informative talk about plants and their care. Andrew was a huge help, too! My students returned to their classrooms and enthusiastically shared what they had learned with their classmates. Your visit was most appreciated and your generosity will never be forgotten.

Yours truly,

Claudia J. Andreski
Principal
McKinley School
500 First Street
Westfield, NJ

Dear Mr Milstein,

The McKinley School community owes you and Live Oak Landscaping a very big thank you. We truly appreciate you generous donation of a centennial commemorative garden for the grounds of McKinley School. You and your men worked so hard to make this special area come to like. You made it look so easy! Thank you for your expertise and generosity.

Your contribution to our school goes above and beyond. Because of your efforts, we will enjoy the wonderful garden area for years to come. It is our good fortune to have you as part of our school community.

Yours truly,

Claudi J. Andreski
Principal
McKinley School
Westfield, NJ

Dear Alan,

I am sending you a long overdue testimonial about all the fabulous work the team at Live Oak Landscape Contractors has done over the years at my residence. Part of the consideration for the location for our new house was getting a sufficient amount of sunlight. Once that was achieved, I knew that I could really have some spectacular gardens. The trick was finding the right people with the right vision and expertise. I found it.

When we purchased the property in June 1998, Michael Sidlowski was invaluable in multiple different ways. The house went from traditional colonial in the front to a modern design in the back. He unified these two very different styles into a completely harmonious space. He made frequent visits to the job site examining the drainage issues from the new construction, and met the design challenges of the large new addition by completely balancing and softening some of those harder features. Our architect, Michael Farewell of Ford Farewell Mills and Gatch was really impressed at Michael's handling of the design challenges.

The house, while large and in a very nice neighborhood of historic homes, never had the curb appeal I thought it deserved. Michael totally changed that and built a beautiful bluestone landing and front walkway that really allowed the house to make a statement. He then augmented this with with wonderful beds, anchor plants, and perennial gardens. Michael's treatment of space and depth is unparalleled of any landscape designer I have ever seen, bar none. The secret garden he created on the far side of the house, an area which had been completely underutilized, provided a wonderful flow to the house and was a classic touch.

Privacy for my husband was an issue, however the neighbors objected to a fencing option. Michael came up with an amazing design solution that would allow for plantings to provide the "fence" and added a few staggered wood panels to ensure our privacy from the neighbors until the trees grew in. Additionally, it allowed for great plant, flower and shrubs to be added to augment the gardens.

After the original design and installation phase, I was fortunate enough to have you and your crews for maintenance and upkeep. I truly believe that you and your staff have maintained my gardens at my home as "best in class" in town. Your crews are prompt and courteous and always take special care to attend to things (like my dog ripping up my lawn) without asking. The yard care is unparalleled and my neighbors have always commented to me on what great work your guys are doing. Your crews should know that.

I really loved your flowerpot designs and seasonal flower choices and I look forward to our discussion on new color and designs. The flowers have made the house stand out, a tribute to your talents. I really look forward to many more years of wonderful gardens and color.

Once again many thanks,

Elisa Mazen

We can't speak highly enough about our experience with Alan Milstein and Live Oak Landscape Contractors. Live Oak maintained our property for the previous homeowner so they welcomed us to our new home with a coffee meeting. Live Oak has been taking impeccable care of all our landscaping needs ever since.

They have been attentive, patient, knowledgeable, efficient, creative, flexible, and pleasant to work with at every turn. They have installed flowers, landscape screening, landscape lighting, and an irrigation system and have worked diligently to be sure that what they delivered was exactly what we wanted.

Most important of all, we have learned that in a pinch we can call Alan with any need. He has made himself available early in the morning, late in the evening, on weekends and on a moment's notice. Even if we have a problem that he can't fix, he will try to find the person who can.

When we deal with Alan Milstein, we know we are dealing with a person who cares not just about his job but about his clients and community. We never thought we would place such a value on our relationship with our landscaper, but we never knew we would have a landscaper like Alan. We wouldn't even consider anyone else.

Sincerely,

Stacey and Scott Gordon