Basileia Home & Garden / Transformational Tutoring
Basileia Home & Garden / Transformational Tutoring

Basileia Home & Garden / Transformational Tutoring

$50/on-site estimate

(waived if hired)


Softscaping

Responds in about 2 hours


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Introduction
*BASILEIA HOME AND GARDEN *TRANSFORMATIONAL TUTORING *LIMINAL LANGUAGES AS OF MARCH 10, THE 2025 SPRING SEASON FOR BASILEIA HOME AND GARDEN IS COMMENCING. Aeration and overseeding will soon resume; the middle of the spring (approximately Aprl 20 to May 15) is the ideal time of year for this service. We use a spike aerator, which is the most effective and reliable tool for enhancing a healthy lawn. We strongly recommend a blend of hearty and versatile seed, fertilizer, and soil enhancer. However, in situations where areas of grass are dead or dying, we remove the sod, refresh the soil, and spread the seed. In April and in harmony with the unpredictable weather, we will gradually resume planting new perennial and annual flowers, shrubs, and trees. An abundant variety of beautiful and affordable specimens are available at Mahoney's of Winchester (Massachusetts), our go-to nursery and gardening center. There are so many ways to use color and texture to increase the pleasure of being surrounded by carefully planned and well-maintained gardens. For fall and spring clean-ups, we use powerful back-pack leaf blowers as well as rakes to thoroughly amass and remove deciduous leaves, pine needles and cones, acorns, loose moss, bark, and twigs. Branches and tree limbs are gathered up by hand. For maximum efficiency and economy, we prefer to remove the debris to an on-site compost pile, or to bag it for seasonal pick-up by your local municipality. For an additional fee above the hourly rate, we offer an off-site removal service (see explanation below). BASILEIA HOME AND GARDEN provides services that enhance the safety, value, utility, and beauty of both urban and suburban properties. Our work grows out of decades of caring for a two-acre property in Andover, Massachusetts, as well as several years of working for clients. For the exterior, we specialize in gardening, including the design, installation, and maintenance of both perennial and annual plants in ornamental and vegetable gardens. We meticulously choose materials, whether they be living specimens, wood, or stone. For the interior, we specialize in organizational systems for a wide range of belongings, as well as in the secure holding of books, antiques, and works of art. During the fall and spring seasons, we offer rather desirable rates for leaf-blowing and yard clean-up. Basileia Home and Garden is a sole proprietorship, lead by Jeffrey Paul Orrell and employing a small number of skilled associates. We endeavor to provide customized service, careful attention to detail in matters of botany and horticulture, advanced appreciation of design and aesthetics, and reasonable hourly rates. NOTA BENE: Our posted rates are for man-hours of work. For example, if two members of our team work from 2 to 4 PM, we bill for four man-hours. As a routine policy for new customers, we require payment for the first four man-hours of work, before the job begins. Furthermore, there is a minimum of four man-hours for any job; exceptions are possible for ongoing maintenance. We provide good-faith estimates of the number of anticipated man-hours for the size and scope of the job, NOT quotes. If you hire us for the job, please be prepared to pay for the actual man-hours, which may end up being less than or more than the estimate. Finally, we require payment in full at the conclusion of our work on any given day. As a small-scale enterprise, we are NOT in the position to invoice customers for payment on a future date. As necessary, we have and we will continue to seek restitution and damages from non-paying customers. REMOVAL SERVICE: Whenever feasible, we recommend placing organic debris in an at-home compost pile, or bagging it for pick-up by the local municipality. For an additional fee above the hourly rate, we remove debris and transport it to a compost center. For pricing and scheduling, please discuss this option with us, in conjunction with the job in question. ______________________________________________ My educational services come under the rubric of TRANSFORMATIONAL TUTORING. For the current academic year, I am now enrolling new students for a wide array of tutoring and teaching situations. For a detailed description of who I am and what I offer, locate me at the on-line Private Tutor Directory. Please refer to the link under the heading for the website in this profile.
Overview

Hired 132 times

Serves Andover, MA

Background checked

3 employees

21 years in business

Business hours

This pro hasn't listed their business hours.

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, Credit card, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

Projects and media

35 photos

Projects and media

35 photos

Specialties
Hardscaping

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Softscaping

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Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Good 4.2

21 reviews

5
81%
4
0%
3
0%
2
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1
19%

Read reviews that mention:


pro avatar
Matt Q.
Jul 21, 2024
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

I didn’t hire this contractor but I received a condescending message from him after telling him I decided on someone else.

Details: Small changes like planting flowers or trimming shrubs • Front yard • Back yard • No, one-time project • Home

Outdoor Landscaping and Design
pro avatar
Joel S.
Jul 18, 2024
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

Terrible work will have to hire someone else to actually get the yard leveled for the pool . Dude even wanted the money up front for the job . I gave him half and the other half when he finished .he also wanted extra money at the end of job after we agreed on a price already . Def would not recommend

Details: Small changes like planting flowers or trimming shrubs • Back yard • No, one-time project • Home

Basileia Home & Garden / Transformational Tutoring's reply
Joel, I am surprised and disappointed to read your review. When I completed the job with my associate, you seemed to be pleased with the work, and thanked us. As for the payment, I asked for 320 dollars, rather than the original amount of 300. So you are complaining loudly about a difference of twenty dollars, less than ten percent of the original. Furthermore you complain about paying half the money up-front. Apparently you don't remember that I explained our policy of receiving payment for the first four hours of work, before the job begins. I clearly communicated this policy to you over the phone, and I took it that you agreed. As we worked eight hours rather than the projected 6 hours, you ended up receiving a discount of twenty percent off of the regular hourly rate. As for the project itself: you will recall that when we finished, I suggested that we wait until the ground settles after a heavy rain, and then refine the leveled surface. Today I left you a message, recommending that you use a toxic substance to kill off the remaining roots. From my perspective, this job was not what I anticipated: you did not tell or show me in advance that there was a significant amount of grass turf remaining, and you gave no indication at all of the extensive root system. These two factors account for the difference between the projected six and the actual eight hours. If you need to have an absolute and precise even leveling of the surface, you will have to use machinery to excavate it at a deep level, removing all rocks and roots. In the future, you will need to be more direct and clear about your situation when communicating with pros. I hope that we offered something of use and value to you and your family?
Outdoor Landscaping and Design
pro avatar
Sue B.
Apr 23, 2024
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Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

Jeffrey is amazing. He’s creative and great work ethic. We will definitely use him again. He helped make our garden beautiful.

Details: Small changes like planting flowers or trimming shrubs • Apply mulch • Back yard • No, one-time project • Home

Outdoor Landscaping and Design
pro avatar
Ellen C.
Nov 13, 2023
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Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

He transformed the weedy garden in front of our building into a well-manicured green space and suggested a few beautiful touches for the front steps. Prompt and professional.

Details: Small changes like planting flowers or trimming shrubs • No, one-time project • Multi-unit building

Outdoor Landscaping and Design
pro avatar
GianCarlo Z.
Mar 15, 2025
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

Jeff was great helping me to prune the fruit bushes in my yard. He gave me different options for how he could do the work and when I requested to work along side him to try and learn he was enthusiastic and a great teacher. I would highly recommend him for projects around your yard

Details: 4 trees • 5 - 10 feet • Fruit • Yes, I will purchase and provide the trees • I would like regular maintenance • Residential

Tree Planting
Credentials
Background Check

Jeffrey Orrell

FAQs

  • What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

    We price our services by the man-hour. For example, if two men work from 1 PM to 5 PM, the total is 8 man-hours. If one man works from 1 PM to 5 PM, the total is 4 man-hours. For gardening and landscaping services, every job has a minimum of 4 man-hours, and we offer a discount of 20 percent off the rate per man-hour for senior citizens (age 65 and up). Other services, such as tutoring, are scheduled on an on-going basis.