Sabo's "down to earth" Excavations
Tim Sabo goes beyond the brief — customers regularly mention site shaping and sloping that wasn't part of the original scope.
That last point matters more than it sounds: several customers specifically flag proactive communication as what separated this experience from other tradies they'd dealt with recently. Aaron is named as a strong operator on the tools, suggesting the quality holds even when Tim isn't running the machine himself. The 27-review total is a modest sample for a business active roughly 26 years, so it doesn't represent the full picture — but every review in the sample is five stars, and the pattern of specific, detailed praise (rather than one-line tick-box reviews) adds weight to those numbers.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (27 total)
“cost effective experienced Excavations team”
“keeping us in the loop when the weather was iffy”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 200 demolitions in Lake Macquarie
Credentials & background
Sourced from 5 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Sabo's "down to earth" Excavations
Tim Sabo runs this excavation operation personally and is the name customers mention most often — praised specifically for showing up on time, finishing within budget, and shaping sites in ways that go beyond the brief (like sloping and draining a yard after a fill removal job, rather than just leaving it flat). Aaron is called out by name as a skilled operator on the tools, pointing to a small but capable crew where individual quality matters. The work spans a practical range of residential earthworks: site preparation for house extensions, caravan pads, driveway excavations, post-hole digging, drainage works, retaining wall builds in sandstone, and clearing yards ahead of landscaping or concreting. Concreters and other trades who deal with Sabo's mention they appreciate the professional handover — sites are left genuinely ready for the next trade, not just approximately cleared. Communication around weather delays and rescheduling is flagged as a genuine strength, which matters most for jobs that depend on conditions or need to coordinate with other contractors. Reviews suggest this outfit suits homeowners planning staged backyard or driveway projects where sequencing with concreters or landscapers is part of the picture.
Best for: backyard levelling and landscaping prep that needs to coordinate with concreters, driveway excavation on complex or sloped sites, site clearing and demolition ahead of house extensions, and drainage earthworks where finish quality matters.
Location
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Sabo's "down to earth" Excavations
What types of jobs does Sabo's Excavations typically take on?+
Reviews cover a wide range of residential earthworks: backyard clearing and levelling, driveway excavation, caravan pad preparation, post-hole digging, site prep for house extensions, and drainage works. Tim and his crew also build sandstone retaining walls and handle demolition of existing slabs and walls with off-site removal. The work tends to be residential, though the campground drainage job mentioned in reviews shows they'll take on small commercial earthworks too. If your job involves coordinating with a concreter or landscaper afterwards, reviews suggest they're well-practised at leaving sites ready for the next trade.
How does Sabo's Excavations handle pricing and quoting?+
Multiple customers mention receiving competitive quotes alongside a rough estimate of how long the job would take — and several note the final price matched or came in at the quote. Reviews describe the pricing as reasonable or cost-effective without specifying dollar figures, so you'll need to contact Tim directly for a quote tailored to your site. There's no mention of hidden costs or variations in the reviews we analysed. Getting a quote early also gives you a chance to meet Tim, which several customers say made them comfortable before committing.
What happens if weather affects my scheduled job?+
Proactive communication around weather delays is one of the more specific things customers highlight. One reviewer explicitly mentions Tim kept them informed when conditions were uncertain and had to reschedule — and noted this was unusual compared to other tradies they'd used recently. Reviews don't detail a formal rescheduling policy, so it's worth confirming lead times and their approach to weather holds when you book, particularly for jobs that need to sequence with concrete pours or turf laying.
Who actually turns up and does the work — is it always Tim?+
Tim Sabo is named most often in reviews as the person on-site and the one customers deal with directly. Aaron is specifically called out as a skilled operator, suggesting there's a small crew rather than just a one-person operation. A reviewer who works as a concreter and deals with the team regularly describes the whole crew as professional. It's worth asking Tim directly when booking whether he or Aaron will be running the machine on your particular job, especially for more complex sites.
Does Sabo's Excavations work in areas outside Belmont?+
The business is based in Belmont, NSW, but reviews mention a campground job north of Newcastle, suggesting they travel for the right project. The majority of reviews appear to be from the Lake Macquarie and broader Newcastle region. Reviews don't specify a formal service radius, so contact Tim directly to confirm whether he covers your location — particularly if you're further afield or need the job done within a tight timeframe.