I overpaid for a mediocre job, by an unprofessional handyman who put my children and my home at risk.
I experienced the following issues with the handyman who came out, Joshua Briggs:
1. When he arrived to give me a quote, he didn't bring his quote forms. He asked to borrow my computer and printer to print one.
2. He told me the work would be done by 5pm (I explicitly confirmed this as I have young children I needed to pick up from daycare). He wasn't done until 8:30pm, more than double the time he told me it would take.
3. Although I had moved everything in the work area out of the way to avoid dust, he used my baby's bottle warmer and kettle as weights to keep his dropcloth from falling off my kitchen counter. As a result, both were filthy. If there's one thing you want to keep clean and sterile, it's a baby's bottle warmer.
4. When I left the house to collect my children, despite having told Joshua that I would be under 15 minutes, I came home to an empty house and my house UNLOCKED. He had left my house to go and buy a drill (what kind of handyman doesn't have a working drill?)
5. He left knives on the floor of my kitchen, in a home that clearly houses very young children. I was forced to prepare dinner for my 9 month old and 3 year old working around exposed blades and mess (which wouldn't have been an issue at all if he had finished at 5pm like he said he would).
6. In hindsight, I was overcharged for the job: over $550 to patch a 12"x18" hole in my drywall, and it wasn't even sanded afterwards (or painted). I acknowledge that this was my fault for accepting such a ridiculous quote, and I wouldn't have an issue if the job was done well and professionally.
7. When I complained the owner called me to apologize, making excuses that he was newly hired. Not my problem. The only remedy I was offered was $50 off a future job. In case it isn't clear, there will be no future job. Ever. A pathetic response.
8. They then had the gall to call for feedback AGAIN a week later, and when I gave it, she couldn't get me off the phone fast enough.
I overpaid for a mediocre job, by an unprofessional handyman who put my children and my home at risk.
Never again.
*************************
In response to the Owner/Operator comment below:
1. I acknowledged I signed off on the price all along. In hindsight, after talking with neighbors, I realized I was overcharged. My mistake, but it all contributes to a bad experience.
2. I would expect I'm not charged for him leaving to go to home depot THREE times. A simple drywall fix should not take 7 hours.
3. As stated I removed all contents from the area. He went and got the bottle warmer and kettle. As the owner states he was not there, but he is taking the word of this contractor who already showed poor judgement in leaving my house unlocked and his box cutter blade out on the floor (see point 5 below).
4. I was only a few minutes. I left at 5:03pm and was home by 5:20pm. I told him I was going to get my kids. The contractor didn't buy drill bits, he bought an entire drill. He unpacked it in front of my while I was feeding the baby. There's running out of supplies and then there's not having the tools for the job.
5. See attached photo of knife on floor. Or are you calling me a liar as well?
Everything I stated occurred. While leaving my home unlocked and unattended was the most egregious of the things that happened they are not the totality of what happened, and I would leave a bad review in that event too. read more