Everything was fine until it wasn't…read more
A.A.H. General Services was contracted through Cadmus Properties to perform maintenance in my apartment; I did not hire the company directly. Aaron, the owner, initially seemed friendly and respectful, and I had no problem with him personally. Unfortunately, repeated problems with communication, reliability, workmanship, and respect for my home changed my opinion.
On multiple occasions, Aaron gave me an arrival time or a several-hour window, then failed to show up. He did not call or message to say he was delayed or could no longer make it. Unless I contacted him, I received no update. Nobody should have to remain home for hours waiting for a contractor who neither arrives nor communicates.
During the tile repairs, Aaron replaced several cracked tiles and explained that the thinset needed to dry before grout could be applied. He said he would return the following week, but the week passed without contact. I eventually had to reach out to get the work completed. He had even left tools in my apartment, yet I still had to chase him to finish the job.
One replacement tile appeared raised at the corner. I pointed this out before Aaron left, and he attempted to press it down. When I later stepped on it, it cracked in that area. I had not been told not to walk on it. When Aaron returned, he said he thought I meant a different tile and did not realize it was one he installed. He appeared irritated, although I had already raised the concern before he left.
He removed and replaced the cracked tile, but then applied grout during the same visit. That contradicted his earlier explanation that the thinset needed time to dry first. I am not a tile professional, but I find it concerning that he gave me conflicting information about the proper process.
There was also an uncomfortable incident when Aaron arrived carrying tools and a vacuum. The elevator was making a loud noise and another resident was speaking nearby. If Aaron initially asked me for help, I genuinely did not hear him. Instead of repeating the request, he said, "Come on, dude," gestured in frustration, and acted annoyed that I had not immediately helped him. If he needed help, all he had to do was be humble and ask again instead of acting entitled.
My biggest concern was his lack of respect for my home. I specifically asked Aaron to remove his outside sandals before entering. This is a reasonable household boundary, especially in Hawaiʻi, where Aaron said he was born and raised. He initially complied but later began walking through my apartment in the same sandals he had worn outside. When I reminded him, his demeanor changed and he appeared visibly annoyed.
I later cleaned and sanitized the floor because he had worn outside footwear inside. When Aaron returned, he complained that the floor felt slippery. That was especially frustrating because I had cleaned it precisely because he disregarded my request and wore his sandals inside.
During another visit, Aaron removed his sandals but then walked barefoot through the building, down five floors, and outside to his truck. He returned with those same bare feet, walked directly through my apartment, and stepped onto my bed to reach a window screen. He did not ask permission or ask whether I could assist him instead. Walking outside barefoot and then stepping directly onto a customer's bed is unacceptable and extremely disrespectful.
Aaron also asked several personal questions while working inside my home. I do not mind ordinary conversation, and I answered what I was comfortable answering, but some questions felt intrusive and inappropriate for someone I barely knew. After I contacted Cadmus Properties about his missed appointments and lack of communication, some of his remarks came across as indirect and passive-aggressive. Instead of acknowledging my concerns, he characterized appointments I had rescheduled with notice as "cancellations." Rescheduling with notice is not the same as failing to appear without any update.
To be fair, not everything Aaron did was bad. He successfully worked on a window screen, installed a barrier at the bottom of the door, and created a plastic enclosure for pest treatment. I appreciated that assistance, and most of the completed work was acceptable overall.
However, acceptable maintenance work does not excuse repeated no-shows, poor communication, visible irritation when reasonable concerns are raised, intrusive conversations, or disregarding basic boundaries inside someone's home. I should not have to chase a contractor to complete a job, repeatedly ask him to respect my no-shoes rule, or tolerate an attitude after reporting legitimate concerns to the property management company that hired him.
Due to my experience, I cannot reliably recommend A.A.H. General Services, particularly for work in a home where reliability, communication, professionalism, and respect for the resident's personal space are essential.
Proverbs: 12:19
