This guy was recommended by my insurance agent to trim back some trees which he did and it was an OK job. Then I needed a tree cut down and he lied about having a tree climber so I got someone else.

Today I hired him to move leaves as he said he would do a couple of months ago. He arrived at the property and saw that a tree had been cut down. My tenant said he began to holler and complain that I didn't hire him to do that. She reminded him that he didn't have a tree climber and the tree was dangerous.

Then I got there and he started to yell at me for not calling him. I needed the leaves off the property since the tenant nags about them if they are composted there so I put up with it, stayed in my car and the tenant stood there while I paid him. While I am writing the check he is commenting that every part of his body hurts and he needs surgery.

I am never going to hire a person who needs surgery and might try to sue me for getting hurt on my property when he is already injured. I think he drinks a lot since he sweats a lot.

I would have thrown him out.

Back in 2011 we built a duplex. I had a handyman doing some work, but not new construction. I needed the duplex done in a timely manner.

So, we are in the middle of this duplex and I needed some handyman stuff done and called my handyman at the time. He does it, then proceeds to complain that my new construction was supposed to be his job. Keep in mind, this guy had never done new, ground up construction, and tried to do it all himself. I had a 4 month window to get it built, and this guy would fail to show up for days at a time.

I fired him on the spot. Told him he didn't need to come back or call me for work.

I don't tolerate that attitude from anyone, regardless of who they are or what they do. I don't treat people that way & I certainly won't stand around & be treated that way.

AllyM,

Sounds like this guy was on something when he showed up.

I caught a roofer with liquor in his coffee cup on the roof, another smoking weed on break.

Always be aware - never assume.

It's amazing the number of people who are mentally unstable these days. So this guy felt he was entitled to all your work? Despite not having proper help?

Then goes off on you and yells at you?

Time to get rid of problem people like this and never allow them back.

If he lied to me about having a tree climber, I would not have called him back at all. If someone thinks they are entitled to work at my properties because they have done other things, I severe my relationship. If they start yelling at me while I am there, they will be told to leave. I might pay them for the work they did, but even in the middle of a job, they are done.

AND the tenant does not complain to me if I decide not to pick up the leaves. If I decide not to do it, they could do it if it bothers them that much.

I am the complete opposite from AllyM and have also said it for years. I have almost ZERO issues dealing with men. Not now when I'm in my 60s and not even "back in the day" when I was 20 something on up as a business owner. I deal with men every day of the week. I have other issues - they don't call back, they don't show up, they end up being bums, etc., but not "bullying" ...

I too have held my own just fine through the years without bullying from men. And I have had jobs in male dominated fields even when I was young.

AllyM: PLEASE stop playing the "I'm just a woman, so this is what happens" card. We've got LOTS of female landlords here that don't have the problems that you do.

Also, have you noticed that you repeatedly make huge leaps based on tiny assumptions? You've decided that a guy that works outside for a living and SWEATS must be a big drinker?? Come on!

Don't get me wrong -- sounds like this guy is a jerk, sure. But you jump to so many conclusions about people -- and then go with this attitude of "I'm a woman, so every man treats me unfairly" . I can't help but think that you bring a lot of this on yourself. :(

- John...

I agree.

I'm another mature female. I've been holding my own in a male dominated field for years. When I started university, the ratio of men to women at my school was 6 to 1. Yes, 6 men for every woman. It is more equitable now, but the ratio is still way over 3 to 1 here.

I recognize there are some areas that often men seem more equipped, due to muscle mass, size, etc, but there are women who are quite able in the same fields. I have relatives who can haul and lift with the best of them, and know a female police officer that is 5ft4 that no one crosses.

Yes, ladies, but I don't look like a man. Do you? Management is getting work done through people. Yesterday I "managed" this man and got the work done, by not creating any more drama.

I will continue to "manage" him by never calling him again. I win. But it's a struggle.

Now you are accusing females that don't have your problems as "looking like men"?? That is one of the rudest things I've ever seen on this site -- and that's really saying something! Sheesh.

- John...

John has a point there. I didn't take offense but it does sound like that's what Ally was implying.

Reminds me of a contractor who once told me I wasn't like normal women. I said, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

He quickly clarified that he meant I know way more stuff about things most women have no clue about. I added, "and most men".

It did take him a bit of time to warm up to me and I'm sure he thought he'd be dealing with another customer trying to tell him how to do his job but it didn't take too long for him to realize I had a clue.

No, I don't look like a man and I've never had problems with any contractors (other than trying to get one out for a small job when they are all booked solid for the rest of the year).

There are a couple of stores where I won't shop (one being an auto parts store) because they won't wait on me, and there was a tractor dealer who wouldn't show me a big farm tractor. I suppose because so many women just come in to kick tires, waste their time, and never buy the tractor? Hey, if they don't want a $60,000 sale, I can buy elsewhere.

But contractors are always pleasant. They like my money just as well as anyone else's money. My regular guys always like to talk to me about business.

Seriously??

I 2nd the motion made by Shelby. Ally, many many of your posts are just tenant drama or self created drama or paranoid drama. A lot of things that you worry about don't exist.

Well, I don't go to the rental to work with a short skirt, heels and makeup. I usually have jeans and t shirt or fleece shirt in winter. If I am really doing work the jeans are ripped at the knees (I earned those didn't buy them that way) and have paint splatters. BUT I am a blonde!

I don't manage my contractors, I let them do the job they are there for. I ask a lot of questions, trying to understand something if they are doing things I don't know about. I talk business with them. I do other chores while there. I do not sit in my car and watch them.

I also find that women will actually have an advantage most of the time. But few will ever mention that.

I will admit it...being a female is an advantage for me. I strongly suspect the contractors I have had issue with are problems for the guys as well.

AllyM: So now all of the people you offended with your "do you look like a man?" comment must not even be landlords at all?

You tell people to "read and learn" and yet you're posting constantly about weird problems with tenants and contractors that the rest of us don't seem to have. You repeatedly have drama with both tenants and contractors that all treat you poorly apparently -- and, often, you say it is because you're a woman.

Sorry, AllyM, but these people DO have rentals. They just don't have the problems that you do. They aren't the ones that need to "read and learn."

I can't believe you can attack people here based on their looks -- and when you get called out on it by MULTIPLE other woman here, you don't even bother to apologize for what you said. Instead, you double-down against them and tell them that they must not even be landlords!

Wow.

- John...

And I think that pogo stick you use to jump to all of your conclusions might be better used to knock those chips off your shoulders.

John, no one takes Ally seriously so her comments don't even rise to the level of being an "insult" LOL!

Agreed. Mostly good people that don't insult the looks or professions of others when we disagree with them.

Mostly.

- John...

When something like this happens in Pa, we send the contractor over to NJ