Not what I asked for (by DJ [VA]) May 21, 2018 6:16 PM
Not what I asked for (by razorback_tim [AR]) May 21, 2018 6:32 PM
Not what I asked for (by plenty [MO]) May 21, 2018 6:33 PM
Not what I asked for (by Nicole [PA]) May 21, 2018 6:35 PM
Not what I asked for (by RB [MI]) May 21, 2018 6:40 PM
Not what I asked for (by GKARL [PA]) May 21, 2018 7:10 PM
Not what I asked for (by NE [PA]) May 21, 2018 7:19 PM
Not what I asked for (by #22 [MO]) May 21, 2018 9:16 PM
Not what I asked for (by Smokowna [MD]) May 22, 2018 3:34 AM
Not what I asked for (by Jim in O C [CA]) May 22, 2018 4:01 AM
Not what I asked for (by LindaJ [NY]) May 22, 2018 5:16 AM
Not what I asked for (by Lana [IN]) May 22, 2018 10:16 AM
Not what I asked for (by 1Gr81 [NC]) May 22, 2018 3:40 PM
Not what I asked for (by AllyM [NJ]) May 22, 2018 5:45 PM
Not what I asked for (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 6:16 PM Message:
Any of you experienced this?
Just had a handyman do some work on a house. Told him I just want "bandaids" right now. You know, make it safe but not fancy.
Anyway, he wanted to do more than I wanted. I said "no, no - not all that". He didn't do all that, but still more than I wanted. It cost a little more than I had originally planned on, but it is solid work. (Example: I said place flashing under doorstep - over the old wood, extended down over holes in siding below, caulk all around. He removed old wood & placed new, PT piece. No flashing to divert rain. The wood looks good, but still are small holes/cracks in the old vinyl siding just below it that are not covered.)
I thought I had sent a clear, detailed description of what I wanted, including photos and "call me with any questions". I think what bugs me is that he changed the scope of the work & did things differently than I asked for - without running his idea by me first. I probably would have agreed, but feel like he should have consulted with me and not take so much leeway. I don't think we are at that level of a relationship.
Do I need to communicate more clearly, or what? Or am I being too picky? He's an OK handyman. Awfully hard to find any, so I don't want to be overly nit-picky & chase him away.
--68.10.xxx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by razorback_tim [AR]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 6:32 PM Message:
Yes, I have experienced that first-hand - both when others were doing the work and when I was doing the work. Sometimes you get into the middle of it and things don't work out the way you planned. As long as the end result is as good as it would have been otherwise I don't sweat it too much. I'm not sure that is the case here though, since you have exposed holes in the siding. --70.178.x.xx |
Not what I asked for (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 6:33 PM Message:
Hard to find? Got my attention. I would would with him a time or two to understand his reasoning and my request. Learning how he works and how to communicate. Pay him. Keep him. Work with him... Both of you need training on working together... Maybe his choices were correct on this project. --99.203.xx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by Nicole [PA]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 6:35 PM Message:
Tough call. I always type up what I want and give them a copy. But, you get what you ask for sometimes.
A few years ago I wanted a new platform/landing at the bottom of the cellar steps - maybe 3 x 3. The guy ripped it off and started putting on the new boards. Tenant called me and said to come over right away. The frame was rotted ...I didn't tell them to replace the frame but would have assumed they'd have either called or just done it.
That guy didn't get a second job from me.
--72.70.xxx.xx |
Not what I asked for (by RB [MI]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 6:40 PM Message:
Not what I asked for (by GKARL [PA]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 7:10 PM Message:
When there's a scope change, you're right to expect them to tell you. Sometimes, there's stuff that comes up that you nor they knew about and to get the job done right, a change of direction is warranted. Either way, I expect that to be communicated so I know what the price is beforehand.
I'd go over this with him. Nothing like setting expectations. That's management. --207.172.xx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 7:19 PM Message:
This is not uncommon. They like to use 10lb sledge hammers when a 20 oz hammer will work.
They like to think that they can think. I've told some of them before that I don't want them to think.
I can deal with small variations, but it really pi$$es me off when they do something totally different than I said.
I had an old electrician who doubled as a handyman at times that would argue every single freakin thing I asked him to do. He would argue the sky being blue. I finally had enough and stopped using him.
DIY or give them nonsense to do. I pick things up & I put them down, kind of work. --50.107.xxx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by #22 [MO]) Posted on: May 21, 2018 9:16 PM Message:
I'd still use the guy, but sparingly, as a backup.... there's comfort in the known quantity... good or bad --173.24.xxx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: May 22, 2018 3:34 AM Message:
Your description reminds me of me.
I remember putting tile down in a basement bathroom in a tiny space where the owner was a friend. Friend or not, I did the work and improved the plans and really corrected the space.
Looked really good, my friend loved the look. Tenants were very happy.
I only charged pennies.
Here is how we all lost out. The friend could have explained the overall goal. When I write explained, I don't mean a quick sentence or two but a general long term view and plan. I could of done a quick job of it and then my time could of been used on the next project.
Later that friend started doing giant tear down house rebuild projects. We could of done that type of work sooner. Instead I went off in one direction and the friend in another.
Years later experience explained to me what the friend was looking for. (not high skilled custom work. That friend didn't keep that house. I built for a lifetime).
Tell your handyman about some of the other projects you have. "If you could spend three or four hours here, this tenant doesn't even know we are doing this modification. Then help me over on 123 Mainstreet. There if we replaced the front window, the look of the house would change and it would rent faster giving us a budget to do more of your ideas..."
--108.48.xx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: May 22, 2018 4:01 AM Message:
I always give written instructions. Some trades people don’t listen and follow instructions. I probably go overboard but since i’m paying for it, it’s my way or the freeway. --75.22.xx.xx |
Not what I asked for (by LindaJ [NY]) Posted on: May 22, 2018 5:16 AM Message:
I rarely send someone to work on a unit by themselves. I will be there where they start to explain what I want, so them where, ask them what they think, why and what they are going to do if I didn't specify, and tell them if they run into anything other than what we are planning to let me know. I will then show up again later to see how things are going. So a lot of the problems of them doing something else are caught early.
Now, I have dealt with people who I pay and tell them exactly what I want them to do. They do it their way. NOPE, not working with them again. I have others that changed plans because they see an easier or better way. Ok, I can deal with that. Communication is the biggest stumbling block. If you are that unsatisfied, call someone else, if there are not a lot of others, figure a way to rectify and communicate (both ways). But I think most important is checking during the job. --108.44.xx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by Lana [IN]) Posted on: May 22, 2018 10:16 AM Message:
My present handyman is great. Good carpenter, good with drywall, plumbing. Listens to me but I still write it all down, and I buy the supplies. My last handyman was somewhat competent, but slow walked turnovers. He would argue with me and try to change plans as well. Then I would pull him off the job, send him to my farm to clean the chicken coop, and turn his job over to someone who does listen --216.23.xxx.xx |
Not what I asked for (by 1Gr81 [NC]) Posted on: May 22, 2018 3:40 PM Message:
I am reminded of every contractor disaster that I have ever seen and it almost always begins w the customer saying..."Just do it this way." Sure the contractor gets the blame but no-one ever ask if he was instructed to do it "that" way. Many times when choosing to do the work "affordably" the handyman is thinking (or should be)when this doesn't work out, "Will they expect me to fix it again...for free?" "Will I be responsible for the damage?" "Does this customer understand the implications of their decisions?" Sure there needs to be communication, but I am reminded of a lifetime policy of trying to provide a solution, instead of just another problem. It would drive me crazy, if someone couldn't make good choices on their own.
If you got "solid work", it seems like he made some good choices. --74.124.xxx.xxx |
Not what I asked for (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: May 22, 2018 5:45 PM Message:
Are you a female? If so he just decided you don't know anything, he didn't want to take orders from you. There are people who just won't do what anyone asks them as they don't like being told what to do. I had a cable guy out here on Monday. I knew exactly what was coming before he showed up. I have water pipes because I have hot water rads and I wanted to make sure he didn't drill through one. So I showed him where I had planned for the holes to go. I am a female, older and he was a young guy. Now throw race into that and you see the mess I had. At one point I stopped him from going off on me by starting to pray and ask Jesus that we could get these holes in the right place. At that point he listened to me and I got it done. --73.178.xxx.xx |
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