topic Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home in Community Chat

Finding someone to fix things about the home

SeaMaiden — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 20:39:33 GMT

Is it just me, or are companies that you call to come out and do a repair etc hard to get out to do the job?

i call and call...leave a message...eventually they may return my call...say they will be out on a certain day. Then, they do not show....do not call....so I call again, leave a message....no return call....by third call they call back. Say that they will be out Bla Bla Bla...

Who runs a business line this? I heard from neighbors it is very common for them as well.

I guess I should be in the gutter business as he fellow who FINALLY showed up to clean out a clogged gutter said he was just booked.... so busy.....too busy to just call me back I guess...

I call it JUST RUDE.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

BirdieGal — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 20:44:43 GMT

@SeaMaiden

We have that problem as well. We have been trying to find someone to install two new ceiling fans in our home and move around some of the other light fixtures. One guy was scheduled to show up and never did. We hired a second. He never showed.

DH can do it but he is only home a few days a week and I really don’t want to have him do all of that. Plus all of our ceilings are 12 feet high and even though we have the giant ladder system, I would rather get someone out.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

DiAnne — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 20:48:58 GMT

I also have been trying to get some things done around the house. My main problem is that even people who bill themselves as handymen want bigger jobs now. There is so much new construction in the area where I live they are not interested in the smaller jobs.

In desperation I called the local senior center that has an employment program - they don't even call!

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

SahmIam — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:02:52 GMT

You are correct. Every person you ask has a story and reason for the no-shows.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

Susan Louise — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:05:36 GMT

Whenever we need something done around the house that DH or I can't do ourselves, we go straight to Angie's List.

Then we go through all the reviews and pick the best 2 or 3 and then get estimates, judge them on call backs/set up appts/etc.

This system has worked like a charm for us. We don't have the extra time or money for poor companies/workers.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

dex — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:06:24 GMT

@BirdieGal Do you have a good friend or neighbor to help.We always help each other in our neighborhood...saves lots of money,gets the job done and you don't have strangers in your home.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

BirdieGal — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:08:48 GMT

No, not anyone who can do this work. We do have our son, he is 23. Even though he is disabled he has a lot of ability to do these things. DH can do it. He is awesome. He just wanted to hire this out. Looks like it’s him and our Bubbie!

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

Trinity11 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:16:55 GMT

We have been using Angie's list for years now. We just had a contractor in recently to give an estimate to fix a ceiling after our roof leaked. The roofer did an excellent job on the roof and now the painter is coming next week over two days to fix the ceiling. Estimates are given free for most contractors and they have always shown up. My husband is a senior, so they gave us a discount.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

SusieQ_2 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:45:42 GMT

I guess I should count my blessings. In the past two weeks I've had both a plumber and an appliance repairman out to do some work. Both came out the day after I called and were there on time. They did a great job, were done within an hour, and the price was good. I hope I didn't use up all my luck for the future!

I will say this about the appliance situation. My first call was to Sears which was a big mistake. The woman I talked to was rude. She got angry because I wouldn't go for the $49 a month plan for a year that would include 10 other appliances. I don't even know what the entire spiel was because I tuned her out after about 5 minutes.

When she finally finished and I said "No thank you, I just want to pay for the repair" she replied "So I guess you just like spending more money." I ignored that and when she asked for my email address I said "Okay, but it's a long one." She actually heaved a loud, heavy sigh and said "Fine, go ahead."

That's when I decided to do a little research online and found a good, family owned, local company who was able to come out the very next day. Sears was unable to come out until the following week which gave me plenty of time to call and cancel...which is another whole story of a prolonged phone exchange with a guy whose accent was so thick I couldn't understand most of what he said. I can only hope he did actually cancel the appointment. Moral of the story...I will never call Sears again!

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:51:04 GMT

Don't even get me started on stuff. Trying to find someone to do anything is a major hassle.

You wouldn't believe what DH and I went through trying to find someont to tile our bathroom shower. We paid a lot more than we were told it would cost us by the place we bought the tile. 6 months after it was done, all the grout is coming out between the tile and the tub. He was supposed to have caulked that and I just don't think he did or he did a lousy job. Anyhow, all my calls to him have gone unanswered so I've given up.

Now we're trying to find someone to lay a wood floor. I'm ready to pull my hair out.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

LonestarBabs — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 21:53:40 GMT

Go on the Nextdoor site for your neighborhood and ask for recommendations.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

NickNack — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:07:30 GMT

I've used Mr. Handyman several times, and they're great. They come out exactly when they say they will and do an excellent job. They are quite expensive though, and I would never use them for a job that would take less than two or three hours. Their work is warranted for a year. I also have an excellent plumber.

I need to have my icemaker either repaired or replaced, and they don't work on appliances. I'm not sure who to call about that. I've been making it in trays but am tired of doing that.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

excpa — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:17:04 GMT

@SeaMaiden it's not just you. My experiences with repairmen would make a Lifetime Movie look like a comedy. Maybe Monty Python. I even tried the Home Advisor people and a couple of others. I think they are all fronts for some other questionable activity.

I've tried them all, including Angie's list. I'm waiting for the First Responders to come when my house falls down.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

DiAnne — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:36:28 GMT

@Nicknack wrote:
I've used Mr. Handyman several times, and they're great. They come out exactly when they say they will and do an excellent job. They are quite expensive though, and I would never use them for a job that would take less than two or three hours. Their work is warranted for a year. I also have an excellent plumber.

I need to have my icemaker either repaired or replaced, and they don't work on appliances. I'm not sure who to call about that. I've been making it in trays but am tired of doing that.

I have used them also and they are very expensive.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

patbz — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:52:52 GMT

We got a repair person through Home Advisor. He came within two hours, did the job and the price was fair. On the other hand, we have American Home Shield home protection policy but in a small town they frequently don't show up for two weeks and we have to pay first $70 out of pocket so I'm dropping them.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

Kachina624 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:54:25 GMT

I don't have much trouble with home repair people because I carefully choose them from Angies List then ding them if they don't show or call. My problem is with yard workers. I wouldn't call them landscapers because I don't own a blade of grass but rather, people to kill and pull weeds and trim shrubbery. Then haul it all to the dump.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

SilleeMee — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:57:48 GMT

I use Homeadvisor because I happen to like what the locals can do for me. My experience with big name home repair companies has not been a very good one.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

Mz iMac — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 23:14:16 GMT

Reading this thread reminds me of why I "rent."

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

tends2dogs — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 23:24:13 GMT

We have also used HomeAdvisor. Our experience has been good both times. We found our "Bug Guy" on there and he has been great and not pushy. He understands that I don't want poison inside our home because of my husband's past cancer and that we have a dog. Also, I don't think anyone needs to be exposed to that stuff. He is very considerate. If he rolls his eyes about me, he must do it after he leaves our house. LOL When we decided to do it ourselves for awhile he was completely understanding. Recently we resumed his services and again, very polite.

Our other experience was in finding an appliance repair man. I tell you we hit on a great one. He came out the first time to fix our oven. Fast and efficient. The second time our refridgerator went out while we were up north. Long story short, he went out of his way, trouble shooting the problem and trying to get the smell out. It had been off at least a week when it was discovered. Well, it couldn't be fixed and he said we would never have been happy with it because of the smell. Sadly, that is in the landfill now.

Recently, my DH called this appliance guy and had a long talk with him about what brand he recommended for us to replace our old one. He was very honest and said if there was anything more he could do for us, just call. Believe me, if we ever do, we will.

Re: Finding someone to fix things about the home

blackhole99 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 23:25:09 GMT

I hate to have work done around the house, we had roofers who listed on Homeadvisor and turned out to be more trouble than they were worth. In our state they have to licensed and bonded to do any kind of construction and that doesn't mean anything. I think because they are pushing everyone to go to college, nobody really knows how or wants to do skilled construction work anymore. I can't believe there is no money in it, they charge a small fortune for everything. I paid almost 3 thousand dollars to have a small hall closet put in when we remodeled our basement. A 12 thousand dollar remodel turned into a 32 thousand dollar remodel and we were afraid they would not finish the job. The people we had do that work are local. I don't like to use home repair companies because you have to wait in line till they can get to you, but I have always been pleased with their work and they finish on time.