Yesterday, I used to be reminded as soon as once more why it’s so arduous for me to pay folks to assist me with something round my home. Work ethic, for probably the most half, appears to be a factor of the previous, which implies that I’ll simply find yourself having to do the roles myself anyway. Right here’s what occurred.
I lastly made the choice to rent a handyman to assist with small- to medium-sized initiatives round the home that I simply don’t appear to have the ability to work into my schedule. I made an extended checklist that included issues like ending the fake stone skirting on the entrance porch…
Different issues on the checklist embrace shifting the entire desktop-level shops and switches up about three inches within the studio…
Since I modified my plans and determined to go along with IKEA cupboards as an alternative of built-from-scratch cupboards, the desktop goes to be about three inches increased than I had initially deliberate, which implies that the entire shops should be raised to make room for the next countertop.
Different issues on my checklist embrace small issues like rehanging a shutter (one among these that I made some time again) that fell throughout a storm with excessive winds, and putting in two out of doors shops, and putting in the lights within the carport in order that the beadboard ceiling can lastly be put in and completed.
About 4 weeks in the past, my mother was over at my home serving to me with some issues, and he or she referred to as a handyman to return to my home to haul issues away. He got here and obtained half of it, after which texted me to see if I might go forward and pay him since he needed to pay to take the issues to the landfill. After which he mentioned he’d be again the following day to get the remaining. I went forward and paid him since he had executed work for me earlier than (simply putting in a rest room) and he appeared like a pleasant man. However then he by no means got here again the following day, and now 4 weeks later, he nonetheless hasn’t come again.
Like I mentioned, this was really a man who had put in a rest room for me some time again. Whereas he was right here that first time, I confirmed him another initiatives I’d like for him to do. He gave me a worth and mentioned that he would get again to me quickly to schedule the work. That was in all probability a yr in the past, and I by no means heard again from him.
So clearly, I wasn’t going to name him to do extra work. I ended up placing a request on Nextdoor, making it clear that I’m a perfectionist 😀 and needed somebody who was conscientious and took pleasure of their work, and who really had time to do the work. Nearly instantly, I obtained two or three responses from males providing their providers, and virtually instantly after that, I began getting non-public messages from folks (largely widowed ladies, so far as I can inform) warning me about one explicit handyman.
The frequent theme of their tales is that he’s a really good man, however he makes guarantees that he doesn’t preserve. He might say {that a} job will solely take a number of days, however then he doesn’t present up when he’s purported to, or he drops off different folks to do the work who don’t actually have the talents for the job, and 45 days later, the job remains to be not completed.
I skipped proper over that handyman and regarded on the relaxation. One specifically stood out to me, so I referred to as him. On the cellphone, he appeared very good, skilled, and arranged. We set an appointment for yesterday at 3:30, and I might hear him typing all of my contact information and tackle into what gave the impression of a laptop computer laptop. I used to be so hopeful!
So yesterday, I made positive that I used to be prepared and ready in the lounge at about 3:20 in order that I wouldn’t miss him. I waited. And waited. And waited extra. By 4:00, he nonetheless wasn’t there, so I gave up ready and become my work garments in order that I might begin engaged on the studio. I used to be livid. And I truthfully wouldn’t have been bothered by him being late if solely he had communicated with me! However he simply left me sitting there questioning if and when he was going to point out up.
At about 4:15, I obtained a message from him by Nextdoor saying, “I believe we had an appointment at 3:30 immediately. Name me and we are able to reschedule.” Ummm…what? There was no rationalization of why he didn’t present. There was solely an assumption that I’d be keen to reschedule. I simply responded and mentioned, “I’m afraid I don’t have time to attend round for individuals who don’t respect my time and no-show for appointments. My time can also be invaluable.”
I simply don’t perceive why that is such a standard and acceptable factor with contractors and handymen. And I’m not a lot annoyed for my very own sake, though it does make me offended when folks don’t present since I rearrange my schedule round them. However so far as the work goes, I’m nonetheless young-ish, and I’m a really succesful DIYer who has the power to do all of those initiatives myself. I used to be simply wanting to rent them out for the comfort, and in order that issues can get completed quicker.
However I’m particularly annoyed on behalf of these older ladies and widows who wrote to me and shared their experiences. I do know that for each that contacted me, there are lots of extra who’ve comparable tales. I’m positive that they’re not DIYers who’re able to getting these jobs executed themselves. They’re really relying on different folks to do them, and if these folks don’t present up, the roles don’t get executed. I really feel so dangerous for these ladies. I want I might go over and assist them myself. It’s a horrible feeling to be on the mercy of somebody who has made commitments, however doesn’t appear to provide a care on the planet about different folks’s time, or guarantees made, or schedules, or something like that.
I simply can’t wrap my head round it. And I do know that in all probability each single one among you has an identical story about how a handyman or contractor didn’t present, didn’t do the job proper, didn’t appear to care about guarantees made, didn’t appear to care concerning the high quality of labor executed, didn’t keep on with a schedule, confirmed up hours late with out contacting you to let once they’d be there, and the checklist goes on and on. I actually don’t perceive what has occurred to make these items so acceptable now. What occurred to work ethic, and the way will we get again to that?
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You may be taught extra about me right here.