Is 24 hour cancellation enough notice for a handyman?

[Liwen Gu]

Hi, I'm wondering if giving a 24 hour cancellation notice is usually enough for a handyman/general contractor? If they had already prepurchased some of the material needed for the repairs and things like smoke detectors, would they normally be able to use it on a different home or would they get upset over it?

[Account Closed]

So you agreed on the work, the guy has bought the materials, and now you're firing him because a late offer undercut his bid after you had made an agreement.

Now you want him to eat his expense and use the materials in another job or jobs. Until that job or jobs roll around, you want him to eat storage costs on the materials. Actually, you don't care, as long as it's not your problem.

After all, if he expected you to keep your word, he should have insisted on it in writing with a penalty clause for breaking it.

I don't think he's going to write nice things about you on the bathroom wall of his favorite bar.