SHADY Contractor — Advice?

Question

Hello, all! Ready for a doozy?

My husband and I own a gorgeous, historic quadplex in Savannah, GA. It’s our largest investment to date, in good shape, but with little odds and ends that need repair.

We needed a handyman immediately to put new doors on a tenants room that was moving in today. The handyman demand here is INSANE— everyone worth their weight is booked for weeks. So, we took a (very poor) recommendation and hired someone.

We don’t like to judge off the bat, but he had shady written all over him. Refused to give us a quote, kept lamenting about his truck breaking down, little things that raised red flags. We unfortunately gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Hours later, he has done two Home Depot runs (which we paid for), installed two doors, failed to fix the running toilet, and brought his “old lady” over to “help.”

We asked for his rate, and after useless back and forth of him asking what WE would pay him, he demanded $500. Aggressively demanded.

After a barrage of threatening and profanity-laced texting to “cost us 100x more” in damage if we don’t follow through, we agreed on $300. We never had ANY intention of not paying who we hired. He was paid $50 holding fee and we are to settle up tomorrow. That being said, we are concerned about our property.

We in NO way want to under pay any good work, but this is simply taking advantage. We are also concerned since he knows the address of our property. Any advice?

(Please don’t patronize us with “you should have done your research”, “you get what you pay for, etc. Trust me, we know.)

Ned Carey · Answer

@Kendall Vrana When you pay him, you should get a release saying that hew was paid in full. I would also keep his texts.

Matt K. · Answer

Plenty of cool bars in Savannah who's bouncers would likely have no problem helping be that friend for small fee ...

Matt K. · Answer

DO NOT PAY IN CASH.

Write up a release and use a check. You can also write up final payment on check. Put check number on paperwork.

If he won't sign it/ won't take a check don't cave....

Randy E. · Answer

@Kendall Vrana, he's a bum who was afraid because his life is terrible and going downward.  His tone was probably less anger than frustration, but it's easy for someone else to mistake the two.

I've been in the same boat, as far as waiting too late to get a trusted source to handle some work and having to rely upon that questionable resource.  That means more oversight from you, worse communication skills, lessor tradesman skills, and overpriced billing.  I won't be gouged, but I'll pay a little extra, because ultimately I know it was my fault for what is happening now.  Also, never allow a handyman to begin work without getting a quote from him, even if it's only a verbal quote.  He may not be able to quote you before seeing the problem in person, but he should be able to give you a ballpark figure at that point.  Oh, and when you're dealing with someone you don't know, try not to ever say anything like "we're really in a bind and have to get this done NOW!!!!!"  When dealing with a shady handyman, that's like blood in the water for sharks.

In the future, you can best prevent this by not waiting till the last minute to take care of such repairs.  But you already know this.

If this kook calls or texts again, ignore him and don't answer the call or respond to the texts.  I doubt he'll vandalize the place.  Unless he lives very close to it, he'll probably consider it "too much work and too much gas" to travel there just to throw a rock through a window.

Jim K. · Answer

@Kendall Vrana

All of this is shady as hell, as you said. It is highly unlikely you are underpaying for this work -- prehung doors are very much minimally-competent handyman work. Fitting existing doors to a frame takes some skill, some tools, and some work, but not $150 per room door. Unfortunately, this sort of thing is becoming more and more the norm rather than an exception.

Guys like this live in the shadows, as far below the radar as they can get. He's probably terrified of involvement with the police. I very much recommend you document everything, as suggested here. Pics of the vehicle, pics of him, and if he lays down any sort of personal threat like, "I'm gonna (whatever)" you're on the phone to the police immediately.

The only thing I would add is that you should probably send your husband in alone for this one, or have him go with a male friend.  Guys like this can get unpredictable posturing in front of attractive women. My wife and I are completely in this together, but we've also had to deal with some of these issues ourselves. I suspect you just want out of this with the minimal possible fuss.

Matt Schelberg · Answer

@Kendall Vrana that is good advice from @Ned Carey.  A release will also require him to provide his full name and personal info, which will remind him that he cannot commit any crimes against you with anonymity.

A similar thing happened to me a couple years ago when I met with an unvetted handyman.  He threatened violence and damage.  I didn't know his full name or any info to make a police report if he did something stupid.  So when he left in a huff all I could do was make it very obvious that I was taking photos of him and his vehicle.

SHADY Contractor — Advice?

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