Verified record
The line that repeats through Bob's Magic Broom's older reviews is what the sweep said wasn't needed. A September 2010 customer noted he could have cleaned a second flue, checked it instead and reported it clean; a November 2008 customer was glad to see a service company be honest about what is needed; in March 2010 one chimney cost $230 and that customer said he wasn't charged more than the job required. The company works out of Medford, and its Angi and HomeAdvisor profiles both claim 45 years in business. Everything written about the company dates from 2008 to 2011. In those accounts the work is straightforward sweeping done carefully: both chimneys cleaned and every piece that dropped outside picked up, in a May 2009 review; a sweep from the roof with the firebox vacuumed out in about half an hour, in October 2008; a visit in the middle of a snowstorm in January 2009. Bigger work shows up once — in June 2010 a customer whose chimney needed rebuilding from the roof up called Carl, who sent someone out for a free verbal estimate of $1,300. Timekeeping is where the complaints sit, and one of them is serious: among the concrete complaints on its Angi profile is an arrival six and a half hours late, alongside a lost or mismanaged chimney cap and missed follow-up calls on repair estimates. The written accounts hold milder versions — about an hour late in October 2008, slightly late in January 2009 with a call to say they were stuck in traffic, and a couple of false starts finding the house in August 2009, with delays returning calls. A February 2011 customer wrote only that it did not go well. A 2008 response from the company described a staffing crisis, with two employees let go after being found doing side work with company tools. Price accounts pull in both directions. A November 2009 customer called several sweeps and found this one the cheapest; a January 2009 customer said the price beat competitors; a July 2008 customer who was otherwise pleased thought it ran on the higher side. For a yearly sweep or an inspection around Medford, this is a long-established shop whose customers kept describing honest calls about what did and didn't need doing. Agree the arrival window when you book, and if you want a cap or a repair, get the estimate in writing with a date to hear back.
not well
They were very friendly and did a good job. Actually, he could have cleaned a second chimney flute, but he checked it out and said it was very clean and nothing was needed.
Very well
Our chimney needed to be rebuilt from the roof up. We called Carl for an estimate and he sent someone out who gave a free verbal estimate of $1300.00. We scheduled the work and were told they would come out to do the project as soon as they could, as there were other projects ahead of us. The work was completed during three consecutive days by the same gentleman who came out the first time to give the verbal estimate. On the third day, when the work was completed, Carl's worker stated he would be collecting a check from us that day. He then asked what we were quoted on the formal estimate from the company. This came as a complete surprise to us as the only estimate we had ever received was the free, verbal estimate when he first visited our home. He then told my husband he was under the impression the total for the work came to $1800.00 and then he called Carl to confirm. Because of the miscommunication, Carl agreed to charge us $1350.00. This was a positive aspect in our dealings with the company, although they could have been more communicative and clear regarding a formal estimate in the first place. After the work was done, we noticed a lot of debris on our roof, including broken bricks and mortar from the old chimney. We also noticed that a large piece of mortar/cement had been left under our back deck as well as had been spread over parts of our foundation. We are assuming this was extra and the worker was trying to dispose of it. We also never received a receipt for the work. We should have asked for one when we gave him the check, but we were going out of town and were in a rush. Therefore, my husband called Carl multiple times the next week. Carl never answered his phone and his voicemail box was full every single time. My husband also sent an e-mail to the address listed on the company's website, detailing our concerns: 1) no receipt, 2) debris on the roof, and 3) a free cleaning of the chimney which had been part of a verbal agreement -- and my husband never heard back. Due to their unresponsiveness and the mess that was left at our home, we have given up on contacting this company and will be using a different company for any further chimney repairs or cleanings in the future.
He was great. He was reasonable. He didn't charge me more than needed to be charged. He was totally honest about everything. One chimney cost me $230.
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1 change recorded — last scanned Sep 14, 2026.
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