Todd The Handyman

Todd was to install a medicine cabinet, top trim for kitchen cabinets and cut the framing and install a customized storm door. His first estimated was for 10 hrs. of work for $450.00. Told him I was waiting for an another estimate, he called me the next day to say he felt he overestimated and would do the job for 8 hrs/$360. I gave him the job, he showed on the day he was suppose to (July 12, 2012) with an assistant. He installed the medicine cabinet, cut one piece of trim, took down the old storm door and started to install the new storm door. After door was up, he informed me it was incorrectly sized and was to short and not wide enough for opening. He took it down and proceeded to call Lowe's. New door was ordered and Todd spoke to them with new sizes. He worked 4 hrs. and I paid him $200. $20.00 over what was needed, because I felt the two of them were there for the four hours and they would be coming back. I wasn't sure why he didn't continue the work for the day until he stated, "I am going to take this piece of trim with me so I can practice, I cut this piece to short". That was my first hint that he was over his head. I paid $35.00 for that one piece of trim and I decided I wasn't going to let him put up the trim when he came back. A week later the glass shelves were being placed back into the medicine cabinet, when it started to fall out of the wall. It turned out that it was only being held in by one screw that was placed on an angle. The other three screws were not screwed into the framing, only into dry wall. Todd had to have known that there was a problem or he wouldn't have put the 4th screw in on an angle. I had to pull out the cabinet and install myself. The storm door came in, I notified him it was in. I spoke to him about the medicine cabinet falling out, the incorrectly cut trim and that I didn't wish him to put the trim on, he agreed about the trim and apoligized about the cabinet. I expected him to come back and at least install the storm door and I would pay him for those hours. He set-up a date to come and called prior, to say he couldn't show, set-up a second date and did the same. The third date he just never showed and could not get him to respond to my calls. Turned out the 2nd strom door had to go back, because it was incorrectly sized. When the 3rd door came in and was installed by Lowe's, it was exactly the same size door that was shipped the 1st time and attemped install by Todd. There was nothing wrong with the door, he just didn't cut the framing and was installing it on the outside of the house and not in the doorway. All that time and money wasted. Since than, I've only been able to contact him by email. I proposed that he return just $60.00 of my $200.00. $20.00 over paid and $20.00 just for the sake of him getting out of my hair. He did write back to say he didn't have the money, but he would not forget us and would return the $60.00. Well I've sent more emails and have gotten no reply. In January, I will proceed to take him to small claims court for all my money.

At the start Todd arrived at my house the first day of work to inform me he was having a bad day and that he needed to reschedule. This was not a big problem and was glad to set up another time. However he did return only to install a closet door incorrectly. He charged me to install the door only to find it does not work at all. Not only improperly installed but dangerous. Work was below standard. When contacted to fix he did not respond. I have paid him for his work which was teriible.

I described the work to be done and emailed him pictures. He then stopped by the house to have a look to make sure he had the right tools with him before he started the work. He was very professional and prompt. Completed the job in the time that he estimated and regularly communicated on progress. His hourly rate was very reasonable and I would not hesitate to use Todd again for these types of services.

Todd came out the same day as called; did the work the following day. Price was very reasonable. He was clear about what he planned on doing and took care to make sure the work was done to my satisfaction. The clean up afterwards was thorough; nothing was left behind. He told me that he stood behind his work for four years. (I, of course, can't - and hope not to - test that at the moment.)

It started with an e-mail to Todd, who responded very quickly. Sent pictures of job via phone, original estimate was $935. Told Todd that was way to expensive, he quickly countered with let me come by and see for myself. I agreed, he came by while I was not home, (which was fine). His next estimate was $550. During our conversations I explained to Todd that I am a very hands on homeowner and I'm very attention to detail kind of person. Todd assured me that everything will be good to go when he completed the job. On 08/14/2012; Todd showed up, he informed me that his normal worker was not going to be available, and that this worker had his truck with most of his tools in it. I took about 20 minutes to explain the job to Todd and reminded him again that I'm very attention to detail. As I watch Todd work, it became to me he was not proficient with framing. Not having his tools, he was having to make do with what he had. I offered to allow him to use some of mine. As I continue to check in with Todd, I became more and more uncomfortable with his work. When he was putting the side jacks in, he was leaving 1/4 - 1/2 gaps between the jacks and the header. His solution was to fill the gap with shims. When he was putting the 2x4 in since nothing was aligning correctly, Todd continued to use shims instead of fixing the problem correctly. After about 45 minutes of leaving Todd alone, I came back out and noticed more shaved peices of 2x4 as filler pieces. At this point, I asked Todd to stop what he was doing and that I would finish the work myself. We ended on good terms, I just felt that Todd was out of his comfort zone for this particular job, and as a attention to detail homeowner I beleive I made him nervous. I do have pictures of before and after work. Overall: Todd was a pleasure to work, asked alot of questions, but again this particular job I felt was outside of his comfort zone.