Hiring a Handyman / Beware

[Genxor]

Just a reminder for all of us to keep in mind and share.

When hiring a handyman from a flyer / Craigslist / recommendation etc. please make sure you receive and verify references , that the individual is Licensed , and also use a site like "Been Verified" to complete a background check. Do not take the chance of this "unknown" handyman getting hurt on your property among other things.

We are having an issue in our neighborhood of an individual who falsely claims he is proficient in ALL aspects of repairs , maintenance, installations, building, electrical and plumbing etc.

This individual has mislead several homeowners in our neighborhood. It is my understanding this individual has also been working in Leilani and Kapoho. In addition , this individual(s) also perform vacation rental cleaning and house cleaning in specifically lower Puna. I must reiterate, a Background Check is Important.

Each resident had the same story , handyman starts out great - Mr. Nice Guy - then quickly goes down hill with lack of progress , a list of things to complete are not completed and the workmanship is ultimately poor. If you questions this handyman , he becomes aggressive and provides every excuse available.

More importantly , and being intentionally redundant , get a Background Check. I for one would not let this handyman near my home , leaving out workmanship.

Again , please be careful when hiring a handyman. Most are reputable and have a great track record , but the bad apples are also out there. Don't be conned.

[EightFingers]

Get references too!

[Kapoho Joe]

Thanks for that reminder Genxor, we tend to let Aloha get the best of us around here.

[Mr nice guy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Genxor

Each resident had the same story , handyman starts out great - Mr. Nice Guy - then quickly goes down hill with lack of progress , a list of things to complete are not completed and the workmanship is ultimately poor.

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Are you referring to somebody who uses Punaweb?

[Seeb]

Get recommendations from someone they have actually completed work for - not second hand. But There are not many handymen with a legitimate license

[Durian Fiend]

quote:

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Originally posted by Genxor
More importantly , and being intentionally redundant , get a Background Check. I for one would not let this handyman near my home , leaving out workmanship..

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What did your background check reveal?

Reminds me of a guy that ripped off my dad many years ago.

Afterwards he found out, among other strikes against him, that the guy's mother had a warrant out for his arrest.

[MattKarma]

quote:

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Originally posted by Durian Fiend

quote:

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Originally posted by Genxor
More importantly , and being intentionally redundant , get a Background Check. I for one would not let this handyman near my home , leaving out workmanship..

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What did your background check reveal?

Reminds me of a guy that ripped off my dad many years ago.

Afterwards he found out, among other strikes against him, that the guy's mother had a warrant out for his arrest.

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You know what they say, don't get between a mother and her ...

puppies.

;-)

[Hunt Stoddard]

Just speaking up on the side of handymen and handywomen a little: Of course I have no sympathy for people who attempt to take advantage of people, but I know from experience that handyman is a uniquely difficult profession. It's up to the handyperson to refuse to do a job he or she is not qualified to do. Unfortunately this doesn't prevent them from getting in over their heads, or prevent people from asking them to do stuff to save money by not hiring specialist contractors.

There is also the case that the handyperson is usually the one called in to deal with bad installations or outright dangerous construction. Often they're asked to do the impossible (like touch a magic wand to a rotted floor and make it all better or make a badly installed garage door work perfectly) and for just a few dollars.

So support your local handyperson.