The Worst Handyman Client Ever | Handyman Tells All

The Worst Handyman Client Ever. What to do with a client who is rude. How to deal with a bad client. The worst client story.
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[@timothymullis3225]

I knew a wall paper hanger who went to a house to do job. The woman immediately started telling him how valuable all her antique furniture was and that he needed to be careful when moving it. He told her she didn’t have to worry about him damaging any of her furniture, and to call him when she had it safely out of his way.

[@lukerobinson9646]

hahah

[@rrck6610]

Exactly!

[@Tom-Travels]

LOL. I was at a Karen's house just yesterday afternoon. She hid her insecurities behind her strange and blustery ways. She rubbed my fur the wrong way from the get-go. - After replacing 3 GFI outlets and a weird multiple halogen kitchen light fixture; all of which she had purchased, and her constant whining and attempts at directing and controlling, as I remained patient, I finally had had enough. I simply said... "Ma'am, I've decided that I don't care to work here any longer." - She exasperatingly stammered, "But, but, what about the replacing my Master bathroom sink and faucet!?!" and, "What about cutting down those trees in the back yard like we talked about, and replacing the fence gate!?!" - I said, "Sorry but you will need to find another resource." I loaded up and left. I could care less if she pays my labor bill or not. Life is too short my friend. _______ I left there and immediately went to the next job, where the lady was as nice as she could be and the job went as smoothly as silk and extremely profitable. __

[@handymanjourney]

I know what you mean, some clients are intolerable

[@lukerobinson9646]

love this, exactly that.

[@weekendwarrior3420]

You sound like someone who feels entitled for respect and trust. Unfortunately, both must be earned, and this is your first job. The customer suspects you might be yet another hack doing lousy job, of which she's seen many. It's not your fault, it's just how it is. If this bothers you, give customers 2 estimates: "you are watching" and "you are not watching" :-)

[@alexaderton6204]

I am a home inspector. I struggle at the few times when a client brings their young children on an inspection and the kids seem to have free reign running around and messing with items in the house. The realtor is also there. Both the realtor and I are somewhat wanting to defer to the client to control their kids, but who seems to have difficulty doing that. In the past I haven't worked up the courage to ask the client to leave during the inspection, but next time I am going to do so. It's very distracting to me and there's too much liability on my part.

[@handymanjourney]

Totally agree! Great thoughts Alex! I appreciate your comment!

[@danemmerson5869]

I was always taught by my mentor if your work requires you to remove something from a wall or area you are personally responsible until it gets put back.

[@handymanjourney]

That's good advice my friend! Thanks!😀

[@stephenlancaster7494]

You can't satisfy everybody man, but you can aim to.

[@handymanjourney]

Yep yep! Thanks for your comment Stephen!

[@jerryfinn7237]

I learned this lesson too many times. “You touch it...... you own it!” BTW, STOP being a people pleaser. It ruined my life.

[@handymanjourney]

Words of wisdom! I appreciate that!!!

[@TheObSeRvErTheObSeRv]

Or there is another way . YOU tell the client to move it, so your not liable !!

[@timdyer7692]

Thanks for sharing - good story and plenty of lessons to be learned from it.

[@handymanjourney]

Thanks Tim! I appreciate your comment!

[@harneyhomeservice6530]

I had a customer hire me for a kitchen remodel. She would come home from work at 8pm and call me when she was drunk. She would be nitpicking about everything and complaining about everything that we did. Got to love Karens

[@weekendwarrior3420]

I don't see why this is a "bad" client. You, not your client, do these jobs every day. YOU should know and foresee how things can go wrong. Just like your mentor who canceled that deck job. You are lucky a kid didn't cut himself on that TV. A "bad client" is the one who doesn't pay for a job properly done.

[@catfeline1530]

I worked on cars a lot. I learned early on, once you start a repair there is no backing out once something goes wrong. I also learned that most modern cars are cheap garbage, with plastic parts that easily snap and break. It's easy to break something working on a car. So I understand how you feel. As for this lady's TV she broke it, it's her problem - and it's not even that big of a problem. Thrift and places like goodwill are filled to the brim with nice used TV's that she can pick up for nothing.

[@normhodgkinson6965]

Good morning Allen, many years ago a friend in law enforcement gave me some good advice. he said, "when working in a home with underage children, make sure there is always an adult parent or guardian present. it could save you some big headaches in the future". so, that has been a policy i have adhered to since then.

[@handymanjourney]

Good morning norm! Great advice! Thanks for your comment!

[@handymanjourney]

@SPL Builders I like it!!

[@LondonHasFallin]

You sir are a story teller, mentor, and motivational speaker all in one. The actual story itself was about 8 minutes...

[@jaylong3581]

Customers call you then proceed to tell you how much it should cost, how long it should take, how it should be done!

[@albertochavez7231]

Do you not bring blankets to cover the tv when doing tv mounting?? Always cover floors and items just for this reason.

[@imout671]

Yeah I'm a pushover too. I just replaced most of the siding on a house and much more was rotten than the owner thought. I should have called the owner but honestly I dreaded telling him I had to replace much higher up both main walls. I put off the conversation until I was done then the owner was offended when I explained I did about 25% more than he thought. He would only pay me $100 extra. Its only the 2nd time I'd ever charged more than my estimate. Luckily I'd bid high enough initially that it didn't hurt bad.

[@handymanjourney]

Ya that's rough. We live and learn

[@jeezuschryst]

What a pointless story. Due to your negligence multiple things got broken. Blah blah blah "champion mentality".

[@handymanjourney]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@user27278]

I always firmly tell Home owners to keep their children and dogs away. They font like it but i dont care, i just had to tell one today to get their 5 yo son because he was too near our ladders as we were replacing a broken window at the second floor

[@FranciscoMartinez-zv2rw]

They took advantage of you. I would have said we broke the entertainment center so we took care of that, we removed the TV and it was working, your assistant broke the TV so she needs to be responsible just like we were the the entertainment center.

[@handymanjourney]

At the end of the day I can not make them choose the champion mentality of they don't want to. Unfortunately. Thanks for your comment!

[@Paul-Mac]

My ex had a sister named Karen. Must've had their names switched. And I've done jobs for a couple of other karens!

[@darellroasa3235]

Thanks for all the useful advise. I've watched your vids and they're all very important for this trade. Im about to start my own. Thank you for sharing your blessings.

[@NunYaaBizz]

Hey I watched the entire video, you were wrong in this situation man don't blame the customer. 1st you broke the initial stand, 2nd you did put the TV in a bad spot. If i know there are people walking around, especially kids, i wouldn't have left the TV standing up in another room. Get a towel or something and put it face down on the ground, or in a better spot. Look at it from her point of view and not just yours. A handyman comes into your house breaks the initial furniture, in the 2nd trip unhooks the TV then stands it up in a room filled with kids and someone knocks it over. Then at the end of this ordeal he comes up to you and hands you a contract saying he's off the hook. How would you feel honestly?

[@handymanjourney]

Yep, your right

[@andreyzagoruyko5390]

Lesson of the day; kids are bad.

[@handymanjourney]

Hahaha! Thanks for your comment!

[@tnrcleancare7847]

MMMKAY.

[@kobygrimes1234]

Excellent video! Just starting on my journey, still working a full time job at a computer and taking calls before and after work, and on weedends. Great advice!

[@benmetsinger948]

I think the speculation of more work is the Handymans worst enemy. I did work for a guy with a bunch of rentals and he told me he was looking for someone to help with upkeep on the rentals. So stupid me I did a front door replacement on one of his rentals. I text him to get paid and he "ghost" me. I was out materials and labor. Put a bad taste in my mouth for the Handyman work. I'm starting to get back into it now though.

[@handymanjourney]

Oh man, that's the worst! Thanks for sharing!

[@handymanjourney]

Agree!

[@JoeFraudBiden]

Working for people who aren’t paying you directly act like this all the time.

[@handymanjourney]

Hey thanks for your comment!

[@aehamilton7]

Wisdom can be a slow and painful lesson. But it is a good thing to have. And it usually does cost a few bucks up front. But later on it will save you a lot of money for doing things smarter. I'm sorry for the experience you had with this client. I've had similar experiences and I always take the high road. You can sleep good at night. Knowing that you've done your best.

[@handymanjourney]

Yes so good! That's for your words of wisdom Alex! I appreciate your comment!

[@ericsteel7643]

You held on to your integrity. Forget what armchair quarterback's think. Make a decision and stick with it. AAA+++

[@handymanjourney]

Thanks!!

[@trcknup]

I didnt hear anything that made the woman a karen.

[@timejumper8003]

Alan your mistake was taking on a shit job. Learn more so you can get into remodeling less headaches. This story reminds me of my early years. For every job you take you turn one down so why take such a joke of a job on?

[@lukerobinson9646]

Bro, like f*** would I be forking out after the assistant dropped the screen again, i'll take the 1 star review on Google, screw them man. Can't please them all, you earn your money do your best and that's all imo. Most of your customers wouldn't give a crap about you if you weren't working for them, so just bare that in mind, you are there to make money imo, no more, no less. You are the one with the skills, so the ball is in your court! You're great btw - subbed.

[@handymanjourney]

Thanks Luke! I appreciate it

[@mollymikna9354]

Tough situation there.... I would have offered to split the cost of the TV as another option with her. Even if it's not your fault a 50/50 split tends to soften the blow to both parties and you both live to fight another day.... As time passes by she'll realize you did the right thing and she won't be as likely trash your name out there.

[@handymanjourney]

Totally agree, Thanks for your comment Molly!

[@kenvarni92511]

Oh man, In my experience, her name is Sue ;) Bless them, Change ME!

[@handymanjourney]

Haha! For sure!!

[@originalluster3]

I think i wouldn't of been able to do what you did. Maybe i need to grow as a person . That would be hard to eat.

[@handymanjourney]

It was! It was a struggle. .

[@aaron6841]

Why didnt you claim on insurance ? Champion Red flag.

[@handymanjourney]

To me that's not enough to claim on insurance

[@aaron6841]

@@handymanjourney coat you a lot of money though not good giant red flag with her she should of claimed on her insurance if not maybe you're?

[@villebyberg1583]

baaad sound :( couldent stand watching

[@handymanjourney]

Ya I know. . I was bummed . For some reason I decided to record it on my computer. . Big mistake, will never do that again. Thanks for your comment!

[@needaman66]

You DID handle it badly and when you said it was knocked over i immediately knew you out it in the wrong place. You were still blaming the client for your victim mentality. Your to pay for it, stop blaming the assistant. Your "part" started the whole process. You have to man up and accept responsibility.

[@handymanjourney]

Yes I totally agree. That is what I learned! I appreciate the wisdom, I think I should have put it in a different place to start with. Thanks for your comment!

[@dta6994]

I disagree. They knocked over the tv. It was their fault. They should have owned up to it.

[@handymanjourney]

But they didn't own up to it so it was on me to stand up and be the leader!

[@needaman66]

@@handymanjourney what did they have to own up to? A tv in a place they're not used to having one? Common dude, i respect you commitment and attitude most times, but you placed the tv there, they been going there everyday and suddenly theres an unsecured tv sittimg in a place they dont expect (assistant). 100% your responsibility. Work on premises of a retail nature should be done at night, or the area closed off to and secured from children ( or anyone) entering, then the tv can stay in same room. Its not safe to have kids running around, and no matter how much owner will tell you 'we'll keep the kids away" they wont beable to control all of them all the time. Sorry dude, im 60 and ive seen it all. You have to be able to see into the future.

[@handymanjourney]

@needman I agree with you, I said in the video that I should have put the TV in a different place. It is possible to be both right and wrong at the same time. It was my fault that I did not put the TV some where else but they did knock the tv over, that doesn't make it my fault for the actual act of it falling but it was my fault for putting it in the wrong location.