Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale

Larry was superior in his evaluation of a solution (some people suggested tearing out the drywall). Larry determined a solid framing could be done without tearing out the drywall, but instead removing some previous studs, installing cripple studs, and leveraging some of the existing support. This eliminated a total re-build and minimized an expense I had not budgeted for the project. Despite the coldest day of the year Larry delivered an outcome I doubt most other providers would have performed. In addition the price was very reasonable. Home Depot came out the next day and had no issues with installing the new door. Thanks Wayne and Larry

I was very much pleased. They're phenomenal, and excellent, better than that. They came out right away. The tough part is that they were booked. They're pretty busy people. I was much impressed with them. I couldn't have ask for better. It was a little bit more than what I expected, but at the same time after looking at the handy work that was done, I really can't complain. The handy work match the price. They're just great. They're good people. I'll use them again. They showed up right on time.

They were excellent. I recommend them. They can do electrical work, plumbing and birth room re-modelling. They are really good. Their pricing was very reasonable. I was happy with the work when they finished. There were no problems at all. The workers were very respectful, clean up afterwards and did a professional job. I would use them again.

They did a very good job. I couldn't have been happier with them. Price was reasonable. They take quality seriously.

Even tho we couldn't fix the problems after I suggested an alternate option it was performed timely and looks good.

Smooth transaction. I purchased the fixtures and they installed within a couple of days of my request.

Excellent!!! Pete came on time & immediately began the job & finished it with perfection within 1 hour!

I had 3 estimates and Mr Handyman was in the middle price wise. Based on Angie List reviews and interactions with Mr Handyman (MH) I elected MH for the job. I have a 1920 garage and it still has the original siding. The garage probably has a few years left on it based on the siding condition, but MH promised they could work some magic. Bill exceeded my expectations on the garage. This truly was a case of maximizing all of Bill's painting skills to get the garage look so great. Also, I appreciate Wayne the owner taking the time to come out to my house to discuss some special concerns I had prior to the garage being painted. He put me at ease that everything would turn out as promised. As I told him in a personal email most companies would have dismissed my concerns and go about the job the way the company thought best , but not my approach, Thus, I would definetly use MH again due to their superior work, personal approach, and commitment to client satisfaction.

Dave will return at a scheduled time to re-install. Dave knew exactly what to do and completed the work quickly and well within the reserved time.

Larry came promptly at the scheduled time, and was very professional. Our main concern was a garage door opener that worked intermittently with the outside mounted opener, and never with the remotes. Problem began around the time we installed fluorescent lights in the garage, so we weren't sure if there was an interference problem. Larry quickly got to work, and was the first person to understand our concern about the possibility of interference. With lots of trial and error, including disconnecting the fluorescent lights, the end analysis was that we did indeed have an intermittent problem with the outside mounted opener - sometimes sending signal, sometimes not - and the remotes were not sending a signal at all. He suggest a new opener would be our best solution. So although this issue was "fixed" that day, we were happy to have a definitive answer as to the problem and a course of action. Larry even suggested alternatives to the fluorescent lighting, should they prove to be an issue. Larry worked on the other 4 issues, very quickly assessed the problem and what would be needed to fix them. He fixed these irritants so quickly that I wondered why I had not called him sooner! I am currently compiling a much longer list for him - some of it outside work - and will have them back in the spring. So happy to have found someone to be reliable!

We don?t expect perfection all the time. We understand mistakes happen. We understand not all projects go well but after billing issues, equipment issues, judgment issues, craftsmanship issues and communicating those concerns to Wayne Owczarzak, we have decided to hire a new company to fix their work as we feel more work from Mr. Handyman have not and will not resolve the issues and may in fact make matters worse. INCORRECT BILLING - we were overcharged by nearly 23% because the company increased rates after our estimate and did not apply the Angie?s List discount we mentioned from the onset of our estimate. - They did not notify us of the rate change - They did not immediately offer a refund when the error was discovered. - When we finally asked for a correction of our billing to our contractual/estimate rate, we did receive a refund but were disappointed that keeping to the estimate was not their initiative. - In discussing of our process with Mr. Owczarzak, the then states that the billing issue was ?fixed the same day? the error was made but Mr. Owczarzak seems to forgot that we had to call his office to ask about the error and that we also had to ask him for the refund since he did not initially offer it. So yes, he is technically correct but he is missing the bigger point. POOR PLANNING PROCESS - when the worker came to do the work, he did not have key equipment with him - the worker said that his company?s project description was incomplete for the work that needed to be done - Mr. Owczarzak says that the tools required were ?rarely used by our techs? which we understand but he never said it was a mistake not to go get those tools once the error was discovered. So we are confused as to if it is standard practice to continue a project with work arounds ? as ours was - or if it is company policy to go get the proper tools? POOR CRAFTMANSHIP AND EXPERTISE - When the project began, we told the worker of our concerns of assembling, caulking and painting a post in the light rain. He said it would be fine and if it was a concern he would move to the porch or stop the project. - During the project we saw wet wood being sealed inside the post, which was a concern. - Additionally, when the worker arrived, he saw that he did not have the correct equipment with him to finish the job. Instead of rescheduling or taking company time to get the proper equipment he assembled the project without the mitering details required. He said he rarely carries this tool as Mr. Owczarzak also mentioned but if a tool is required for the work, our expectations is that he would go and get it. - When we saw the missing details and mentioned them he said ?It looks fine, and it will cost you more if you want to have that done.? - When we pushed again and asked that the details be done per our project specifications he said he did not have the proper equipment and could not now take the post apart to fix that but would rather have to come back, at no charge, and redo the entire project. Clearly the ?30 years of experience? worker knew from the start that this would be a problem but decided to push on instead of mentioning it from the start and discussing options. And Mr. Owczarzak?s solution of having the same person return was not a good solution at the time for use because this is not the type of talent that one would have come back and redo the project especially since removing the post from the railing yet again can cause even more issues on a 10 year old porch. At this point we were at Plan B - how can we get it good enough without disassembling the whole thing again. After all, it is only a porch post. - When the worker realized we absolutely wanted the details to be there, he retrieved a hand held saw and attempted to free hand the details into the wood with average success - to which we reluctantly agreed since at this point there were no other options beside taking the whole thing apart again. Thankfully, ours is just a porch post project so the very average mitering wont show much but it is not at all the $100 an hour craftsmanship we had expected and paid for. - Due to increase of rain, the worker did not fully complete the paint or caulk job but offered to return and resume the project on a different day. (Mr. Owczarzak later proudly stated to us that he ?came in under the estimate? but I assume he forgot that his worker didn?t finish the caulk and paint work because Mr. Owczarzak sent him out in the rain!) Based on the workers performance over the past 2 hours, it was a good decision for us to decline having him return, thinking it would be better to go with someone else because of the lack of detail and pride in work we had already seen from this worker. We paid $180 for a different company to caulk and paint. POOR LONGEVITY - because the project was built in the rain (against our recommendations), within a month - the several post seams split which was a NEW problem as the initial problem was simply a hole in the face of the board with one seam split. Additionally the paint slid off, the caulking popped and in the end there are more problems structurally with the post than when we started. - A second worker was sent to ?fix? the problem which we had hoped would be to replace the wet wood (not the entire post but just the wet wood ? and this would have involved removing the post from the railing again, which we were trying to avoid) but this worker only caulked, nailed, screwed and painted the post back together. - When we mentioned the issues about the wet wood he shrugged off the idea and said his work would last ?10 years? - Less than two months later the post again split at the seems in many places and is now in position to take in more rain throughout the winter and spring. POOR CUSTOMER FOCUS - The worker was not customer centered when doing the work but chose to work in the rain and with the wrong equipment. We did not feel that their workers are looking out for you and taking pride in their work. - Mr. Owczarzak offered to have the same tech come back and fix the work which we declined because we did not want the same person who tried to pass off an un-mitered post as ?finished? returning to do the work and because taking the railing apart again is not ideal on a 10 year old house ? which is why we really hoped to get it right the first time. - We also did not think that the other seams, which were fine on the original post, would now burst apart. So when we DID have a new tech return to ?fix? the post, we expected the front panel and wet wood to be replaced like Mr. Owczarzak offered but by a different person. We were disappointed when he merely caulked and painted the post. - There was no immediate remedy offered when the bill was found to be incorrect. We, the customer, had to ask for a remedy. He did not seem concerned that a higher rate was applied than what the estimate quoted and did not take the initiative for the refund. We are glad that when we suggested it he did agree. - After a long process, there is no willingness to offer a complete or even partial refund. You need to know that if you hire Mr. Owczarzak you are stuck with him for the whole process as he says "We do have a policy of not refunding money, instead we try to work with the customer to bring the project to satisfactory completion." We can appreciate that but just know that up front.

Larry arrived on time. His dispatcher didn't want to start the job due to a threat of rain. Understandable. I over-ruled her and instructed him to get going. He did a perfect job under stormy skies. Good man. Ask for Larry.

Perfectly assessed and well carried out. The handyman reviewed the problem and came up with a safe and solid solution.

The quality was good. The owner Wayne did a good job resolving a communication issue and he seems professional and reasonable. I would recommend them but insure make sure everyone agrees to the plan and budget clearly before time and as you go.

(Removal of concrete filled basketball pole and backboard) Mr. Handyman arrived, we moved the cars from the drive way. He cut the steel pole filled with concrete with his Gas powered saw into three or four pieces. He used a pry bar and sledge hammer to break up the concrete around the remaining pole. He pulled out the concrete pieces and remaining pole. Hole was about 12" wide and 24 inches deep. From start to finish was about 20-30 minutes. Took away all the debris. He arrived with a small CAT earth mover that was not needed. Work was professionally and efficiently done, but the cost in my opinion was a bit on the high side. The agreed upon estimate was over the phone based on my description of the setup and what the owner thought was required to finish the job. Maybe if I insisted on an onsite estimate, it may have been lower. Overall, I was very satisfied with their work and would use them again in the future.

Fantastic the workmen was on time and cleaned up after he was done.

They were on time and very professional. They took the time to answer my questions. They were able to remove my existing cabinet and install a dishwasher/plumbing in a handful of hours. I would use them again for general work around the house.

Within a couple of days the grout started to pop and crack. He cut a piece too short and painted over the grout to try to match the tile. Because the floor is uneven, a few months later it eventually broke the wax seal and it leaked human waste down to the basement. I had to pay a plumber to repair the toilet. I had to spray bleach and replace ceiling tiles because of the leak. The doors that he hung are solid wood doors on sliding hinges and have been adjusted by me and professionals over and over. They keep falling down. They keep scraping the paint off of the wall. You have to force the doors open with a screwdriver. The patching he did in one area directly down the basement stairs he apparently did not have the right tool to properly spackle. I think he used his hands. It looks crazy. He improvised another fix that should have been drywall with wood. The painters both came in their own trucks. They sat outside for a good 30-45 minutes each day drinking coffee and talking. They were always late. They would come in for a few hours and then leave. They were not in uniform or in marked trucks. They never worked a full day. Originally the trim was all stained and varnished. We wanted it painted white. You have to let wood dry when you prime it. They primed and painted 2 coats in one day. The paint and primer now come off the trim with ease because they did not let the primer dry long enough. When he replaced the plywood outside, he did not use the right caulk or caulk correctly, so over a period of time rain leaked in to the house. A couple of weeks ago there was strong storm and rain just poured in. It got my bed, some paperwork, and the carpet soaking wet. I had to tear down the wall and discard it and get drying equipment on there. There is now mold in the area. They removed the banister going down in to my basement. When they rehung the railing they put half of it into the drywall. I am handicapped and I was holding on the banister. I fell down the stairs. I have documentation of having to get a handyman to come out and properly hang it. I got my parents involved with the walk through. During the walkthrough all he did was complain about me. My parents were appalled by it. They told my parents, at the walk through, that if we wrote a bad review on them they would sue us. He states that one phone call does it all. No. We were on the phone a number of times. They did not match the paint for the touchups. The touchups are all brighter on the outside. He then asked for another $2000.00 because they had to move some things. The worst of the worst. He does not want to make a resolution with the homeowner because the payment came from my parents. My money is in my parent's account for personal reasons so that should be irrelevant. Now that he is not wiling to offer a resolution, I am reporting him to the BBB.

Larry, the technician, removed old shower doors and filled in holes in tile and redid the grout in the bathtub area. I thought the tub was damaged from too harsh a chemical. However, Larry tried a different cleaner and was able to remove a film on the tub that looked like peeling. The tub looks new, you can hardly see the holes where the shower doors were attached to the tile. The tub area looks new and fresh. I would highly recommend this service as I had a great experience using themRe

Install went ok. Appears to be group of men using own vehicles and tools that are subcontracted by owner. Calls returned reasonably quickly. Jobs charged by the hour. I am not a fan of charging hourly and feel like I was charged an additional hour I shouldn't have paid for. Work was decent. Door looks good, but doesn't close sealed shut with out a good pull or push.

They were very professional. It took two men the better part of a day to get everything done, but the pictures are hung very well and several are in hard to access places. They were careful and pleasant.

Professionally done, came in under budget. I didn't know they had to come back the following day (wasn't told by the schedulers) to finish the drywall repair, but it was not a problem.

On the phone, I was given the impression that they had done this many times before and were prepared. When the handyman came out, he was not sure of what to do and I feel did not have the right products. The job was done but we were a little disappointed with the outcome.

We've had him do some odd jobs last fall. Everything was good. We're going to have him come back out in the next month or so because we got a laundry list of things. There were two of them. I think it was a father and son. They were fantastic.

It was really excellent. They used a glass specialty company, which was a competitive rate. Everything was done in a timely manor. They ordered the glass around the holidays and were upfront with me about how long it might take. I didn't have to call them at all. They called me to let me know the glass had been ordered and also called to let me know it arrived, just like they said they would do. They made it a very easy experience over all, and the whole process went very smoothly.