Housecalls Home Services

To say this went poorly would be a vast understatement. Please beware of this contractor. He seems kind and easy-going but has a bad temper and never completed the work even though he had been paid. Details are below. I found Ben and Handyman Home Remodeling through Angie's List along with a few other contracts. After speaking to all three, I liked Ben best and agreed to work with him. I sent him photos of our cracked custom sink from above and below since it was a bottom mount. He came out to take measurements and confirm how it was attached as it is a custom mount and then got back to me with a sink option that would fit. The picture came to me over text and I approved it. He said the total amount would be between $600 and $850 and sent me an invoice for $397.16, which we paid in advance of any work being done. When he had come, he had been kind enough to tighten some cabinet knobs for us and play with our front door, so I was very comfortable and confident that he was a good person that could do the job well. The day he went to pick the sink up from the supplier to install it, he called because they had another nicer sink that he recommended. I said that I trusted him if he thought it would be better so long as it fit. He brought it to the house and it looked too large. Indeed, it was too large. He took it back and got the sink I had originally approved. He started to install it an realized that he would not be able to because of the cabinetry. I said I understood. He said he would go back to the store and find a sink that fit the dimensions necessary. I agreed as that had been the original plan and looked forward to identifying a sink that fit. He went back to the store and what he found was a different color so I said I wanted to take a look at it before it is installed. That evening, I went to run the dishwasher and water started pouring out from under the kitchen sink onto my hardwood floors. I turned off the dishwasher and called Ben. He apologized and said he forgot to hook the dishwasher back up to the garbage disposal under the sink. I, again, said I understood, thanked him for his apology, and said we'd get through this. Then I proceeded to clean up the water damage to the cabinet, the hard wood floors and others areas of the house. That night we also realized the refrigerator water dispenser was no longer dispensing water. I assumed we'd address that when he came out to install what hopefully would be the correct sink. Today he came to install the (3rd) sink. We looked at it together. The color seemed fine and the size seemed to fit. Before he went to install it, I said that we should talk about cost just to make sure we are on the same page. He said he was going to charge me the ~$278 dollars. I asked if that was in addition to what I already paid and he said yes. I asked if we were paying for his additional hours in the mistakes on getting a correct sink and he said no but that he didn't know why he shouldn't include those because he had put a lot of hours into this project. I explained that I had also put a lot of hours into this project and still had nothing to show for it but money already paid and water flooded into my kitchen. He said, "Listen, I said that was a mistake but there was no damage and even if there had been, that's why I have insurance." I agreed that it was a mistake and that I also I understood, but that this project had been the most difficult repair I have ever had to do and it's been frustrating. He said he's been frustrated too, started to raise his voice and said, "...It's this **** custom sink...". I asked him to please stop interrupting me, I simply wanted to talk about cost to ensure we are on the same page after all of this. He looked at me and said, "You know what... I'm done with this. I'm not going to do this project for you." I said, "To be clear, Ben, you are packing up that sink and are about to walk out of here after doing nothing on this sink installation other than wasting both of our times with incorrect sinks, flooding my kitchen, swearing at me, and I've already paid for at least half of this?!" Ben said yes. I told him to get out of my house. He came one foot from my face, face red, blue eyes bulging, and started yelling at me that he doesn't need to put up with this and that he's taking the sink. I was afraid he was going to hit me he was so mad but I was now really mad too so I yelled back, "Get out of my house and leave that sink!" I think he was surprised that I would be willing to yell back. He calmed down and said, "How will I know you won't stop payment on the credit card and not pay me. I said I didn't even know if that was possible but he'd just have to trust me like I had trusted him in the first place by paying him in advance for a job he's not even going to do. He ask me to shake on it and I told him I didn't want to touch him. I just wanted him out of my house. I saw him out, closed and locked all of the doors. Cried, and then contacted Angie's List. So far, they have been very helpful. I plan to ask Angie's List to remediate so that he gets payment for the cost of the sink but we would like reimbursement for the rest. We also ask for a copy of the receipt in case this sink, too, doesn't fit and we need to return it. We do not plan to seek reimbursement for damages to the rest of our property: the flooding on our hardwood kitchen floors or the seemly broken or disconnected refrigerator line, unless Ben choses not to comply. My experience with Ben at Housecall Home Services in Hudson, Ohio was terrible. It felt like a case of a wolf in sheep's clothing. I cannot recommend him to anyone. It is a shame because he did seem like a nice person and I'm sure he is, but his attention to detail is lacking and his temper is hot. The result of this project was me, a customer, getting yelled at in my face, honestly concerned I was going to get punched, in my own house, my own kitchen, by someone I had paid in advance to be there.

Let me start by saying he is a very nice and pleasant gentleman. He started the job when he said he would, and did show up everyday until the job was complete and that is where the problem is. This is my first bathroom renovation so what I thought was a good job, was not at all. I had glass & marble mosaic tile done on half the wall in the entire room. He didn't cut away enough of the tile to fit the switch plate so it sat flush with the wall. That left a 1/4 inch gab. Called him to come back to fix, he said after the Thanksgiving holiday and I have not heard from him. The title for the floor is a marble octagon shaped tile. I had a few people over, who have had extensive renovations done in their homes ($$) and all said, "he didn't grout your floor". Needless to say, I had another contractor come over and he agreed. Very upsetting and very disappointed.

First off if we could rate this service from 0 to 10 it would get a 0+ from us! We hired ben in March. He was told the door needed replacement asap. He would never call to tell us when he was able to do the job. We would call him and he would give us a day but when we would call to confirm it he always had an excuse on why he had to change the day. The only time he called us was April 13th to say he needed a deposit which we immediatly sent him. Weeks go by and still no word from him unless we called him only to be given excuses. Finally he came a month later with another guy to do the insulation. The two bickered half the time cause they kepted messing up and blaming each other. They got insulation throughout my kitchen and completely covered the back porch. I just wanted them gone and cleaned up the mess myself. He said he would be back Monday to install the door. Well today is that Monday. When he did not arrive by ten I called him and asked if he was coming. He whined about going on vacation and having to pack. He said he would come next week. I told him no that we want it done now and that we have been waiting long time. I asked him if he wanted the job or not. After a long silence he told me to "go f___k yourself" . Real nice way to talk to a women/customer. I wont even dare tell my husband. I know you will see this ben and would like to remind you of the old saying "what goes around comes around". I should of checked Angles List before hiring him. A "D" rating is pretty bad. Good luck little man.

I am not at all satisfied with the quality of the work, and he was careless about cleanup as well.

Ben came out to look at the job and realized he would have to reschedule for a time when he had more time because I had been unclear about what needed to get done. I had said I needed the battery replacement and did not specify I needed the entire back-up sump pump installed. He returned with this partner to install the back-up sump pump but had to go to the store several times. When he was almost done he had to find a way to get the water level prong to work without the battery alarm going off. He had drilled an alternate hole in the battery to try and make it work. His helper looked at the directions and told him how to attach the wire if not using a Basement Watchdog battery. Later when I looked at the directions it clearly stated not to drill a hole in the battery if not using a Watchdog Batery and explained how to hook up water probe on another battery. All seemed well until the first rain and we realized that the back-up pump is installed below the trip for the main sump pump so the back-up pump goes on when ever any water is in the main pump before the main pump would be triggered. I called Ben and explained this and he said he would be out of town for a few days and would give me a call after the weekend. It is a week later and I have not heard back from him yet. I don't feel very confident in the quality of his work.

Spoke with Ben 2 weeks before he was to come out while we were still in Fort Myers. Told him what needed done including 2 doors that did not latch when closed. Set up appointment. Called the day before to confirm. Asked if he had our phone number. He said he might be a little late due to traffic. Time was set for 9 AM. Ben and his partner arrived at 10:30. He asked for a list of what was to be done. I reviewed the list. We had him look at the door knobs as we needed new ones and wanted to be sure that "standard" door knobs would fit. He said they would. We left to get door knobs. Came back, he found that the holes in the doors were too small for the new knobs. He and his partner proceeded to drill larger holes with nothing on the carpet or tile floor to protect from the mess. I followed them around with the vacuum. I stated to each of them that when they replace the 2 knobs on the half bath, the doors needed adjustment because they did not latch when closed. I repeated this to Ben and his helper. They left at 12:30 to get something to eat. Came back at 1:30. Spent 1 hour. Unfortunately, I had to be in the basement office on a conference call that I was unable to reschedule. Ben asked my husband for a check for $440.00. Considering 2 of them. 3 hours of work, they made over $70.00 per hour. After they left, when I finished my call, I checked the 2 half bath doors. Nothing was done to get them to latch!! I called Ben, he said he was unaware, I don't know how since I told BOTH of them. He said he would return the next day or in 2 days. I never received a call. Do NOT use this man. He has no consideration for someone's home and charges way too much and obviously cannot complete all of the work a handyman should be able to do.

(I cannot remember the exact date). The job went well to start off. The man was scheduled to arrive at 9 AM. Arrived at 9:15 and started work at 9:30. I told him I needed him to leave at 12:15 so I could get to work. Close to 11:00 he said he had to leave..... with the work not being done to my satisfaction. I called the owner of the company a few hours later and he said he himself will come out in a few days. When he arrived I told him I felt I was overcharged for the job and asked it he could do another job for me to make up the difference. He denied stating, that what was charged to me was good. I strongly feel that charging me $80 to $85 for 1 1/2 hour of work in just tearing up vinyl was NOT good.

Good except he had to come out a month later due to a leak. When he came back he was 1 to 2 hours late but fixed the minor problem.

Ben and Jake did an excellent job. They solved our bathroom venting problems. A+

Very well. Nice man.

Ben was punctual, professional, answered questions and was cooperative. I felt very safe having him in my home, and he does a great job.

Ben did a nice job, he is thorough and a gentleman.

After estimate, Mr. Spofford never contacted us again. Upon trying to reach him, he always answered, I will get back to you "tomorrow". It is now a month later and he said he would return our check. He still has not contacted us or returned our check. We are very unhappy and will never do business with him.