Gary O'Dell Handyman

Gary had been recommended by my realtor as being a handyman with "good followthrough." I called him on Thursday or Friday to come and check out the things I needed to have done. He came on Saturday February 19 to get my list. This was the first time I'd met him, the first time he'd seen my home. He said he'd come on Tuesday to start the work. The following Monday I had a home inspection, which recommended some repairs, a few of which I added to Gary's list. Over the weekend, there was a rainstorm, and he didn't show or call on Tuesday. When I called on Wednesday, he explained that he has 3 businesses and the storm had created problems with his current clients. When Gary came the following Saturday, I added some things to his list, and he began doing them... a very little bit (perhaps an hour's work) at a time. There were usually a day or two between his appearances. Then the following week he got sick for several days. The next week his father was sick and he had to leave town. The following week his truck broke down. He never showed up on time - he'd say he'd be here at 1:00 and show up at three or four (if at all), and would never call to let me know he'd be late, or that he wouldn't be able to make it. Perhaps I was not an important enough client for him to take me seriously. The entire list of tasks should have taken one week, two at most. He took care of 7 tasks on his list, and 11 are being done by another handyman. When I dismissed him on March 15, I told him I was very disappointed in his reliability. He said "Ma'am, I'm VERY reliable! 90% of the realtors in the valley use my services!" I told him that he had not been reliable for me, and I was tired of waiting for him to get around to me, so I'd hired someone else. I did not pay him for the last couple of small jobs he did find time to do. I also told my realtor that I was unhappy with his service, and that she should not recommend him to anyone else.