Bob's Handyman Service

I am re-posting this review, since it seems to strangely have "disappeared," along with the pictures that show the misaligned shower doors, the glaze defect in tiles that were installed and grout smears on tile that were never removed. We never had follow up response from Mike regarding multiple emails and phone messages to correct the final and obvious problems he promised he would take care of. I visited the store manager, whose depart manager gave us the referral and told him about the unsatisfactory work showed him pictures of what had been done. We finally contacted another contractor to correct problems for another $200 and I spent many hours cleaning off the grout haze in the shower stall, washing our hardwood floors and scraping paint specks off of the hall bath granite counter and faucet. Most of this extra cleanup they left for us could have been avoided by taking the necessary professional precautions of covering and setting up the work site prior to starting the job task. The job cost of Mike’s service does not include many supplies we bought directly from stores. When added together, his price was not better than other more experienced bathroom remodelers. He never did get a signed & dated final contract to us for this service, although he made several attempts to create one and we proceeded with the project with the understanding that the unsigned contract was what was understood for the scope and timeline of the project. (Our mistake!) I would not use him again, nor recommend him. Original below (5/9/2017): I regret the need to post this comment about the service we received, however, it seems our calls and emails to resolve this have been ignored. We hired this contractor to renovate both our front and back bathrooms. For the front bathroom, the major tasks were installing a new porcelain tile floor, new wood trim, shower finish plumbing and painting the bathroom. The back bathroom involved these three components plus removal of a shower stall, installation of a new shower base, installing drywall and tile and a new shower door. In the process of requesting bids from contractors, Mike asked us to give him a chance to show us what he could do and seemed eager to be awarded our project, which he started on March 6th. After many delays and missed days, which we accommodated, the project was actually underway. We did find Mike and his crew had difficulties showing up at the promised time and estimating the amount of time a segment of the job would take. As the project moved toward a close Mike was in a hurry at the end to finalize, clean-up and clear out his equipment on March 28. However, we told him the situation with the shower doors was unacceptable. We soon identified there was also grout smeared over some of the porcelain tile we had not identified until first using the shower. While we like the randomized tile pattern, we had not looked at every tile in the box, having worked with a sample tile. Later we discovered what we thought was just a mark on one of the tiles that could be cleaned off was in fact a noticeable defect in the glaze pattern on a tile. Unfortunately, they grouted 3 defective pattern tile into the floor of the hall bath, 1 into the floor of the master bath and 5 into the walls of the shower stall. This could have been easily avoided by showing us this tile and asking us about it before proceeding, since we had more than 3 extra boxes of tile. Getting to know Mike and his crew during the project, we had found them to be generally cooperative and hard-working. Based on these qualities and what appeared to be a heartfelt promise to return to correct and/or complete the remaining components of the project, we did give Mike his final payment on March 28. Note that it is preferred practice to withhold final payment until all of the agreed work is completed or finalized, but we trusted his word. When Mike finally returned our call regarding scheduling a follow up appointment in early April, he said there was a family illness, but he stated he would come out to fix the shower doors and he had something that could take the dried grout “right off” the tile. He also agreed to plane down the bottom of the hallway bath door due to the additional cleaning we were had to do as a result of not covering and/or protecting floors and vanities, etc., to avoid additional mess or debris while demolition or construction was underway. (Two times they dropped debris on the washer and dryer in the basement before covering them when they were demolishing the old shower base and walls.) We are forced to conclude, after the many calls and emails to Mike, that he has decided he can just ignore fixing the problems on the work, for which he was paid in full. Unfortunately, we will have to be looking for another contractor to correct the problems we are now left to fix.

Some Context: I have been avoiding this review for almost 3 months in order to reasonably respond in a way that is as fair as possible to all parties (the contractor and his family, myself, many reputable smaller contractors who may be on the list, and most importantly other customers who may continue using Angie's list in the future though I will not chance it again). It has taken this much time to weigh the desire to offer credit where credit is due for some work, extend the contractor some second chances based on tough times he has experienced, and do some teaching (while owning up to and learning from my own failings) against the necessity to endure REdoing much of my project (while processing the effects of the financial and emotional collateral damage from this encounter.) Even though I did a good deal of research about how to tile a shower and select or resurface a tub properly, I came to this project as a novice in using Angie's List in place of personal references, and I accept responsibility for not vetting as thoroughly as I should, not spending enough time checking multiple bids, and not recognizing some red flags I should have. So, buyers beware--as they suggest, if you are going to use Angie's List do these things as meticulously as you would if you were not using it! (which really made me wonder why I would use the list again!) The Review: Sadly, while Bob's Handyman IS a family owned business and its original owner had a solid reputation, the workers who now come to your home do not have 30 years of experience in the trade as advertised. I mention this point because it was THE original reason I chose to contact this business rather than bath remodeling companies. It has been my experience with some other projects that large contractors don't care to bother with smaller jobs like the one I had planned. In fact, a contractor who did not actually ever show up for this job before I called Bob's Handyman spent more time trying to talk me into a complete bath remodel (cabinets and flooring I didn't need than discussing the few critical issues I actually needed help to resolve with the tub and tiling). I have in several cases been able to find some former contractors turned "handymen" in later years who take on moderate sized projects and deliver with a high degree of skill. The problem is they are seldom still in business five years down the road. I think the current workers at Bob's Handyman want to do good work. I think that with smaller projects than this one that wouldn't require working a full day over the course of several days, their work could be more effective. This just was not one of those times. When I first spoke with Mike about this project, he indicated that he and his father had indeed worked together for some time before his father passed, and I believed that this could reasonably mean the quality of experience would have been handed from father to son. I was assured that while this job might be bid higher than others would bid it, the personal attention to quality would prove worth the extra cost. After discussing the project and indicating the specifics I wanted (appropriate dry walling and paint where damaged by a skylight leak and Duroc backing and alcoves installed in a tile tub/shower surround), I was optimistic and expected to receive a written estimate (originally discussed as a max of $3,000 depending on whether we did 1 or 2 alcoves and on how much dry walling was necessary ) and be on my way. The estimate never appeared. The weekend before I had planned the project (and I resigned myself to not being able to go forward that next week), I received a call back. Mike said his computer wasn't working, and he would send the bid although he would need to charge an additional $700 for the alcove work since he hadn't figured either of the two into the estimate. I agreed in order to get the project done but noted that I needed to fit the project within the 5 days spring break time he said at most it would take. The Monday that work was supposed to begin, I waited the better part of the day for the start because another job inspection was taking place. Even on that day no estimate appeared in writing, but demo began. On Tuesday, it was a family dog issue that caused less than enough to be done. On Wednesday I was already stressed and concerned because they had installed Denshield instead of Duroc as I requested, but I quickly read up on the product and determined I would be positive (not knowing how to stop the train which would require ripping out three walls of installed material) and went ahead. I laid out all the tiles on my own because I could see that the project was falling behind even though by now three people had been in and out to work. Thursday most of the work was in the latter part of the day, and Friday Mike was gone yet again all day for a second doctor's appointment for his son while the other two fellows were stopped up by not having transportation and then materials they needed. I had to cancel the plumber who was supposed to be able to begin his work that morning. Friday night I discovered, after canceling my own plans to attend my cousin's 60th birthday reception so the project had some hope of being finished by the second scheduled date for the plumber, that no work would be done on the weekend because the contractor had a party to attend and needed time for his family (despite an earlier promise to work through the night and all weekend to meet a deadline we had already passed). This is when I finally had enough of trying to be understanding and optimistic, spoke up, and was yelled at by the contractor who blamed me for his delays and problems. That night I contacted a family member versed in law about whether and how to stop the project. Though I prepared for this event, I allowed the contractor to finish the work when he called and apologized on Monday. This took both Monday and Tuesday evening-right up to the third date for the plumber. Bob's Handyman discounted the now $3800 bill by $100, but I was left with massive clean up and the final tile deglazing which kept me up until 1 a.m. In the next few weeks, I discovered several problems with grouting, brush painting, and the dry walling and decided to have several aspects of the work redone costing an additional $500. More unsettling still was that in all the trauma and drama of the week and weekend culminating in that 1am. Tuesday marathon to finish the project and its clean up, move items back in place or to another place in preparation for the plumber, I actually managed to throw away an item valued at the entire initial estimate of this project. I feel bad about all of this, and I wish the guys well, but I hope this experience will be as instructive for them and for you as it has been for me because in the end this particular project process was filled with too much constant distraction, worry, odd work times and down time, hurried work, trust issues, and ultimately unreasonable costs to have made it possible to rate higher and to enjoy having done.

Contacted user and left a message on voice mail. He called back next day and I stated what I needed and gave him address. He visited and returned an estimate 2 days later. Estimate was approved. After work was completed, I verified and confirmed quality. Total price came in a bit higher than estimate but it wasn't a big issue.

I regret the need to post this comment about the service we received, however, it seems our calls and emails to resolve the problems and issues have been entirely ignored. We hired this contractor to renovate both our front and back bathrooms. For the front bathroom, the major tasks were removing the old floor and molding and installing a new porcelain tile floor, new wood trim molding and painting the bathroom. The master bathroom also involved removing the existing floor and molding as well as removal of a shower base, tile walls and doors, installation of a new shower base, installing drywall and porcelain tile and a new shower door plus painting the entire bathroom. In the process of requesting bids from contractors, Mike asked us to give him a chance to show us what he could do and seemed very eager to be awarded our project, which he started on March 6th. After many delays and missed days, which we accommodated, the project was actually underway. We did find Mike and his crew had difficulties showing up at the promised time and estimating the amount of time a segment of the job would take. Also, he did not question some things and communicate as well as we would have expected, which could and should have avoided some problems. For instance, not noting the installation guide “Before You Begin” section indicating a caution regarding the plumb of the wall before installing this particular new shower door left us with unsatisfactory choices. After it was installed, it was obviously too late to return it and consider a different option. Not identifying a defect in a particular tile glaze pattern and calling it out to us also left us with a disappointment regarding the appearance of our new floor and shower tiles as well. As the project moved toward a close Mike was in a hurry at the end to finalize, clean-up and clear out his equipment on March 28. However, we told him the situation with the shower doors was unacceptable. We soon identified there was also grout smeared over some of the porcelain tile we had not identified until first using the shower. Also, while we like the randomized tile pattern, we had not looked at every tile in the box, having worked with a sample tile. Later we discovered what we thought was just a mark on one of the tiles that could be cleaned off was in fact a noticeable defect in the glaze pattern on a tile. Unfortunately, they grouted 3 such defective pattern tile into the floor of the hall bath, 1 into the floor of the master bath and 5 into the walls of the shower stall. This could have been easily avoided by showing us this tile and asking us about it before proceeding (see above), since we had more than 3 extra boxes of tile. Getting to know Mike and his crew during the project, we had thought them to be generally cooperative and hard-working, despite the issues above. Based on these qualities and what appeared to be a heartfelt promise to return to correct and/or complete the remaining components of the project, we did give Mike his final payment on March 28. Note that it is preferred practice to withhold final payment until all of the agreed work is completed or finalized, but we trusted his word and sincerity. When Mike finally returned our call regarding scheduling a follow up appointment in early April, he said there was a family illness, but he stated he would come out to fix the shower doors and he had something that could take the dried grout “right off” the tile. He also agreed to plane down the bottom of the hallway bath door due to the additional cleaning we were had to do as a result of not covering and/or protecting floors and vanities, etc. to avoid additional mess or debris while demolition or construction was underway. (Two times they dropped debris on the washer and dryer in the basement before covering them when they were demolishing the old shower base and walls.) When we didn’t hear back from him, we tried calling and emailing him again as of April 20, but no response until and email on April 28 saying he would call us the next day. He neither called nor email us anything after April 28. We continued trying to call and email him many times through May 6, but no response. I mentioned to him I was hoping I could give him a good referral, but we needed to have some of the unfinished problems resolved. I know he was aware of our calls, since I spoke to the man who referred him to us and he told me he saw Mike and told him he should call us, which he agreed he would do that day, but didn’t. We have been forced to conclude, after the many calls and emails to Mike, that he has decided he can just ignore fixing the problems on the work, for which he was paid in full. Unfortunately, we had to look for another contractor to correct the problems he left. That cost almost an extra $200 and we still have to clean the tile in the shower stall, which has a lot more grout and haze than we originally thought.

This would have been a positive review had this company finished their work and responded to my messages. After four messages and a month of waiting I have not gotten one response back in regards to the work that needs to be complete. My floor chipped the night the installation was finished and the floor board was supposed to be replaced. The molding was not secured adequately so it is hanging off my wall. The door stop was never put back on resulting in a hole that keeps getting bigger, and since the drywall had to be patched in multiple places during the installation, my newly painted walls needed to be repainted. All of these were easy fixes, but I guess since we made the mistake of already paying them, it wasn't worth their time. I am extremely disappointed in a company I thought had integrity.

good but at the end of the job I had more work that he was going to do and never came back.

Great! I wish I could remember the guy's name. I'd hire him again!

unknown

Everything went well however, all the work is sub-contracted so i had two different people come out to do the work.  Never saw the pressure washer guy, he had to cancel the first appointment and came back on a day I was not home. 

unknown

Price included parts. my house was built in the 70's so fixing and/or replacing seldom goes smoothly.  i have used Bob's Handyman Service many times over the last few years and he can always handle whatever challenges he finds in this old place.   and on this visit, he re-did the tub area caulking at no charge...  he had caulked it about a year ago and it had turned a yucky yellow. Bob's son Mike is now working with him and they are 2 of the nicest, most down-to-earth, honest people i've met in a long time.  they even drop off christmas bags full of fun promo stuff every year!

The project went great! Owner Bob and Partner Bob's Son were here when they said they'd be here, they thoroughly cleaned up their mess and took time to answer any of my questions.  I also threw them a few curve-balls in the process by asking them to do a few additional things, or to change the original plan, they were totally cool and flexible with my requests. 
Anyone in the Geneva, ST. Charles, Batavia area that is looking for a solid general handyman should consider these guys.

We had been trying with no success to find someone to secure some pieces of vinyl siding that were coming loose at various places around the house. The siding companies we contacted didn't want to do such a small job. Over the winter a storm tore several pieces, and someone told us a handyman could probably fix the siding as well as several other things we needed done around the house.  Since we had received an Angie's List subscription as a gift, we decided to check out the site.  Bob's Handyman Service stood out since he was in our area and all of the reviews were excellent.  We set up an appointment for Bob to come and give us an estimate.  He arrived at our house at exactly the time he said he would be there and was extremely courteous and professional.  Within one day we received a written estimate for the rather long list we gave him and went ahead and scheduled the work.
On the day we were scheduled, Bob and Mike arrived at precisely the time that was agreed upon.  I really appreciate when a contractor arrives on time.  All of the work was completed in a few hours and was done well.  The thing that amazed us most was that he was able to match the siding.  You would never know which pieces were replaced.  We would highly recommend Bob's Handyman Service to anyone needing to take care of their "honey do" list!

Father son duo who I thought were nice guys.  They finished the job and I wanted to inspect before I paid.  I came home to 4 bags of garbage, 5 gallon bucket of tar and scrap drywall pieces throughout the garage.  I asked him if he could swing by the next day and remove the garbage and he flipped out.  Dropped F bombs and I kicked him out of my house and told him never to drive past my house again.  When someone works on your house you should not know they were there and this was not the case.  His definition of clean and mine were way off.  He told me he has never taken trash away from a site before and I found that very hard to believe.  And if he doesn't remove trash he must have a lot of unhappy customers.  Being a local guy I could not believe the unprofessionalism I witnessed after asking him to remove the trash they had created.  NEVER USE THIS GUY.

unknown

Bob and his son Mike do excellent work. I have used Bob for kitchen remodel and bathroom remodel. His pricing is very good and his attention to detail is wonderful. I would recommend Bob to anyone looking for an honest and fair professional who does quality work.

Replaced medicine cabinet, requiring removal and replacement plus drywall repair and painting. He originally thought it might involve moving the bathroom light fixture, which would involve moving the electrical box in the wall, but it did not so we were credited on the final bill. We also had him replace bath faucet and spouts. This required tile removal, pipe soldering and tile replacement. Again, wewere extremely pleased with the results.

over the last 2 years, Bob has put up shelves and curtain rods, stopped a roof from leaking, fixed sink stoppers, custom made a storm window, moved a mail box, patched a ceiling hole, changed a bathtub faucet. Great guy, good prices, on time, knows what he's doing. Highly recommend.