Walker General Contracting & Remodeling

"I should have slid the deposit check back across the table when I was asked at contract signing what would happen to their project if I died. Yes, you read that right. I think dealing with these members took a year off my life anyway, and at some point I may have even prayed outloud for the good Lord to take me. I had to endure enless tirades from her, some laced with tons of profanity. As example: - and with the pacing and anger of a caged squirrel - "WHY is your crew on the job before YOU?!" Answer: "Ma'am, that's their job. You should be thanking me." Oy. She couldn't make decisions and he wasn't allowed to. A perfect storm for a great customer experience. Build furniture-grade benches to precise specifications written down by her - with a mock-up from scrap wood to make sure, I might ad - and the next day I'm told to re-do it because it isn't to their liking. Changes are fair, but I had to do so many I gave up trying to keep track for charging them...I just wanted OUT. They made it sooooo pleasant to show up every day. Small list of bizarre events: - After a two-hour marathon design session for benches, which would require ripping the 1x6 plank format in half, I was called at 7:30 the next morning by a shouting her, and a virtually silent him, letting me know they didn't feel I knew how to cut wood in half accurately. Wow, and after all these years, something divided by two, then sanded smooth on the cut edges would just flat-out stump me. - I arrived one day to see what I thought was the result of a nearby cotton wood tree blooming - white stuff on the deck. Nope. He went out and bought bags of cotton balls and rubbed them over the benches to illustrate where rough spots existed. Note to the universe: if you rub cotton balls on just about ANYTHING....it'll stick. - I was pulled aside one time and told there was a faulty plank on the upper deck. O.k., fair enough. I go with them and am looking and looking. She then tells me, "here, if you come inside, behind the glass door, and bend down, tilt your head sideways, you'll see what I'm talking about." Sweet Jesus hold me. I could go all day on this member. Perhaps the most telling event to illustrate the environment: I had a carpenter and his helper son QUIT and refuse to return to this job because of the daily manic behaviour of her. Can you imagine? In this economy...hourly guys who'd rather sit at home than work because of a client's demeanor? Me neither. I am not here to say that I am always right, that I know everything, nor am I God's gift to the trade of carpentry. But I will stand on the laurels of my prior ratings and tell everyone reading this that I would rather do my own root canal with a rusted butter knife than ever work for the likes of these people again. My father was right: I don't HAVE to take every job, no matter what the money looks like. "There's a reason they are called red flags," he added. Dads are usually right. Lesson learned."

"Many thanks to this member for their kind and supportive report. Working with them was a pleasure and I am happy to have resolved the structural problems with their porch, and help add value and safety to their home. I'm here to help."

"This member was AWESOME to work with. Very easy going, clear in what they wanted, and trustful of my creative input and direction. It was a pleasure to add value and function to their home and if the contractors on Angie's List could file client report cards I'd give them an A straight across the board."

"A very fair and accurate appraisal by this member. Indeed, it's always the trim-out and little details that take time, and to be honest, yes, one of my guys did not bring his A game one day while doing the trim and casing. But, as the member rightly points out, it was quickly remedied and the final product came out just right. I pride myself in knowing that every single client gets the best possible product with a fair and reasonable budget. I'm glad I could help add value to their home and would gladly work for this member again."

"WE HAD A LOT OF FUN ON THIS ONE. THIS MEMBER IS A LOVELY FAMILY AND MADE SHOWING UP EVERY DAY A PLEASURE. SETTING AND MANAGING EXPECTATIONS ALL ALONG THE WAY WAS EASED BY THEIR TRUST IN MY ABILITY TO APPLY CREATIVE LICENSE WHERE NEEDED, AND FAITH IN MY SKILLS AND THAT OF MY CREW. I'D WORK FOR THE THEM AGAIN IN A HEARBEAT."

"THE MEMBERS ARE MODEL CLIENTS - OPEN TO SUGGESTION, TRUSTFUL OF ONE'S CREATIVE INPUT AND MORE THAN PLIABLE IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THE SHORT-LIVED DISCOMFORT OF AN INTERIOR REMODEL. ONE COULD ONLY HOPE TO HAVE FOLKS LIKE THEM AS EVERY CLIENT. I TRULY ENJOY SEEING A CLIENT'S FACE LIGHT UP WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR AFTER A GOOD DAY OF HARD WORK AND PROGRESS....EVEN AFTER THEIR DOG TAKES A NIP AT YOUR ANKLE! EASY, LUCY - I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS! - BERNIE"

"THANK YOU. IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO ADDRESS ALL OF YOUR NEEDS AND WANTS AND TO HELP REVITALIZE THE THE FRONT OF YOUR HOME. MANY THANKS FOR ALSO ALLOWING ME TO DESIGN MAJOR COMPONENTS AND TO PUT MY OWN PERSONAL TOUCHES - LIKE THE RAILING - INTO THE PROJECT."