Rant: Nearly electrocuted myself installing DeWalt lights for $150 job

Was hanging up some DeWalt LED recessed lights in a kitchen remodel yesterday, charged the homeowner $150 flat for the install since it seemed straightforward. Ladder tipped when I was reaching for the last fixture, nearly shorted out the whole circuit and fried my ass. These cheap home depot extensions are a death trap, never again.

man i feel that, ladders are the silent killer in this gig.

fuck these homeowners expecting miracles for pocket change while we risk our necks. time to hike rates on all electrical add-ons.

don't skimp on ladder safety. always tie off if you're over 6 feet up.

what brand of extension were you using? mine's a husky and it's been solid.

same here, almost zapped myself on a outlet swap last week.

every time i see a deWalt job go south it's the ladder. get a real one.

glad you're ok, that sounds scary as hell.

NGL, i hate deWalt prices for what you get sometimes. but yeah, near miss.

haha, did you yell like in those cartoons? bet the homeowner freaked.

pisses me off when a simple $150 gig turns into a hospital bill waiting to happen.

customer called in a panic after i mentioned it, offered free lawn service for a year lol.

watched a scott brown video on ladder setups, changed my whole approach.

go gorilla ladders next time, they're bombproof for under $100.

up in minnesota and, these close calls keep me up at night.

yeah, i've had two in the last year alone. time to slow down.

sharkbite fittings saved me from a plumbing near miss, but electrical? no shortcuts.

all these stories make me wanna quit solo work and team up.

same boat, buddy. near misses suck the joy out.

i made bank after a decade, but these risks ain't worth it anymore.

damn, $150 for that? i charge double minimum now.

home depot inspectors passed my last job but failed the one before, bs.

felt that. my back still hurts from a similar tip-over.

guy in handyman nation group posted pics of his ladder fail, total write-off.

always double check your stance before reaching.

r/handyman had a thread on this last week, tons of stories.

use deWalt's own ladder accessories, they integrate perfect.

frustrated with these budget jobs turning deadly.

PE firms buying up handyman services, jacking up insurance costs too.

yeah man, you're not alone in this crap.

rural ohio here, and these mishaps are common with old barns.

tie the ladder to something sturdy every time, saved me from a fall.

clients don't get how one slip can end your career.

frustrated af, just raised my minimum to $200 after a scare.