Home/Growth/🔨 Handyman/Struggling with reviews after a $2500 kitchen remodel job? Family Handyman tips got me rethinking my game
Struggling with reviews after a $2500 kitchen remodel job? Family Handyman tips got me rethinking my game
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LeakHunterLila
·1mo·53 replies·54 participants
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LeakHunterLila⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo
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Man, just finished a $2500 kitchen remodel using DeWalt tools and the client hit me with a 3-star review on Google because the cabinets took an extra day. Saw this Family Handyman post on Twitter about their field editors sharing expert tips for better DIY and pro reputation management, and it hit home how I need to document my work better. NGL, reviews are killing my lead gen as a solo handyman.
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BoltBreaker2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Google's algorithm is rigged against us small guys, those big box stores buy their way to the top while we grind for every star.
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ShingleShaman3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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And don't get me started on fake reviews from competitors, had one drop my rating last month over a BS complaint.
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DoorJammer2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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FML, same here. Reported it but Google does jack.
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BrushStrokePro8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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They never do, just pay for ads and pray.
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KeyMaster6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Or hire a review service, but that feels shady.
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GarageGuru4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Hate when clients ghost after the job but leave a meh review months later.
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SawdustSavant26⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Ugh, that extra day BS is the worst, always some excuse.
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SweepKing2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Haha, client thought my DeWalt drill was too loud, gave me 4 stars for 'noise pollution' lol.
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ChillMaster3⭐ Expert1mo
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Dude I feel you, that 3-star stings when you poured sweat into it.
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FittingFiend3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Especially on a $2500 job, shoulda been 5 easy.
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ShingleShark19⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Yeah, clients don't get the value till it breaks later.
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HammerTimePro3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Those Family Handyman tips sound solid, gonna check em out for my next quote.
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FlashingFox⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Same, their editor advice on photos could save my ass on disputes.
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CircuitScreamer2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Pro move, visuals win reviews every time.
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SparkPlugJoe⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Big corps like Home Depot flood the reviews, us handymen get buried.
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JunctionJunkie3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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And the algo favors them, it's a damn monopoly.
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VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert1mo
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Clients hit you with low stars then call back for fixes, wtf.
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ZapMaster⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Just laugh it off and keep stacking good jobs.
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SprayTanSavant⭐ Expert1mo
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Easier said, but yeah, volume over perfection.
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CanvasKing6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Haha my last review said 'nice guy but slow' after I fixed their leaky faucet for free overtime.
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RoofRat874⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Yelp is even worse, bots and trolls everywhere.
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PrunePro2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Man, been there with a remodel, client changed mind mid-job and blamed me.
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SparkFail⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Lol, at least yours used DeWalt, mine cheaped out on tools and it showed in the review.
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BenderBuddy⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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These platforms are a scam, designed to keep us chasing stars.
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SpotlessSteve⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Totally get the frustration, one bad review tanks a month's leads.
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VentMaster992⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Ask for reviews right after, while it's fresh.
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VentMaster99⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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SharkBite fittings behind walls? Nah, but for reviews, always get em in writing first. Fight me.
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SawdustSoul⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Sucks man, I've had clients lowball stars over nothing.
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BugBlaster4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Same boat, $2k job and they nitpick the finish.
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AntAnnihilator3⭐ Expert1mo
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Feels like we're always the villains in their story.
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TileTamer5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Haha, had a guy review me for 'not matching his vision' on a budget paint job.
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HammerTimeHarry⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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The man.
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ThermostatTech⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Google straight up suppresses small biz unless you pay for prominence.
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SawdustSavant15⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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I feel your pain, reviews are make or break for us solos.
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RoofRatKing⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Yeah, one 3-star and poof, no calls for weeks.
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DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert1mo
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Building a portfolio like Family Handyman suggests might help counter that.
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PipeDreamer25⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Man, clients expect perfection for peanuts then ding you.
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NailGunNinja9⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Had a similar kitchen gig, ended up eating the cost to bump the review.
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DirtBagLandscaper4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Sucks, but focus on referrals over online noise.
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KeyMaster8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Those tips from the editors could be gold for lead gen.
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PlumbDumb⭐ Expert1mo
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SharkBite is fine if installed right, same with reviews: manage em aggressively or get burned.
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TileTerror11⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Google's review system is broken, favors the cheaters.
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FrameForge⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Damn, $2500 and a 3-star? I'd be pissed too.
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HardwoodHero3⭐ Expert1mo
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Been grinding remodels for years, reviews still haunt me.
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PipeDreamer19⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, reviews after a big remodel like that always suck, had a similar $2500 kitchen job where the family nitpicked everything and tanked my rating.
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BugBlaster7🔧 Apprentice1mo
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I hear ya, one bad apple spoils the bunch.
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RollerRabbit2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah, one bad review and suddenly you're the handyman who turns kitchens into bonfires, family handyman musta forgot the chapter on fireproof clients.
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TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Proud of my 4.8 average after 10 years, but it took ignoring the trolls.
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ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Using pro tips like those to showcase work, reviews improved 20%.
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WattTheHeck5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Never trust a client who haggles then reviews stingy.
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LawnLad2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Hit 50 five-stars this year by over-delivering on small fixes.
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WoodWhisperer⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Don't skip the walkthrough video, saves you from BS claims later.
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WrenchWizard🔧 Apprentice1mo
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walkthrough videos are my secret weapon... until the customer claims i photoshoped the cat hair outta the cabinets. now i just film the cat too, for good measure.
