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
L
LeakHunterLila
·3mo·53 replies·54 participants
L
LeakHunterLila⚒️ JourneymanOP3mo
122
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.
B
BoltBreaker2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
18
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.
S
ShingleShaman3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
14
And don't get me started on fake reviews from competitors, had one drop my rating last month over a BS complaint.
D
DoorJammer2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
36
FML, same here. Reported it but Google does jack.
B
BrushStrokePro8⚒️ Journeyman3mo
27
They never do, just pay for ads and pray.
K
KeyMaster6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
Or hire a review service, but that feels shady.
G
GarageGuru4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
Hate when clients ghost after the job but leave a meh review months later.
S
SawdustSavant26⚒️ Journeyman3mo
19
Ugh, that extra day BS is the worst, always some excuse.
S
SweepKing2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
59
Haha, client thought my DeWalt drill was too loud, gave me 4 stars for 'noise pollution' lol.
C
ChillMaster3⭐ Expert3mo
25
Dude I feel you, that 3-star stings when you poured sweat into it.
F
FittingFiend3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
13
Especially on a $2500 job, shoulda been 5 easy.
S
ShingleShark19⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
Yeah, clients don't get the value till it breaks later.
H
HammerTimePro3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
30
Those Family Handyman tips sound solid, gonna check em out for my next quote.
F
FlashingFox⚒️ Journeyman3mo
42
Same, their editor advice on photos could save my ass on disputes.
C
CircuitScreamer2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
48
Pro move, visuals win reviews every time.
S
SparkPlugJoe⚒️ Journeyman3mo
28
Big corps like Home Depot flood the reviews, us handymen get buried.
J
JunctionJunkie3⚒️ Journeyman3mo
26
And the algo favors them, it's a damn monopoly.
V
VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert3mo
29
Clients hit you with low stars then call back for fixes, wtf.
Z
ZapMaster⚒️ Journeyman3mo
28
Just laugh it off and keep stacking good jobs.
S
SprayTanSavant⭐ Expert3mo
15
Easier said, but yeah, volume over perfection.
C
CanvasKing6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
53
Haha my last review said 'nice guy but slow' after I fixed their leaky faucet for free overtime.
R
RoofRat874⚒️ Journeyman3mo
29
Yelp is even worse, bots and trolls everywhere.
P
PrunePro2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
45
Man, been there with a remodel, client changed mind mid-job and blamed me.
S
SparkFail⚒️ Journeyman3mo
39
Lol, at least yours used DeWalt, mine cheaped out on tools and it showed in the review.
B
BenderBuddy⚒️ Journeyman3mo
23
These platforms are a scam, designed to keep us chasing stars.
S
SpotlessSteve⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
Totally get the frustration, one bad review tanks a month's leads.
V
VentMaster992⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
Ask for reviews right after, while it's fresh.
V
VentMaster99⚒️ Journeyman3mo
2
SharkBite fittings behind walls? Nah, but for reviews, always get em in writing first. Fight me.
S
SawdustSoul⚒️ Journeyman3mo
17
Sucks man, I've had clients lowball stars over nothing.
B
BugBlaster4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
31
Same boat, $2k job and they nitpick the finish.
A
AntAnnihilator3⭐ Expert3mo
30
Feels like we're always the villains in their story.
T
TileTamer5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
42
Haha, had a guy review me for 'not matching his vision' on a budget paint job.
H
HammerTimeHarry⚒️ Journeyman3mo
29
The man.
T
ThermostatTech⚒️ Journeyman3mo
14
Google straight up suppresses small biz unless you pay for prominence.
S
SawdustSavant15⚒️ Journeyman3mo
17
I feel your pain, reviews are make or break for us solos.
R
RoofRatKing⚒️ Journeyman3mo
15
Yeah, one 3-star and poof, no calls for weeks.
D
DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert3mo
23
Building a portfolio like Family Handyman suggests might help counter that.
P
PipeDreamer25⚒️ Journeyman3mo
20
Man, clients expect perfection for peanuts then ding you.
N
NailGunNinja9⚒️ Journeyman3mo
16
Had a similar kitchen gig, ended up eating the cost to bump the review.
D
DirtBagLandscaper4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
25
Sucks, but focus on referrals over online noise.
K
KeyMaster8⚒️ Journeyman3mo
19
Those tips from the editors could be gold for lead gen.
P
PlumbDumb⭐ Expert3mo
27
SharkBite is fine if installed right, same with reviews: manage em aggressively or get burned.
T
TileTerror11⚒️ Journeyman3mo
23
Google's review system is broken, favors the cheaters.
F
FrameForge⚒️ Journeyman3mo
4
Damn, $2500 and a 3-star? I'd be pissed too.
H
HardwoodHero3⭐ Expert3mo
14
Been grinding remodels for years, reviews still haunt me.
P
PipeDreamer19⚒️ Journeyman3mo
0
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.
B
BugBlaster7🔧 Apprentice3mo
24
I hear ya, one bad apple spoils the bunch.
R
RollerRabbit2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
0
yeah, one bad review and suddenly you're the handyman who turns kitchens into bonfires, family handyman musta forgot the chapter on fireproof clients.
T
TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman3mo
23
Proud of my 4.8 average after 10 years, but it took ignoring the trolls.
C
ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman3mo
26
Using pro tips like those to showcase work, reviews improved 20%.
W
WattTheHeck5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
29
Never trust a client who haggles then reviews stingy.
L
LawnLad2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
16
Hit 50 five-stars this year by over-delivering on small fixes.
W
WoodWhisperer⚒️ Journeyman3mo
21
Don't skip the walkthrough video, saves you from BS claims later.
W
WrenchWizard🔧 Apprentice3mo
0
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.
