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
·6mo·53 replies·54 participants
L
LeakHunterLila⚒️ JourneymanOP6mo
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⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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⚒️ Journeyman6mo
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⚒️ Journeyman6mo
36
FML, same here. Reported it but Google does jack.
B
BrushStrokePro8⚒️ Journeyman6mo
27
They never do, just pay for ads and pray.
K
KeyMaster6⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
Or hire a review service, but that feels shady.
G
GarageGuru4⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
Hate when clients ghost after the job but leave a meh review months later.
S
SawdustSavant26⚒️ Journeyman6mo
19
Ugh, that extra day BS is the worst, always some excuse.
S
SweepKing2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
59
Haha, client thought my DeWalt drill was too loud, gave me 4 stars for 'noise pollution' lol.
C
ChillMaster3⭐ Expert6mo
25
Dude I feel you, that 3-star stings when you poured sweat into it.
F
FittingFiend3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
13
Especially on a $2500 job, shoulda been 5 easy.
S
ShingleShark19⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
Yeah, clients don't get the value till it breaks later.
H
HammerTimePro3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
30
Those Family Handyman tips sound solid, gonna check em out for my next quote.
F
FlashingFox⚒️ Journeyman6mo
42
Same, their editor advice on photos could save my ass on disputes.
C
CircuitScreamer2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
48
Pro move, visuals win reviews every time.
S
SparkPlugJoe⚒️ Journeyman6mo
28
Big corps like Home Depot flood the reviews, us handymen get buried.
J
JunctionJunkie3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
26
And the algo favors them, it's a damn monopoly.
V
VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert6mo
29
Clients hit you with low stars then call back for fixes, wtf.
Z
ZapMaster⚒️ Journeyman6mo
28
Just laugh it off and keep stacking good jobs.
S
SprayTanSavant⭐ Expert6mo
15
Easier said, but yeah, volume over perfection.
C
CanvasKing6⚒️ Journeyman6mo
53
Haha my last review said 'nice guy but slow' after I fixed their leaky faucet for free overtime.
R
RoofRat874⚒️ Journeyman6mo
29
Yelp is even worse, bots and trolls everywhere.
P
PrunePro2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
45
Man, been there with a remodel, client changed mind mid-job and blamed me.
S
SparkFail⚒️ Journeyman6mo
39
Lol, at least yours used DeWalt, mine cheaped out on tools and it showed in the review.
B
BenderBuddy⚒️ Journeyman6mo
23
These platforms are a scam, designed to keep us chasing stars.
S
SpotlessSteve⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
Totally get the frustration, one bad review tanks a month's leads.
V
VentMaster992⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
Ask for reviews right after, while it's fresh.
V
VentMaster99⚒️ Journeyman6mo
2
SharkBite fittings behind walls? Nah, but for reviews, always get em in writing first. Fight me.
S
SawdustSoul⚒️ Journeyman6mo
17
Sucks man, I've had clients lowball stars over nothing.
B
BugBlaster4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
31
Same boat, $2k job and they nitpick the finish.
A
AntAnnihilator3⭐ Expert5mo
30
Feels like we're always the villains in their story.
T
TileTamer5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
42
Haha, had a guy review me for 'not matching his vision' on a budget paint job.
H
HammerTimeHarry⚒️ Journeyman5mo
29
The man.
T
ThermostatTech⚒️ Journeyman5mo
14
Google straight up suppresses small biz unless you pay for prominence.
S
SawdustSavant15⚒️ Journeyman5mo
17
I feel your pain, reviews are make or break for us solos.
R
RoofRatKing⚒️ Journeyman5mo
15
Yeah, one 3-star and poof, no calls for weeks.
D
DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert5mo
23
Building a portfolio like Family Handyman suggests might help counter that.
P
PipeDreamer25⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
Man, clients expect perfection for peanuts then ding you.
N
NailGunNinja9⚒️ Journeyman5mo
16
Had a similar kitchen gig, ended up eating the cost to bump the review.
D
DirtBagLandscaper4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
25
Sucks, but focus on referrals over online noise.
K
KeyMaster8⚒️ Journeyman5mo
19
Those tips from the editors could be gold for lead gen.
P
PlumbDumb⭐ Expert5mo
27
SharkBite is fine if installed right, same with reviews: manage em aggressively or get burned.
T
TileTerror11⚒️ Journeyman5mo
23
Google's review system is broken, favors the cheaters.
F
FrameForge⚒️ Journeyman5mo
4
Damn, $2500 and a 3-star? I'd be pissed too.
H
HardwoodHero3⭐ Expert5mo
14
Been grinding remodels for years, reviews still haunt me.
P
PipeDreamer19⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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🔧 Apprentice5mo
24
I hear ya, one bad apple spoils the bunch.
R
RollerRabbit2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
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⚒️ Journeyman5mo
23
Proud of my 4.8 average after 10 years, but it took ignoring the trolls.
C
ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman5mo
26
Using pro tips like those to showcase work, reviews improved 20%.
W
WattTheHeck5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
29
Never trust a client who haggles then reviews stingy.
L
LawnLad2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
16
Hit 50 five-stars this year by over-delivering on small fixes.
W
WoodWhisperer⚒️ Journeyman5mo
21
Don't skip the walkthrough video, saves you from BS claims later.
W
WrenchWizard🔧 Apprentice5mo
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.
