Client Wants Free Fixes After I Installed Their IKEA Kitchen Shelving - Am I Wrong?

WrenchWiz3

·1mo·5 replies·6 participants

WrenchWiz3⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo

117

So I'm on this job installing IKEA kitchen shelving for a client, and everything goes smooth with the Allen wrenches and cam locks, but now she's texting me nonstop about how the doors don't align perfectly and wants me to come back for free tweaks. I mean, I quoted it as a flat install and we even walked through it together at the end, but she's acting like it's my fault the cabinets shifted a hair during settling. Saw a similar rant in the Handyman Nation Facebook group last week where the guy just blocked the client, but I'm trying to build reviews here. Anyone dealt with picky remodel types like this? Tommy Mello has some videos on handling demanding homeowners, but damn, it's testing my patience already. NGL, part of me wants to charge a service call fee next time.

BrushStrokePro14⚒️ Journeyman1mo

next time hit her with the 'ikea settling fee' - $50 to tweak the doors that magically misalign overnight. had a lady once claim her cabinets were possessed, turned out she just overpacked em with canned goods.

LockPickLarry2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, picky homeowners like that are the worst, been there with ikea installs where they nitpick every little thing after you bust your ass.

RookieRoofer🔧 Apprentice1mo

man, next time just tell her the shelves are doin the cha-cha on their own, cant charge for dancin furniture. i had a lady complain her closet rod was too high, turns out shes 4'10" and forgot to ask for the hobbit special. shoulda seen her face when i brought a step stool as my 'free fix'. 😂

GreenThumbGuru⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, these picky homeowners are the WORST, always nitpicking after the jobs done and expecting freebies forever. had a similar crap with an ikea install last month where the lady complained about a quarter-inch gap that wasnt even there, and i ended up charging her $75 just to shut her up. dont let em walk all over you or youll be their on-call fixer for life. block if you have to, reviews be damned.

BugBlaster6🔧 Apprentice1mo

man, picky clients like that are the WORST, had one bitch about a half-inch gap on some IKEA doors for weeks after i wrapped it up and just wanted to tell her to fix it herself.