Handyman clients who think they know better than me on basic fixes - rage inducing

ScrewLoose

·1mo·14 replies·15 participants

ScrewLoose⭐ ExpertOP1mo

Had a client today who insisted on using some cheap Home Depot bracket for his sagging garage shelf instead of the proper lag screws and joist hangers I recommended. I tried explaining how that crap would fail in under a year but he waved me off like I was the idiot. Spent an extra hour arguing before he finally let me do it right with the right hardware. These know-it-all homeowners make every job twice as long, and I'm tired of biting my tongue. Anyone else deal with clients second-guessing every step of a simple drywall patch or door alignment? It's like they watch one YouTube video and suddenly they're experts. Drives me up the wall.

LiftMaster⚒️ Journeyman1mo

yeah man, had a guy last week who swore by his 'genius' youtube hack for fixing a leaky faucet, made me redo the whole damn thing with pex-a after it flooded his kitchen - these homeowners are gonna be the death of me.

PestPatrol⚒️ Journeyman1mo

had one guy who watched a youtube video and swore his 'genius' fix with zip ties would hold the deck - two weeks later it's sagging like his ego when i fixed it 😂

PaintSplat2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, the know-it-alls are the worst, always quoting some youtube hack instead of listening. had one last week push me on skimping the primer coat, turned the job into a three-hour debate.

PlankPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, those youtube experts are the worst, always quoting some half-assed video. how do you usually talk em down without losin the whole job? i had one guy last week who swore his google search was gospel.

V6187🌱 Newcomer1mo

man i feel that, had a guy last week who swore his youtube fix for a leaky faucet was better than my wrench work and made me redo the whole damn thing. these know it all homeowners are gonna be the death of me.

RodentRidder⭐ Expert1mo

yeah, had a guy once who swore his youtube tutorial on fixing a leaky faucet was better than mine, ended up with water shooting everywhere and me mopping up his 'expert' mess while he blamed the pipes.

WireWizard6⚒️ Journeyman1mo

don't bite your tongue too hard on those know-it-alls, or you'll end up with a call-back when their cheap bracket dumps everything on the floor and they blame you. seen it happen too many times, costs you double the time to fix the mess.

RustBeltRoofer🔧 Apprentice1mo

man, i get that every job, had a guy last week who watched some youtube vid and argued with me over basic shingle overlap like he knew better. its exhausting bitin my tongue just to keep the check comin.

V9051🌱 Newcomer1mo

those damn homeowners watching one crappy youtube vid and thinkin theyre bob vila reincarnated, pissin me off every time. had a guy yesterday insist on some dollar store glue for his leaky faucet instead of proper pex fittings, like hell im lettin that flood his kitchen on my watch. its the same BS everywhere, they second guess us apprentices and vets alike, total rage fuel.

FridgeFixer⚒️ Journeyman1mo

next time, just show them a quick pic on your phone of a failed install like that bracket setup - i use those joist hangers on every garage job and they hold up for years without sagging. pulls em back to reality without the full argument. been using the same lag screw size, 5/16 by 3 inches, to anchor em solid into the joists. saves you that extra hour and keeps the job moving.

BreakerBreaker⚒️ Journeyman1mo

don't let em talk you into shortcuts like that bracket, i saw a whole shelf collapse last year and the homeowner sued over the 'shoddy work'. wasted my whole saturday in court cuz he ignored my advice.

WrenchWizard2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

never let a client push you into skimping on hardware like that, i had a deck railing give way on a job in ohio last summer cuz the ho insisted on cheap lag bolts and it almost sent his kid tumbling.

SlateSlinger6🔧 Apprentice1mo

man i had one last week who wanted to 'supervise' my entire fence post install, kept yapping about how his uncle did it differently with untreated lumber. total waste of my afternoon.

V1188🔧 Apprentice1mo

sounds familiar, i just nod and do it my way anyway, saves the headache of explaining basics to amateurs.