Okay, here's the name and shame page. Hopefully the naming will not be about much shaming but, sadly, we all know that not all contractors and service providers are made the same. Let me start off with an index (specifics can be found in listed order under the index):
Remax Executives - Carol Lavigne - Success
My Maids - FailureU-Haul - Success
Magic Maids -
Eric (From Restore) - Success
Alex Hoyt - B&H Yard and Home - Success
Success
Remax Executives - Carol Lavigne
My experience with most real estate agents is that they are simply sales people. No more trustworthy or valuable then the next one. Carol has made me reassess that position. She is definitely a deal maker, don't be fooled about that, however she is on your side even when she's disagreeing with you. She will also try to make sure that regardless of how stressed and annoyed you are (and if you are not - you ain't serious about house buying) you will not lose sight of the goal line.My first interaction with her was her telling me to avoid a listing even though it was her own. Clearly understanding our desires and needs, she did not letting us get mired down into a property that appeared ideal for us but was, in truth, nothing that we, her clients, wanted. She could have encouraged us down a road that would end in tears for us and given her twice the profit - but she did not.
What more needs to be said?
Failure
My Maids We never even got service from this outfit and they totally failed. We scheduled a Wednesday appointment with this firm but it was just after Hurricane Irene (2011). When we were told that the appointment was going to be broken because one of the housekeepers was having some post-Irene troubles - no problem. It was when we were finally told that was the problem.
Yvonne was sitting at the new house @ 9 AM waiting for the housekeepers when she called the office to find out if the appointment was being kept. "Yes, they are on their way". At 10 AM she called them again. "Sorry they are late but they are on their way." At 11:30 AM Yvonne called one more time only to finally be told that the appointment would not be kept. Okay, at this point we have fail but My Maids was not satisfied with half marks.
Yvonne let them reschedule an appointment but was skeptical. She talked with me about it and decided that one of my business/social axioms totally applied. "How a relationship starts generally predicts the nature of its life." If you start from a good place with respect, you'll generally have it. If you start with lies and deceit, you'll generally have that. The first sentence has not always proven true but the second has proven accurate without fail.
Thursday night Yvonne calls the service, gets voicemail, and leaves a cancellation notice. That morning we receive a phone call from My Maids stating to us that they require 48 hours notice for cancellation. For extra fail credit they cap off their un-success by informing us to expect a billing invoice in the mail from them. One of my neighbors has to have a cat for me to use that invoice as litter lining - in fact I'll go get a cat just for that purpose alone!
Update: I forgot to include the bait and switch. On their website and newspaper coupon/mailings My Maids suggests that you call for a free estimate. In practice it is more correctly called a non-existent estimate. They refused to give one over the phone, even a rough one over the phone.
Update: I forgot to include the bait and switch. On their website and newspaper coupon/mailings My Maids suggests that you call for a free estimate. In practice it is more correctly called a non-existent estimate. They refused to give one over the phone, even a rough one over the phone.
Success
U-Haul @ Central Ave, Dover NHI have to tell you, U-Haul seriously screwed us over when we moved up to New Hampshire. We hired laborers to load the truck but when we went to pick up the truck we ordered a week in advance (and provided CC# for) it was just not there. No reason, not even an apologizing excuse, we ain't got it - tough cookies kiddies. So, U-Haul has been on my s-list since then.
Let me be honest, U-Haul still is however since we are moving around the local area I decided to give them another go round. I like one of the service commitments they've made since that time 6 years ago. Now if your truck is not there U-Haul will pay you $50. While $50 didn't even come close to offsetting the extra costs we incurred running around when they bailed on us it does signify a commitment in the only thing a business truly cares about - cash.
When we arrived, the truck was there and ready for us. The manager was polite, caffeinated, and helpful. Tossed in a couple of furniture dollies in the back when I asked about them - no charge. He was clear and concise about our requirements and quite firm about when the truck must be back. It was scheduled for another customer - a detail he clearly informed us about.
So, up check on success for U-Haul - Locally. I don't know if I'll trust them ever again when it is a long distance move. Burn me twice, I can be okay with that. When my wife or family is involved, you get once - period.
Failure
Magic MaidsAnother cleaning service but this time we got the service. More like we were promised an elevator and only got the shaft. In essence, the house was cleaned but not well.
I'm not the most trim right trim kind of former military guy around. I've got dust on my shoulders older than some people's kids. I freely admit to people that I am lazy but it is a specific kind of lazy. Getting me to commit to something is hard because I know my work ethic. When I put my hand to something I do it right even if I have to go back at it again and again. Not a perfectionist mind you, just the way I am. But I'm lazy - I only want to do the damn job once and I get very annoyed with myself when I have to go back again and again.
Which brings me to the failure mark on the measuring stick: when you sit down to do a job, and you collect the money for it, one should have at least done the job right.
When I checked the top cabinets in the kitchen I was not surprised that dust and dirt remained. The maids were short and I saw no stools or step ladders. When I found dust and grime on the upper sills of the windows, again I was not surprised. These things I would do myself simply because I'm a reasonable man. However when the tops of the doors had dust on dust, the lower kitchen cabinets had dust and dirt, and the drawers still had accrued detritus that daily life leaves behind - fail.
Of course the failure is part mine. I was on the phone with my wife and I was repeating cleaning objectives from her out loud. As I was doing this the senior maid was shaking her head confirming that various areas had been cleaned. Instead of personally checking I was nice and took her word for it (I'm such a buffoon at times). After the ladies from the service left, carrying a $160 cheque of mine, I was walking through the kitchen and something twigged my inspection genes.
Again, not to be satisfied with partially failure marks Magic Maids strives for non-excellence.
With a certain amount of dread I called my wife to inform her of the partial work not knowing the full extent of poor job. As I was talking to her I opened up a drawer and found a dirt pile in the corners. Not just some dust, I mean a pile of dirt. (See picture) Let's just say that my annoyance level exploded to the "stop payment on check" setting. First though I called their office, @ 2 PM, and got an answering machine. I left a message explaining my dissatisfaction leaving my name, my number, and my wife's name (who set up the appointment). We have yet to receive a call back and it is now the morning after.
Even when I was a bachelor I never made a woman wait this long for a call back.
Fail.
Update: Magic Maids did come back and re-clean the house. This time around they got the job 90% accurate. Considering our luck with maid services - That's a passing grade.
Success
Eric (from Restore)
This may seem strange to include this young man in this line up but truth be told he was paid to help us move and that makes him a contractor. He not only was stellar in the moving of furniture but he even came back an additional day to help empty our Pod. Granted this may have been in part from a growing sense of camaraderie but credit where credit goes.
Success
Alex Hoyt - B&H Yard and Home Enhancement
(603)978-6169
Another Restore hook up here. First time I met Alex he was give me static about one of my hammers (He called it a cheap P.O.S.) while working at the Restore build up at Newington. I next met him at the old location. I overheard him discussing some contracting that he was doing so I asked him for his card. Since then I have hired him for two small projects and he's about to begin a third bigger project. He is not cheap but he is also not too expensive. More importantly he does good work. In a two week period I'll be pumping about two grand worth of work into him and he's been worth every penny. (You can see his work on the projects page.)
Update: Magic Maids did come back and re-clean the house. This time around they got the job 90% accurate. Considering our luck with maid services - That's a passing grade.
Success
Eric (from Restore)
This may seem strange to include this young man in this line up but truth be told he was paid to help us move and that makes him a contractor. He not only was stellar in the moving of furniture but he even came back an additional day to help empty our Pod. Granted this may have been in part from a growing sense of camaraderie but credit where credit goes.Success
Alex Hoyt - B&H Yard and Home Enhancement
(603)978-6169
Another Restore hook up here. First time I met Alex he was give me static about one of my hammers (He called it a cheap P.O.S.) while working at the Restore build up at Newington. I next met him at the old location. I overheard him discussing some contracting that he was doing so I asked him for his card. Since then I have hired him for two small projects and he's about to begin a third bigger project. He is not cheap but he is also not too expensive. More importantly he does good work. In a two week period I'll be pumping about two grand worth of work into him and he's been worth every penny. (You can see his work on the projects page.)
