Weeks of unanswered messages left one homeowner unable to get help with small repairs, even though they were ready to pay.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit post, one homeowner described spending more than a month trying to get responses before getting a dishwasher installed.
Following that job, they put out a request for a contractor to remove a metal ceiling panel so a plumber could access a leak behind it. Getting that panel taken down became the next job held up by unreturned calls.
"Do they not want my money?" they wrote. "I'm desperate to give them money! The ceiling thing won't even be hard, it's just too bulky to do ourselves!"
With a contractor located nearby, the homeowner doubted that demand in their rural area accounted for the lack of responses.
Several commenters pointed to the size of the jobs as a possible obstacle.
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"It's probably because these are small jobs," wrote one commenter, who said they were a handyman. "Most contractors don't want to show up for small oddjobs."
More background
One person, who said they were a contractor, explained that installing a dishwasher can require more coordination than homeowners might expect.
Their example started at around $800 and included a cabinet subcontractor, an electrician, and a plumber, along with overhead and profit.
The communication problems were not limited to small repairs. Another Redditor said finding someone to redo a shower took five months and required contacting around 12 contractors.
What can be done?
For the ceiling panel, several commenters suggested looking for a local handyman rather than a contractor.
A minimum charge may apply even to a brief visit. The advantage would be finding someone who routinely handles small repairs instead of a shop focused on larger projects.
For the dishwasher, another commenter suggested checking whether the seller offers installation with delivery for an additional fee.
The original poster's frustration with arranging the dishwasher installation did not extend to its cost.
"Oh yeah, this ended up at $1200 because it's an ancient house with weird systems and I think that was absolutely fair," they said. "The price is the one thing I had no issue with."
Where can I learn more?
Other homeowners have run into similar delays while trying to get quotes or help with installation problems.
• A Los Angeles homeowner reported a ceiling leak and contractor silence after HVAC installation.
• A homeowner received a $1,300 quote to clear three AC drain lines, prompting technicians' criticism.
• A homeowner expecting a $149 diagnosis faced a separate $600 fee for AC service.
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