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Sidequest 21: Reddit Contractor Nightmares, The "Materials Scam," & Unpermitted Disasters đźš©
Grab your concert tees and get ready to rock, because this is the Sidequest of the 90s!
This week, Emily went rogue in the basement office and dug into the depths of Reddit to find some truly unhinged contractor horror stories. Samantha, Arly, and Emily read through four different nightmares and provide their professional commentary on the massive red flags these homeowners missed.
In this Sidequest, we react to:
A custom window disaster where 3.5-meter tall glass panels were secured with small screws and blew right into the house.
A $9,999 defamation lawsuit over a bad review.
The all-too-common "Materials Scam," where sketchy crews over-order insulation and lumber to stash for their side gigs.
A "somewhat simple" kitchen and double-bathroom remodel that was handed off to an unlicensed subcontractor from Lowe's.
Plus, we share essential Handyma'am advice:
The Box Store Secret: Why you should never assume a contractor referred by Lowe's, Menards, or Home Depot is vetted or qualified. (Home Depot literally ranks their Pros by how much money they spend on materials! ).
License Verification: Step-by-step instructions on how to look up your contractor's license through your state's regulatory affairs website (like LARA in Michigan).
The Discount Red Flag: Why a legit business with workers comp and overhead cannot afford to offer you a $5,000 "act today" discount.
Did you love this Reddit episode? Search for the How To Handyma'am group on Facebook and let us know if we should make this a regular series!
View all episodes
By Samantha Pearl|Lic. Builder, Emily Pearl Reist|Lic. Builder, and Arly StreedGrab your concert tees and get ready to rock, because this is the Sidequest of the 90s!
This week, Emily went rogue in the basement office and dug into the depths of Reddit to find some truly unhinged contractor horror stories. Samantha, Arly, and Emily read through four different nightmares and provide their professional commentary on the massive red flags these homeowners missed.
In this Sidequest, we react to:
A custom window disaster where 3.5-meter tall glass panels were secured with small screws and blew right into the house.
A $9,999 defamation lawsuit over a bad review.
The all-too-common "Materials Scam," where sketchy crews over-order insulation and lumber to stash for their side gigs.
A "somewhat simple" kitchen and double-bathroom remodel that was handed off to an unlicensed subcontractor from Lowe's.
Plus, we share essential Handyma'am advice:
The Box Store Secret: Why you should never assume a contractor referred by Lowe's, Menards, or Home Depot is vetted or qualified. (Home Depot literally ranks their Pros by how much money they spend on materials! ).
License Verification: Step-by-step instructions on how to look up your contractor's license through your state's regulatory affairs website (like LARA in Michigan).
The Discount Red Flag: Why a legit business with workers comp and overhead cannot afford to offer you a $5,000 "act today" discount.
Did you love this Reddit episode? Search for the How To Handyma'am group on Facebook and let us know if we should make this a regular series!