Have you ever heard the phrase, “buyer beware?” It’s a great reminder to do your due diligence before investing in anything. Unfortunately, one of my clients learned this lesson too late when they bought a house that had been – unknowingly to them – destroyed by another contractor.
As a professional contractor, I’ve seen (and heard) some horror stories – but none more so than when this particular client came to me because the previous homeowner had hired an unlicensed handyman to do some home remodeling work. Of course, this is not to say that all handymen are incapable of doing quality work – but without the legal protections of licensing and insurance, it is almost certain that any mistakes or bad decisions made during a repair job won’t be covered or guaranteed.
Inexperience, Temporary Fixes, and Termites
My client ended up with several repairs and upgrades that would need to be redone for their house to be safe and secure. To start, instead of replacing a window properly, which would have cost around $1,000 to do correctly with labor and materials factored in, the previous owner’s handyman put what amounted to a very temporary fix on the matter.
This involved installing a new window, in which the handyman cut off a critical nail fin – leaving the window vulnerable to the elements. To make matters worse, they chose not to use flashing tape, which ended up being a costly mistake as water found its way into places it shouldn’t, resulting in wood rot and subterranean termites.
When my clients signed on the dotted line and moved into their dream home, they were unaware of this past poor workmanship. When Compass Craftsman was called on to fix the mess, it was an absolute catastrophe for the client—watching them go through this was heartbreaking.
The First Step Was Damage Control
After assessing the situation, my team quickly realized just how bad things were. To even begin repairing the client’s house and restoring it to its former glory, extensive damage control was necessary.
Once we completed our damage assessment, it was time to get down to business—but first, we needed a plan of action. We took photos of everything that needed repair or replacement so that nothing would be overlooked during the process.
After taking pictures of each problem area and documenting them in detail, we got to work making repairs and bringing life back into our client’s home.
Fixing the damage caused by someone who didn’t know what they were doing was a challenge, but we appreciated the chance to show our skills at restoring it into something beautiful and livable.
We took great care in ensuring everything was perfect down to every detail. As a result, this family’s home was given back its dignity and became an example of quality craftsmanship.
Seeing them enjoy living in it again made all the hard work worth it! We were thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this home back to life.
The Finished Product
The client was ecstatic with the final product; they couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw how different their home looked after we finished our work!
Not only did everything look brand new again, but their home also felt safer than ever because all of our home repairs were done right—the first time around!
The Last Word
At the end of the day, it is always important to invest wisely—especially when purchasing something like real estate property. However, doing your research can save you from costly mistakes like this one!
If you ever find yourself in a pinch as my client did, don’t worry—just call an experienced contractor who can help get your property back into tip-top shape!
That’s exactly what happened here; by trusting me with their project, my client got exactly what they wanted—a beautiful home restored to its former glory!
A Cut Above the Rest: Contact Compass Craftsman for Your Home Remodeling Project
As a Clearwater and Pinellas County contractor, Compass Craftsman offers a wide range of services, including sunroom additions, woodworking, renovations, and handyman work. We believe every construction and home remodeling project should be a reflection of our client’s wants and needs.
That’s why our highly skilled contractors closely navigate each client through the process to ensure their vision is showcased in the final product.
Contact Compass Craftsman today if you’re thinking about starting a home improvement project. We’ll be happy to discuss your options and show you what we can do.
