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Be careful with the contractors you hire - this just happened to a real estate agent I know

By
Home Builder with The Flooring Girl

Westchester NY carpet installationI'm sure many of you can relate to this situation...life is overwhelming...due to unexpected circumstances you need to sell your home (in this case due to a death in family).  You are busy trying to make ends meet and know you need to make some home improvements to sell, but you don't have much money....

...so you try to save and do it on the cheap side...and in the process, something goes very wrong and it ends up costing you a lot more.

A local real estate agent just called me.  She had been in the process of recarpeting her hallway and steps.  She had a bit of a misunderstanding with the contractor and didn't have everything in writing.  She needed to leave as she was in a rush, and the contractor was in the house with the babysitter.

The contractor got mad about the delay in payment and said he couldn't stay if she wasn't going to pay him now...so he left...with the remaining carpet and then he stole her area rug (I guess to help cover the costs he was out).  The babysitter called, and the real estate agent rushed back home and blocked him in the driveway...he then tried to escape and drove his truck over her lawn (leaving tire tracks on the grass).  She got the plates, called the police and they caught him 5 or 10 minutes later.  And yes, she got her area rug back and she and the whole family is a bit shaken up.

She called me...she knew she could trust me.  A local stager recommended me and as it turns out, I did a several jobs for her broker/mentor as well as 4 other agents in her office.

This was a tricky job to figure out on Saturday because I had to match the carpet (since part of it is already installed) and as luck would have it, it was not from one of the manufacturers I typically work with and it was private labeled so it was challenging to track down.

Thankfully, I'm part of network with over 100 of us across the US and Canada so I called a friend of mine in Orange County NY and he thought it was one of 2 manufacturers.  I then searched online yesterday and found what I thought was the carpet (it was the 2nd place I tried) but the colors didn't match (they used different names), so I wasn't sure.  I then found 3 stores in the area that sell the carpet and that was my first stop this morning, so I confirmed with the sample and the color names and everything matches.   My counterpart in Orange NY ordered the carpet and hopefully we will have this installed for her soon.

She was supposed to list her home around March 1st, and I think this will be delayed slightly, but we can definitely help her out.  I gave it to her at a discounted price, so I hope this helps a tad.

So be careful of who you hire...even when you need to save money.  Check references.  Check online reviews (or Angies List) and check licenses.  And, ask your friends.  And, if you need carpeting for your home in Westchester NY, feel free to give The Flooring Girl a call at 914-937-2950.

Comments(21)

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Angie/Smangie!  Ask a property manager...I have excellent resources for repair and maintenance services.  

Feb 20, 2012 01:22 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Debbie,  Adding this kind of drama to an already stressful situation can be overwhelming.  Hope everything turns out for the better !

Feb 20, 2012 01:23 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Exit Hawaii Dream Realty - Thx.  Me too. I've made a lot of great life long friends on here.

Wallace -LOL - it's always best when you can ask someone you know.  Often property managers as well as real estate agents are great sources for trusted referrals.

Bill - Yes, she didn't need this. I feel awful for her and I can't wait to help her get life back to normal.  This is a tiny job for me, but it will be meaningful for her, so I'm happy to help.

Feb 20, 2012 01:32 AM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Debbie: Whenever possible, consumers should go with someone they know personally or comes recommended (with verifiable references) from a trusted source.  Glad this situation is turning out well after starting so badly.

Feb 20, 2012 02:00 AM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Debbie -- contractors are one of those groups where it is better to interveiw several -- not just on cost, but on background, references and how you get along with them.

Feb 20, 2012 02:30 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Anita - Yes, this is so true.

Steve - Yes, I completely agree.

Feb 20, 2012 02:44 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Debbie- It's always when your torn in so many different directions that someone sneaks in to take advantage of you.  Glad you were able to come to the rescue. 

Feb 20, 2012 03:32 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

That is too bad, Debbie.  I think this is a perfect example of you get what you pay for.  Thank goodness they caught him.  I hate see people get away with stuff like this.  And thank goodness she has you to help her out.  

Feb 20, 2012 04:44 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Debbie, there are lots of people who are out there calling themselves contractors and it is true, you often get what you pay for.  The Flooring Girl to the rescue!!!

Feb 20, 2012 05:22 AM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Wow, I don't think I've ever worked with a carpet/floor person like you.  Wish you were in my area!  What a strange situation that was. -Kasey

Feb 20, 2012 05:48 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Now that is something I have never heard of....a contractor bailing on a job and stealing something as payment.  Unreal.

Feb 20, 2012 06:02 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Kathy - Yes, that is so true.  It's awful but true.

Jane - Yes, it is a great example of that.  I'm glad she got her area rug back, and I'm glad he didn't get away with it.

Joanna - Yes, it's rather unfortunate, and they make the rest of us look bad.

Kasey - Thx you're so sweet.  I do by the way know someone really good in Lewiston ID.

Chris Ann - Unfortunately, this is not the first time I"ve heard it.  And I'm sure it won't be the last.

Feb 20, 2012 08:17 AM
Michael S. Bolton
Michael S. Bolton,Inc. - Zimmerman, MN
MN Appraiser

Debbie~That's a story for the books. Who drives through someone's yard just for an area rug-a goof ball! There are better ways to solve a dispute over being paid, but this takes the cake. Glad to see you were able to help her.

Have an AWESOME weekend!

Feb 20, 2012 09:29 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Deb, I happy to report that contractor wasn't my husband! That's crazy how aggressive things became, luckily no one was hurt.

Feb 20, 2012 09:37 AM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

My hubby always ordered the carpeting for our homes and never left until the work was complete.  He also used the same people, because they had great reputations.  So sorry this happened to that realtor.  It's not the same as it used to be.

Feb 20, 2012 10:30 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Deb, that's really a sad story for the customer, but you certainly went above normal to try and help

Feb 20, 2012 12:14 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Sometimes contractors give contractors a bad name Debbie.

glad to hear that you were able to at least help them out a bit. It must have been a difficult situation for them.

Feb 20, 2012 04:58 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

You have to wonder how often things like this happen.  It shakes people up, but get the word out about the contractor!  And as to the carpet resolution, you da man!  So to speak.

Feb 20, 2012 05:47 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Debbie this is a nightmare.  I am really glad that she eventually got to you and that you have many testimonies of your good work and character.  Oh and the discount, that's just an overall good measure.

You've got 'Tude so I'm featuring you in Bananatude.

Feb 20, 2012 07:15 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Michael - I know it's crazy. 

Ellen - Yes, sometimes things just escalate and get out of control.

Kay - Yes, it's ideal when you are working with the same place over and over.  You know you can trust them (and vice versa).

Ed - Thank you.  It's really sad what happened, but hopefully things will be normal soon.

Tom - Yes, it's so unfortunate.  I'm sure you've seen plenty of customers burned, too.

Jay - LOL.  I had never heard of this place before - I think he is just a one man show.

Charita - thanks so much and thx for the feature.  I'm so honored.

Feb 20, 2012 08:22 PM