Yeah, even the best contractors can miss things sometimes. Had a similar experience when we redid our bathroom—went with a higher-priced bid thinking it'd save headaches later. Mostly it did, but still ended up with some grout issues after a few months. Luckily, the contractor was responsive and fixed it quickly.
Curious though, did your contractor handle the leaks promptly, or did you have to chase them down? Sometimes that's what really makes the difference between a good experience and a frustrating one...
- Took a chance on a pricier bid too, thinking I'd dodge the headaches... mostly worked out, buuut:
- Contractor was chill and responsive at first, but after the initial fix, he kinda ghosted me for a week when a pipe started dripping again. 🙄
- Had to play that awkward balancing act between being politely persistent and full-on annoying homeowner (I think I leaned toward annoying, haha).
- Eventually he came through and fixed it properly—no issues since.
- Honestly though, I feel like no matter how much you pay, there's always gonna be that one random thing that goes sideways. It's like homeownership initiation or something.
Yeah, I feel this. Went with a higher-priced roofer last year thinking I'd skip the drama, but still ended up chasing him down when a leak popped up after the first big rain. Took a few awkward texts and calls (definitely felt like "that" homeowner), but eventually he sorted it out. Honestly, paying more doesn't guarantee smooth sailing—it just improves your odds a bit. Homeownership's always gonna throw curveballs...just gotta roll with it.
Haha, been there. I swear homeownership is just a series of "well, didn't expect THAT" moments strung together by trips to the hardware store. Last summer I paid extra for a plumber who came highly recommended—figured I'd dodge the usual DIY disasters. Nope. Ended up with water spraying everywhere like some kinda indoor waterpark attraction. Had to awkwardly call him back, and he was cool about it, but still...felt like I was paying premium prices for my own embarrassment.
Honestly though, even with the hiccups, sometimes it's worth it just to have someone else responsible for fixing the mess. Curious if anyone's had better luck going the opposite route—like hiring someone cheaper and being pleasantly surprised? Or is that just wishful thinking...?
I've actually had the opposite experience a couple times. Last year, after a storm knocked down part of my fence, I got quotes from several contractors. The highest-priced guy came highly recommended, but his schedule was packed for weeks. So I took a gamble on someone cheaper who could start right away. Honestly, I was bracing myself for disaster, but he ended up doing an amazing job—solid work, cleaned up afterward, and even fixed a gate latch that wasn't part of the original deal.
I get why people think pricier means better quality, but sometimes you're just paying extra for reputation or overhead costs. There are plenty of skilled folks out there who charge less simply because they're newer or don't have flashy marketing. Sure, it's a bit of a risk...but isn't hiring anyone always kind of a gamble anyway?
