Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot: new
roof, replacing exiting windows, and vinyl siding on a 2-story dormer.

My initial experience (home visit to provide estimate and timeline) has
been less than encouraging in that they sent out a gentlemen who was short
on details. He left with a list of questions to be answered and has
promised to get an estimate/timeline to me "soon".

I decided to check out Home Depot with the BBB Online which only told me
that they were a BIG organization with a number of compliants, many of
which they have addressed. So I thought a message to this group might be
more insigthful.

Has anyone had HD Home Services install windows? What window did they
install (the sales person was pushing model 6500 and 6100 which I can not
find on the HD website)? Based on your experience, would you use their
installation services again?

Also considering a new roof with Timberline 30 architectural shingles and
some vinyl siding. Apprciate any HD Home Services experiences that you are
willing to share.

TIA
Frank

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

The good thing about contracting through HD, is that theoretically, they
stand behind the work. If you get a bad job, they'll send a rep out and do
what he can to smooze out the situation. All manor of contractors sub
through HD, some good , some bad. I'd probably want to interview the
particular contractor that's going to do the work. Some years ago a customer
of mine, contracted with HD for siding, windows, and a new kitchen. When she
was unhappy with the kitchen and windows, HD sent a rep who knit-picked the
job and tried to clean up the rough edges. When she was still unhappy, she
called manufacturers reps for both the window company and the cabinet
company. The reps from each company determined that the jobs were done so
poorly, they had to be ripped out and started from scratch. A new contractor
did both the new window and kitchen job, and did a beautiful job of both,
and the customer, despite additional gray hairs, was completely satisfied.
Another customer of mine had a kitchen renovation done by HD at about the
same time. As an electrical contractor, I'm involved in lots of kitchen
renovations, so I see the good and the bad. This job was about as **** poor
as the first one I describe, but these folks loved it and were completely
satisfied. Go figure

"Frank" wrote in message
ng.com...
I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot: new
roof, replacing exiting windows, and vinyl siding on a 2-story dormer.

My initial experience (home visit to provide estimate and timeline) has
been less than encouraging in that they sent out a gentlemen who was short
on details. He left with a list of questions to be answered and has
promised to get an estimate/timeline to me "soon".

I decided to check out Home Depot with the BBB Online which only told me
that they were a BIG organization with a number of compliants, many of
which they have addressed. So I thought a message to this group might be
more insigthful.

Has anyone had HD Home Services install windows? What window did they
install (the sales person was pushing model 6500 and 6100 which I can not
find on the HD website)? Based on your experience, would you use their
installation services again?

Also considering a new roof with Timberline 30 architectural shingles and
some vinyl siding. Apprciate any HD Home Services experiences that you are
willing to share.

TIA
Frank

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

On 07 Aug 2007 23:34:54 GMT, Frank wrote:

I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot: new
roof, replacing exiting windows, and vinyl siding on a 2-story dormer.

Why HD? It's a huge company with absolutey no vested interest in
satisfying individual customers, unlike independent contractors whom
you ought to be able to find by asking your friends, colleagues, and
relatives whom they've hired.

One of my best friends was stupid enough to hire Sears to do his roof,
and boy, he realized what an idiotic and expensive move that was after
he experienced repeated leaks (and they didn't even replace the front
porch roof at the exorbitant price they charged him!), so he was very
pleased with the independent roofing contractor I sent over to him,
who repaired the leaks and ripped off and replaced the front porch
roof.

Do yourself a favor and find a good independent contractor to do this
kind of work for you. HD will hire the cheapest contractor they can
find, and they'll pocket the profit while you hope for quality work,
the likelihood of which you'll get being very low.

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

On Tue, 7 Aug 2007 20:06:22 -0400, "RBM" rbm2(remove
wrote:

The good thing about contracting through HD, is that theoretically, they
stand behind the work. If you get a bad job, they'll send a rep out and do
what he can to smooze out the situation. All manor of contractors sub
through HD, some good , some bad. I'd probably want to interview the
particular contractor that's going to do the work. Some years ago a customer
of mine, contracted with HD for siding, windows, and a new kitchen. When she
was unhappy with the kitchen and windows, HD sent a rep who knit-picked the
job and tried to clean up the rough edges. When she was still unhappy, she
called manufacturers reps for both the window company and the cabinet
company. The reps from each company determined that the jobs were done so
poorly, they had to be ripped out and started from scratch. A new contractor
did both the new window and kitchen job, and did a beautiful job of both,
and the customer, despite additional gray hairs, was completely satisfied.
Another customer of mine had a kitchen renovation done by HD at about the
same time. As an electrical contractor, I'm involved in lots of kitchen
renovations, so I see the good and the bad. This job was about as **** poor
as the first one I describe, but these folks loved it and were completely
satisfied. Go figure

None of these anecdotes are convincing me that HD is worth contracting
with. I mean, who the hell wants to go through the trauma of getting
a job done right that should have been done right the first time???

Get a good independent contractor through word of mouth; such people
would never survive without quality workmanship, unlike HD, who can
absorb those kinds of losses.

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

"Frank" wrote in message
My initial experience (home visit to provide estimate and timeline) has
been less than encouraging in that they sent out a gentlemen who was short
on details. He left with a list of questions to be answered and has
promised to get an estimate/timeline to me "soon".

Looks like you already know the answer. Do a search on this group and you
will find many stories about problems with HD contracting. I'd never use
them. There are plenty of good independent contractors. Ask around the
neighborhood who has done work in the area.

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

"KLS" wrote in message
...
On 07 Aug 2007 23:34:54 GMT, Frank wrote:

I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot: new
roof, replacing exiting windows, and vinyl siding on a 2-story dormer.

Why HD? It's a huge company with absolutey no vested interest in
satisfying individual customers, unlike independent contractors whom
you ought to be able to find by asking your friends, colleagues, and
relatives whom they've hired.


How many times do you have your roof redone or have new windows put in or
redo the entire kitchen? Many a garbage independent contractor survives
many years ripping people off with shoddy workmanship.

One of my best friends was stupid enough to hire Sears to do his roof,
and boy, he realized what an idiotic and expensive move that was after
he experienced repeated leaks (and they didn't even replace the front
porch roof at the exorbitant price they charged him!), so he was very
pleased with the independent roofing contractor I sent over to him,
who repaired the leaks and ripped off and replaced the front porch
roof.

Do yourself a favor and find a good independent contractor to do this
kind of work for you. HD will hire the cheapest contractor they can
find, and they'll pocket the profit while you hope for quality work,
the likelihood of which you'll get being very low.

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

on 8/7/2007 9:56 PM Edwin Pawlowski said the following:
"Frank" wrote in message

My initial experience (home visit to provide estimate and timeline) has
been less than encouraging in that they sent out a gentlemen who was short
on details. He left with a list of questions to be answered and has
promised to get an estimate/timeline to me "soon".


Looks like you already know the answer. Do a search on this group and you
will find many stories about problems with HD contracting. I'd never use
them. There are plenty of good independent contractors. Ask around the
neighborhood who has done work in the area.

I had a HD rep come in and plan a new kitchen remodel. It was a woman,
so I figured it would be better than having a man come in and plan room
for a motorcycle. :-)
After she gave us some ideas, and left the specs, we went ahead and
bought the cabinets and I did the work myself.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

Read August's Consumer Reports magazine. They have some ratings on just
this subject. You'll find that Home Depot and Lowes both score the lowest.

"Frank" wrote in message
ng.com...
I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot: new
roof, replacing exiting windows, and vinyl siding on a 2-story dormer.

My initial experience (home visit to provide estimate and timeline) has
been less than encouraging in that they sent out a gentlemen who was short
on details. He left with a list of questions to be answered and has
promised to get an estimate/timeline to me "soon".

I decided to check out Home Depot with the BBB Online which only told me
that they were a BIG organization with a number of compliants, many of
which they have addressed. So I thought a message to this group might be
more insigthful.

Has anyone had HD Home Services install windows? What window did they
install (the sales person was pushing model 6500 and 6100 which I can not
find on the HD website)? Based on your experience, would you use their
installation services again?

Also considering a new roof with Timberline 30 architectural shingles and
some vinyl siding. Apprciate any HD Home Services experiences that you are
willing to share.

TIA
Frank

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

Frank wrote:
I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot: new
roof, replacing exiting windows, and vinyl siding on a 2-story dormer.

My initial experience (home visit to provide estimate and timeline) has
been less than encouraging in that they sent out a gentlemen who was short
on details. He left with a list of questions to be answered and has
promised to get an estimate/timeline to me "soon".

I decided to check out Home Depot with the BBB Online which only told me
that they were a BIG organization with a number of compliants, many of
which they have addressed. So I thought a message to this group might be
more insigthful.

Has anyone had HD Home Services install windows? What window did they
install (the sales person was pushing model 6500 and 6100 which I can not
find on the HD website)? Based on your experience, would you use their
installation services again?

Also considering a new roof with Timberline 30 architectural shingles and
some vinyl siding. Apprciate any HD Home Services experiences that you are
willing to share.

TIA
Frank

Your best bet by far would be to ask your friends for references and
directly deal with a reputable contractor.

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

On Aug 7, 6:34 pm, Frank wrote:
I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot: new
roof, replacing exiting windows, and vinyl siding on a 2-story dormer.

My initial experience (home visit to provide estimate and timeline) has
been less than encouraging in that they sent out a gentlemen who was short
on details. He left with a list of questions to be answered and has
promised to get an estimate/timeline to me "soon".

I decided to check out Home Depot with the BBB Online which only told me
that they were a BIG organization with a number of compliants, many of
which they have addressed. So I thought a message to this group might be
more insigthful.

Has anyone had HD Home Services install windows? What window did they
install (the sales person was pushing model 6500 and 6100 which I can not
find on the HD website)? Based on your experience, would you use their
installation services again?

Also considering a new roof with Timberline 30 architectural shingles and
some vinyl siding. Apprciate any HD Home Services experiences that you are
willing to share.

TIA
Frank

With this housing slump there are plenty of skilled tradesmen willing
to work on time and materials instead of fixed bid. I did a new bath
in my home last month with the help of an "on the bench" union guy. I
paid him $30 an hour for 3 weeks and I came out way ahead on getting a
luxury bath over seeking a fixed bid, which would have been around
$15k to $20k for the same bath on fixed contract basis. I got a new
bath and he got to keep working, and I was able to help out and be
closely available for design questions/problems, it was a win-win. If
you dont know somebody in the trades currently on the bench, call a
local union and check out getting a worker on a time and material
basis, I couldn't be happier with the T/M arrangement I got. Fixed
bids often lock the bidder into situations where they will cut corners
on you to keep profit, or they will be unhappy with changes unseen
problems, etc. so they bid high and nobody is really that happy in the
end. With hourly basis wages and a dependable hard worker(s) you are
in control.

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

On Aug 7, 7:34 pm, Frank wrote:

Has anyone had HD Home Services install windows? What window did they
install (the sales person was pushing model 6500 and 6100 which I can not
find on the HD website)? Based on your experience, would you use their
installation services again?


I've seen their work on a house with new windows and a new roof. No
problems. No complaints. I will consider them for a new roof on my
own house when the time comes.

They did send subcontractors, of course. In this case the
subcontractors did fine work. Your mileage may vary.

Home Depot - Home Services Experiences
 

"I am strongly considering doing some major projects with Home Depot...."

That's all I had to read, you are out of your mind.