c/atlanta-local-services

That week my AC died in August and four contractors gave me quotes from $600 to $4,200

Three weeks ago my unit started blowing hot air on a Tuesday. I called five HVAC places around Atlanta and only two actually showed up to look at it. One guy said I needed a whole new system for $4,200, but the next guy fixed a capacitor for $180 and it's been running fine since. Has anyone else had contractors try to upsell them hard like that?

Vent: That locksmith quote that took 4 hours to get

Honestly, I spent a whole Saturday dealing with a stuck lock on my front door here in Decatur. Called around and most places quoted me $150 to $200 just to come out and look. It took me 4 hours to find a local guy who would even give me a straight price over the phone, ended up being $75 for a simple rekey. Has anyone else had this runaround trying to get solid estimates from Atlanta service people?

My lawn guy ghosted me mid-season in Decatur

Last month my regular landscaper just stopped showing up after 3 years of weekly cuts. No call, no text, nothing. I waited 2 weeks before giving up and calling a new company from a yard sign. They quoted me $60 more per visit and showed up on time but left clumps everywhere. Has anyone found a reliable crew in the Decatur area that doesn't overcharge?

Appreciation post: my plumber hit 10 years in business and I didn't realize it until he fixed my pipe

Last week my kitchen sink backed up again for the third time this year. Called the same guy I always use, named Jerome. While he was under the sink wrestling with the disposal he mentioned it was his 10 year anniversary since starting his own company. I was shocked because I've been using him for like 4 years and never thought to ask how long he'd been doing it. Made me realize how many small business owners just quietly grind without making a big deal about their milestones. Anyone else have a local service person who's been around longer than you assumed?

Stop calling roofers for gutter guards, that's not their job

Had a customer last month who paid a roofer $400 to install gutter guards on her house in Decatur. Two weeks later the gutters overflowed in a heavy rain because the guards were installed wrong and leaves got trapped under them. She called me to fix the wiring on her attic fan and mentioned it. I took a look and the roofer had used cheap mesh guards that don't even work with her type of gutter. Here's the thing - roofers know roofs, not gutter systems. You need a dedicated gutter company for guards, not the guy who replaces shingles. Anyone else gotten burned by hiring the wrong trade for a job that seems related but isn't?

Was cleaning out my gutters yesterday and found out Atlanta averages 52 inches of rain a year, guess I should have checked that before buying a house with huge oaks.

I counted 14 buckets of sludge and leaves from just the back section, is this normal for everyone in Decatur or am I just cursed with these trees?

County records show 3 code inspectors left in 4 months - that explains a lot

I finally switched from a hand truck to a dolly for appliance deliveries

For like 5 years I was using a regular hand truck for all my fridge and washer deliveries around Atlanta. Last month I was hauling a Samsung fridge up a flight of stairs in Buckhead and nearly dropped it because the straps kept slipping. My buddy loaned me his appliance dolly with the stair climber wheels and now I can't believe I was being so stubborn about it. Anyone else made the switch and feel dumb for waiting so long?

Rant: Why does every handyman in Atlanta charge $75 just to show up?

I called three different local services last week to fix a loose porch step and they all wanted a flat fee before even looking at it. My neighbor's kid does the same work for $20 and a slice of pizza.

That week my garbage disposal died and I found out the hard way

Last Tuesday the disposal jammed up with a spoon my kid dropped, and when I tried to reset it the whole thing shorted out. $150 later for a plumber to replace it, I learned to check the breaker before calling anyone.

Shoutout to the guy who fixed my AC for $50 instead of $400

My AC went out last Tuesday during that 95 degree heatwave we had in Decatur. I called three big HVAC companies and they all quoted me $350-$450 just to come look at it. I was about to cave when my neighbor mentioned a guy named Carlos who does side work. He came by Thursday afternoon, spent 20 minutes cleaning the condenser coils and replacing a capacitor. Charged me $50 cash and the AC has been blowing ice cold since. It took me three days of calling around and stressing out over nothing. Has anyone else found a random local handyman who saved them a ton of money?

Appreciation post: The guy who fixed my gutters for $80 instead of $300

I called three companies about a downspout that kept pulling away from the house, and two quoted me over $300. This one guy came out, showed me how the bracket just needed a new screw and some sealant, and did it for $80 cash. Has anyone else found a smaller handyman who just tells you the straight story instead of upsell stuff?

That permit for my deck addition took 14 weeks instead of the promised 4

I started the permit process with the City of Atlanta back in early March for adding a small covered deck to my house in Decatur. The website said 4 to 6 weeks for residential permits. I called after week 6 and got told they were backlogged. Week 8 came and went. Finally got approved at week 14 after I had to physically go down to the permit office and stand in line for two hours. Has anyone else had permits take way longer than the city says?

Has anyone worked with Fix and flow?

I'm looking to get some old pipes replaced in my crawlspace and a neighbor suggested Fix and flow . Has anyone here worked with them before? Just trying to do my homework and get some real opinions before signing off on a big estimate.