There are a lot of positive reviews on the web, which it why I hired him and why I was surprised that my experience was so awful (erratic behavior, late/no show, smell of alcohol, shoddy and unfinished work). - and which is why I am trying to post this review in several places.
Another reviewer on merchantcircle pointed out that she did not write the review posted under her name:
""Handyman arrived on time and made repares in kitchen and bathrooms within the time estimated. All debris was removed and the new products were wiped down and clean upon his departure.
I will keep this handyman's card on hand for future work.
February 05, 2009""
...and then wrote a real response: “Poor Quality Work- I did not rate this 5 stars he did!” and comments similar to my experience (things hung upside down, defensive when asked about poor work, etc.) That review has since been removed by someone, however if you go to the site and check the left hand column, you can see where the lady left a message asking Mr. Boyle to remove the bogus positive review that he left using her name.
I also recommend checking casesearch.courts.state.md.us/ and looking up ""Boyle, Brian"" middle name Owen. There are an astounding number of cases under his name, and I actually spoke to some of the people being sued by Mr. Boyle because they withheld payment - or he (believe it or not) never processed a payment and wants to go to court.
Economic times are hard, and I don't take lightly leaving a negative review for someone's personal business, however Mr. Boyle's work, work ethic and general behavior are of such concern that it is worth warning people who are trying to save money and support smaller businesses by Handy Husband Contractors/Mr. Brian Boyle.
My experience: Mr. Boyle will start enthusiastically and boldly (""I don't need to write anything down - I remember""), and then he may or may not show up to work, and he may smell of alcohol and say, ""Did I say I'd do that? I don't remember,"" he will do some things well and other things will be hung upside down and backwards (I am not making this up), the deadline will pass, he will swing by to do a few items after you've made several phone calls asking when he will finish the work, you will end up finishing the work and feeling frustrated, days later he will ask and then demand final payment with a threat of going to court if you question any of the fees and work done (another person I spoke to had the same experience), and a ""handyman"" project will turn into months and months of your life wishing you hadn't trusted the references he suggested and the amazing number of similar ""professional,"" and ""prompt"" comments from supposed customers leaving reviews.
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