Is 24 hour cancellation enough notice for a handyman?

[Liwen Gu]

Hi, I'm wondering if giving a 24 hour cancellation notice is usually enough for a handyman/general contractor? If they had already prepurchased some of the material needed for the repairs and things like smoke detectors, would they normally be able to use it on a different home or would they get upset over it?

[Samantha Klein]

I wouldn't expect them to want to do business with you in the future over it. A reliable, good handyman is certainly hard to find. Why are you cancelling? 

[Liwen Gu]

Oh really, I didn't think it would be that big of a deal...well I heard back from another contractor that we were waiting on and they quoted us for half the cost of this one and they can get it done during the day (instead of during the evening). The guy I'm cancelling on just seemed really busy and had trouble fitting me in initially so I thought it might not have been a big deal to cancel...

[Account Closed]

So you agreed on the work, the guy has bought the materials, and now you're firing him because a late offer undercut his bid after you had made an agreement.

Now you want him to eat his expense and use the materials in another job or jobs. Until that job or jobs roll around, you want him to eat storage costs on the materials. Actually, you don't care, as long as it's not your problem.

After all, if he expected you to keep your word, he should have insisted on it in writing with a penalty clause for breaking it.

I don't think he's going to write nice things about you on the bathroom wall of his favorite bar.

[Samantha Magina]

I may be on a different thought process than you, but why would you want the handyman that couldn't schedule an appointment but now is available with less than 24 hour notice during the day time no less, when ideally he'd be busy? It sounds like he got a job cancelled and is fitting you in to a cancelled slot at a discount.

[Alfred Edmonds]

James K. Is spot on
Also, the handyman you want to cancel will likely tell everyone he knows to stay away and stay away they will.
Just like you expect tenants to follow through with rent, you are expected to follow through. Yes, I'm sure he can return the goods but that takes time and time is money.
Cheaper isn't always better and reputation is all we've got. Be a stand up person and YOU eat the cost. Your mistake not his.
Next job go ahead and hire the cheapest guy you can find but for now I'd just go ahead and learn

[Liwen Gu]

Thanks for all your input, this is the first time I'm hiring a handyman and I guess this industry is a little different from other service industries where normally a 24 hour notice would be sufficient. Lesson learned for me, thanks.

[Manolo D.]

Liwen Gu Seems like you hired someone that has a day job and doing repairs on the side. 24h is too late, maybe 3 days. And you'll have to consider their time to buy the materials, the hours to return them, and the re-stocking fee (when applicable). If you pay all those plus a premium, you should be on the safe side and less resistance, MAYBE it will not ruin your chances of hiring them again. Welcome to the construction world.