Review Update: Second Experience with Marco
After my initial…read morereview regarding my positive experience with Bert, I've since worked with Marco on a second project. While Marco is undoubtedly skilled in his craft, I find myself increasingly wary of his professionalism and attention to detail. I feel compelled to share the issues that raised red flags during this latest experience.
First, Marco's punctuality is a constant problem. He was almost always late, and he would often have to leave shortly after to pick up supplies--supplies he had somehow forgotten to bring in the first place. This lack of preparation creates unnecessary delays, and I simply couldn't trust that he would arrive or finish on time as planned.
There were other concerning issues that built up over time. Marco left the project unfinished for days, leaving work incomplete that didn't rely on other parts of the job. On one occasion, my modem was mysteriously unplugged while work was being done in the bathroom, a minor incident at first, but it raised questions about why he was in my bedroom at all. When I asked him about it, he acted as though he had no idea how it happened, which felt disingenuous given the location of the modem and the fact that it was hidden behind a mirror.
As the job progressed, it became clear that Marco was attempting to increase the price unexpectedly. He claimed that I hadn't been charged for everything, including work he had already completed, such as installing tile. This sudden change in pricing was not only confusing but also concerning given the pattern of miscommunication and questionable charges.
Furthermore, there were incidents that raised suspicion about his work ethic. For example, when installing a glass shower door, I heard loud clanging and banging noises coming from the other room. Afterward, Marco informed me that the rails for the shower door were too damaged to install. Coincidentally, I had only noticed minor scratches on the rails earlier when he showed them to me, but there were visible dents afterwards. I can't help but wonder if the damage was caused during the loud noises I heard.
Marco also damaged freshly painted walls while working. While he did patch the areas, he insisted that it was my responsibility to repaint them. This isn't the standard of care I expect when hiring a contractor, and it felt like he was trying to avoid accountability for his mistakes.
Lastly, I found that Marco charged me for items I didn't need, like extra pipe fittings and even a mop, which were never used in the project. He installed a toilet and purchased supplies for install; however when the same toilet was installed in another bathroom everything needed for installation was included in the box. Upon reviewing the receipts, I noticed several discrepancies and questionable charges. For instance, he charged me for connectors intended for a dishwasher, despite the fact that my project was focused on connecting a toilet and sink. Additionally, there were multiple pipe fittings listed that were completely unnecessary and didn't match the required sizes for the project. Even worse, Marco swapped out parts that I had already provided, such as the stainless steel drain I had purchased, and installed a cheaper substitute without consulting me. I'm very cautious about reimbursing contractors for materials, and this experience only reaffirmed my wariness, especially given the discrepancies in the receipts.
In conclusion, while Marco is certainly capable and the work he did was good, I would recommend being cautious when hiring him. It's clear that he needs more oversight. I would suggest double-checking his receipts line by line, ensuring you aren't being charged for unnecessary items or parts that are swapped out without your knowledge. His tendency to be late, leave jobs incomplete, and make changes to pricing or materials after the fact makes him less reliable than I would prefer in a contractor. Unfortunately, I would not recommend Marco unless you're prepared to closely monitor the work and ensure that everything is done correctly.