I live in SoCal. I'm on a tight budget, and for things like this, I ask my regular gardener. If he can't do it, he finds someone to do it.

(For "fixing things" I have a regular amazing handyman who does all kinds of projects, small and big.)

To find people like these, I would search within your Nextdoor app for local recommendations, especially from people who live near you, or who you know.

The labor market is SO tight here, that if what you want is to set an appointment to discuss trimming your trees... well.... the type of person I hire might not operate that way.

Perhaps, with all your questions, you are better off going with an outfit that has a dedicated salesperson to answer all your questions. Some friends of mine enjoy doing business like this (I don't).

I also find that a phone conversation is better than an email. I wouldn't ask a bunch of questions in an email before you've had the opportunity to speak with someone.

And I would never call someone "every day". That seems demanding and would make you seem like a nut.

I have a little bit more to say, since you asked for advice. Here's my broader advice:

When you're on Nextdoor, search "handyman" and put 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 names in your contact list and write some attributes about that person directly in your contacts, so you have it at your fingertips: " John Smith Tree Trimmer ND Rec reasonable, prompt" or similar attributes you read about.

Whenever I see a great recommendation, I add that person to my contact list, so that in the future, when I need, say, a dent pulled out of my car door panel, I look in my contacts and I have 3 names/numbers, and I just text that person. I do this for plumbers, electricians, handymen, tree-trimmers, shower-door replacers, tile guys, garage-door-repair, etc etc etc.

This is how you build a contact list for people who work in your community and seem to have attributes that YOU prefer, but who also work by word of mouth. Look at it like this: you need to build a network of local people you can call when you need someone.

Thanks so much, Mrs. S!! I really appreciate it.

I do a bit of the same thing, with the list-making from Nextdoor. I even keep track of how many different people recommend someone. I use Yelp a lot too.

What has me a bit puzzled in these two recent instances is, both of them are companies on whom I've spent (what is to me) large(-ish) sums of money, and they both have receptionists - more than one, in fact. I was pleased with the work (insofar as I was even able to judge).

So, that makes me think maybe there is something I do wrong. (On the positive side, I am easy about scheduling, and I pay up without any fuss as a general rule. I am, I think, polite.) It wouldn't surprise me if there is a gender component to this - but I can't really do much about that.

I do agree, emails are probably not the way to go. I guess I will stop with those.

But my calls/texts are not getting returned either.

Do you think a once-a-week call is okay?

Or should I just assume they are not interested anymore?

I think that if you have used the company before, but you're not getting a response, then it could very well be a "receptionist" problem due to understaffing. If you've used the company before, then perhaps just contact the sales person directly, if you kept that person's number.

But it could also be a general downhill slide of the company, and (given my penchant for hiring smaller outfits where I know or meet the person who will be performing the labor) I recommend going in a different direction for your next project. A downhill-sliding company not only isn't particular about answering phones, but might not care about work-quality or customer service/future complaints. And that's a risk I wouldn't take.

If calls AND texts are not being responded to, then assume they don't want your business, and don't call back. Sounds like the company is going downhil or just going out of business.

Let me ask you this: why do you enjoy doing business with these larger companies?

What type of companies are they?

Have you checked their Yelp, Nextdoor, and Google reviews? (not that those are perfect resources, but often it gives you picture of what's going on).

Well, they are actually both sort of "family" companies - however, maybe there is some sort of generational shift happening. It is puzzling. With the tree people, there were two different people I had contacted, and with the other company, it was the owner.

My best guess is, with the tree thing, it is just the wrong time of year now. And with the repair, I guess maybe my scene is just too small-potatoes. (I had a similar situation with the electrician, but what happened there is, he fit me in when there was a delay on a bigger project.)

All the people I've met from both companies have been good. I don't know what to think. I did finally call someone else for the wood repair. I do have some trust issues, probably because I am just learning about maintenance, and we have lost our previous people due to retirements. Transitions are a real you-know-what.

Anyhow, thanks for listening!!