Trustworthy handyman can’t do it all — or not well

Dear Miss Manners: We have a handyman, George, whom we have used for several years.

My husband and I have come to rely on George as a reliable and trustworthy helper, as we have aged out of doing many tasks ourselves, and we pay him generously. We have also learned George’s strengths and weaknesses: For instance, he is a terrible painter but a great plumber and a good electrician.

On two occasions, different neighbors have approached George when he is outside our house and inquired as to his availability.I feel that this is 1. somewhat rude and 2. potentially unwise. Instead, I think that they should ask my husband and I whether we mind their “poaching” our employee.

I might add that on both occasions, the neighbors were disappointed by the painting work he did for them.Am I wrong to think that a neighbor should do us the courtesy of asking before trying to hire our handyman?

Gentle reader: Your neighbors arebarred from helping themselves to time you are paying for. Time for which you are not paying still belongs to George.

In theory, this means that asking a gardener for his card while you walk by him seeding the lawn is acceptable, if the exchange is quick. In practice, such requests usually lead to a longer discussion.

For that reason your neighbor would have been smarter to come to you for a recommendation. But you were saved the discomfort of admitting that George forgets to paint the wall behind the couch — and afforded the revenge, without looking too ungracious, of pointing out that you could have saved them some trouble.

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