I am a homeowner who hired handyman for a back porch repair. He said his fee was $50 an hour. When I asked for his estimate he said it would be $400 to $500 dollars total. I agreed to the $500. This was all verbal. I paid the costs of lumber and paint from Home Depot including delivery. This project was replacing the stairs and small porch treads and painting the existing railing. He said the existing structure holding the old stairs was sturdy. The handyman was very slow. Upon completion, he said I owed him $1300 for his labor of 26 hours. I gave him a check for $600 which was $100 over his estimated dollar amount of $500. He accepted it. Now, he claims he will put a lien on my home for the difference of $700 for his version of our verbal agreement. He refused to acknowledge that he gave us an estimate of $400 to $500 in front of me and my husband. How should I respond? Should I file a Date of Completion including a copy of the check given to him?