House Doctors CEO Sees Industry Uptick, Seizes Opportunity to Buy Own Company

Over the last few years, less new homes have been built so existing homes have taken up the slack. There is a huge shift in property needs taking place as the “baby boomers” become the “seniors of tomorrow.” Smaller homes with bathrooms on the ground level are becoming more popular. “Aging in place” modifications to existing homes is the fastest growth part of the remodeling industry at the moment.

This “aging in place” remodeling trend helped create an uptick in the home improvement sector, according to Milford, OH-based House Doctors, a 17-year-old, 90-plus-unit professional handyman service. Company executives cite an increase in average jobs throughout the country and record franchise owner sales growth quarter over quarter. In fact, it was the reason CEO Jim Hunter purchased the House Doctors company himself.

Since September 2007, Hunter has been CEO and president of House Doctors (also known as House Medic in some areas). A veteran of the franchising industry from both the franchisor and franchisee perspective, Hunter performed exceedingly well since being recruited by Paul Spires, Jr., who founded House Doctors in 1995. Spires launched the company while still in his early 20s, but sought Hunter's franchising experience and knowledge to increase House Doctors' brand awareness and foster its growth.

Now, Jim Hunter has invested into the home sector by choosing to own the brand he ran as its CEO. House Doctors has enjoyed system-wide sales and growth success and will continue use its success and new ownership to expand more throughout the country.

House Doctors featured on KARE 11 News @4

House Doctors of Minneapolis’ Derek Stoeckel was featured on Minneapolis/St. Paul’s KARE 11 News @4 in a segment about important spring home checks homeowners should make, and Derek’s expertise on the topic. Derek Stoeckel appears on site at a home to point out checks homeowners should make on their homes as spring and summer approach. View the video on KARE 11 News' site, or watch it below.

House Doctors featured in Times-Tribune in Scranton

House Doctors was recently featured in The Times-Tribune in Scranton, Penn., in an article featuring local franchisees, Ed and Bill Shoener. The article, titled “For Scranton man, business a family affair,” highlighted the father/son team who own and operate a House Doctors franchise together. The pair discussed what it is like to work with family, and how their close ties have helped their business. Ed Shoener said one of the pros to working with family members is that there is a level of trust that is unattainable with others, making it easier to ensure the business runs smoothly. Click here to view the full article!

For Scranton man, business a family affair
BY JAMES HAGGERTY

A William Shakespeare's observation may apply to Ed Shoener's business dealings with his sons.

"Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice," Shakespeare wrote.

Mr. Shoener, 56, of Scranton, is engaged in business ventures with two of his sons.

(Read More)

House Doctors featured in The Caldwells Patch

House Doctors was recently featured in the The Caldwells Patch in New Jersey in an article about preparing homes for the summer storm season. Local owner, John Driesse, explained that before summer storms begin to roll in and wreak havoc on homes, there are quick and easy fixes that can be done to give homes a better chance at standing up against the harsh weather. His tips included inspecting your roof, checking your home’s siding, cleaning your gutters, preparing your basement, clearing out your yard and protecting your electrical devices. Click here to view the full article!

Summer Storms Are Coming—Is Your House Ready?

Before summer storms begin to roll in and wreak havoc on your home, there are some quick and easy fixes that can be done to give your house a better chance at standing up against the harsh weather. John Driesse, owner of House Doctors, a professional handyman service based in Caldwell, has the following tips for homeowners to ensure they’re ready for this year’s summer storms:

(Read More)

House Doctors featured in Time Leader

House Doctors was recently featured in an article in the Times Leader, titled “Father, sons mix work, family: Shoeners share special bond, talented and advice.” In the article, Scranton-area franchisees, Ed and Bill Shoener, discussed their father/son business dynamic. Bill Shoener, who worked as a handyman while in college earning two degrees, asked his dad for business assistance when he decided to go into business for himself. The two decided to open a franchise location of House Doctors, and now service portions of Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties. The article discusses how working with family has allowed both father and son to develop a deep appreciation for one another. Click here to view the full article!

Father, sons mix work, family
By Andrew M. Seder

F ather’s Day for many dads out there arrives on Sunday. For Ed Shoener, every day is Father’s Day. The 56-year-old Minooka resident owns one business, where he employs his eldest son, Rob, and helps his youngest son, Bill, run his own business. While Ed admits the father-son relationship can be strained when the employer-employee factor is thrown into the mix, he said that for the most part it’s been a rewarding experience. “It’s good to see them mature and succeed,” Ed said. And his sons are appreciative of his helping hand, too.

Ed has operated his own business, Shoener Environmental in Dickson City, for 15 years. The firm also has an office in Portage and San Diego. His son Rob, 30, was working as an engineer at another firm in the San Diego area, but when the economy soured he was looking for work. He joined his dad’s firm in 2007 and in the future will likely become a part owner.

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House Doctors featured in G.I. Jobs

House Doctors was featured in GI Jobs in a cover story titled “Franchises that Fit, Why Home-based franchises are ideal for America’s Returning Veterans”, that tells military readers all about House Doctors, and the success of one of its many military franchisees. The article highlights five brands that are a perfect match for military veterans. Jarrod Kossen is also quoted on why House Doctors is a great business for other military veterans to get involved with. Read the full story below:

Summertime Surge Offers Prime Time to Enter Handyman Business

As temperatures begin to rise across the country and homeowners are venturing out of their living spaces more often, they are finding that home improvement needs are piling up. Whether it’s a basement the homeowner wants to ensure will not get flooded during the impending flood season, a pet door installation for easy access to the backyard, or a new play set for the children, summertime is swamped with phone calls for House Doctors’ handyman services.

At this time of year many homeowners are seeking a professional handyman to help them with their to-do lists that have grown during the winter months. As the seasons change, the effects of a harsh winter on a home becomes apparent. Now that spring is here and summer on the horizon, homeowners are thinking about the needed repairs and improvements to prepare their homes for the months ahead. With that in mind, now is the time that more and more people are calling upon House Doctors to help them with those growing to-do lists.

For entrepreneurs interested in growing a business from day one, there isn’t any better time to get into the handyman trade. Not only are home improvements on the minds of potential customers, but with the economy picking back up, people now have more money to spend on such services. Franchisees entering the House Doctors system from now through the end of the summer will be coming in at the perfect time to ramp up business.

Many House Doctors franchisees who opened their businesses in the height of the home improvement season have been able to sustain exceptional relationships with customers, since they were there for them during the time their services were most needed. Summertime also brings many opportunities for commercial repairs, since commercial real estate owners are looking to make their businesses as presentable as possible after the wear and tear that occurs after a harsh winter.

House Doctors featured in Fort Wayne News Sentinel

House Doctors was featured on Earth Day in the Fort Wayne News Sentinel in the article, “Earth Day tips to save energy,” built from an interview with the local House Doctor, Paul O’Shaughnessey. Paul shared some tips for homeowners on the improvements that they could make focusing on how they can make some small changes to save energy such as installing caulk and insulation to seal homes in the winter to keep the cold air out. In addition, he discusses the ways to use energy efficient products to help lower spending and how using different light bulbs that may cost more in the beginning but help save money in the long run. House Doctors also checking out the roofing and the siding on homes to recycle old shingles and drywall throughout the year. Click here to view the article in its entirety!

Earth Day tips to save energy
By Heather Schultz

With Earth Day today, a local handyman service has tips on how residents can “green” their homes and save money at the same time.

Paul O'Shaughnessey is owner of House Doctors, a professional handyman service for commercial property owners and homeowners.

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House Doctors featured in Augusta Chronicle

For Earth Day, House Doctors of Augusta and Aiken was featured in the Augusta Chronicle discussing some simple ways that homeowners can reduce their energy bills by making some simple adjustments to their homes. General Manager of House Doctors, Michelle Shackford, discussed some improvements that can be made like adding programmable thermostats, compact fluorescent lighting, solar lighting, caulk and weather stripping and energy efficient appliances. With all of these tips and with the hottest time of the year right around the corner, these simple improvements with the help of House Doctors can greatly help homeowners save on their energy bills all year long. Click here to view the full article.

Easy fixes can reduce energy bill
By LaTina Emerson

Fuel and food prices are steadily rising, but homeowners can reduce their energy costs by making some simple adjustments in their homes, said Michelle Shackford, the general manager of House Doctors in Augusta and Aiken.

Many consumers spend more than $2,200 a year on their energy bills. Homeowners who try some of the following quick, easy improvements can cut their spending by about a third, Shackford said:

(Read More)

House Doctors featured in the Andover Patch

House Doctors was recently featured in the Andover Patch in an article entitled “Ten Tips for Reducing Mold in the Rainy Season." The article was built on an interview with Doug Coyle, owner of House Doctors in Andover, MA. Doug gave some helpful tips to preventing mold in your home and how to keep unwanted moisture from creating problems. Click here to view the full article!

Ten Tips for Reducing Mold in the Rainy Season
By Brendan Lewis

As the rainy season progresses, water will start flowing in places where it doesn’t belong. Especially in areas with high water tables, local residents will be dealing with flooding problems and roof leaks in the coming weeks. And when water becomes trapped in those confined sections of a house, mold is sure to follow.

Doug Coyle, owner of home repair business House Doctor on Bartlet Street, deals with mold issues on a routine basis and said that there are many things homeowners can do to be proactive about getting rid of mold.

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House Doctors featured in Tacoma Business Examiner

House Doctors was featured in the Tacoma Business Examiner in an article entitled “Franchises looking to military for owners,” which published front and center on the February 7 edition. The article discusses that House Doctors fully engages military vets as they have a numerous vets as franchisees already. He also notes that House Doctors matches new veteran owners with mentors to give them more tools for success. House Doctors also plans to open eight locations to the Seattle/Tacoma area in the near future. The full article is embedded below:

House Doctors Featured in the San Antonio Business Journal

House Doctors was recently featured in the San Antonio Business Journal in an article called “Alamo City earning reputation as a good market for franchises,” which discusses House Doctors’ expansion plans for the San Antonio market. Ranked #6 for remodeling activity, San Antonio is a hotbed for business in the home sector, and House Doctors is moving in.

House Doctors Bolts on Complimentary Franchise at No Cost to Franchisees

Bathroom in a Day Offers Franchisees Another Business Opportunity; Increased Profits

The economy has shaken small business across America to its core, but House Doctors, the 90-unit professional handyman franchise, has refused to shy away from innovation during this unstable time. In fact, the growing brand has sought new ways to provide its franchisees with more value, support and tools to help them prosper in today’s economic environment. The end result is an add-on business called Bathroom in a Day that compliments House Doctor’s existing myriad of services.

This new service provides consumers a low-cost option to make bathroom transformations in as little as one day. Before rolling out Bathroom in a Day to the entire franchise system, House Doctors tested it in six different markets across the country. After receiving rave reviews from customers and franchisees alike, it launched system-wide earlier this month.

“The economic downturn forced us to examine how we could continue to make our franchisees profitable,” said Jim Hunter, CEO of House Doctors. “Bathroom in a Day will not only give our franchisees another way to make money, but also a huge edge on the competition.”

Other franchise systems make a business exclusively from bathroom retrofits, but House Doctors found a way to add this model to its existing array of services, giving them a leg up on the competition and another major revenue source for franchisees.

“Bathroom in a Day has already increased my profitability as a franchisee,” said Eric Reichelt, a House Doctors franchisee in Delaware. “I chose House Doctors because of the support they offer to franchisees and I have been proven correct in my decision. House Doctors is continually looking for ways to add services to our existing business and I feel confident that my business is going to keep growing year after year with the support of this team.”

House Doctors Professional Handyman Recognizes 2010 Awards Winners

Although most Americans aren’t buying new houses these days, they’re working harder than ever to preserve the homes they live in. They are looking for smaller, more cost-efficient home improvements to tide them over until the housing market recovers. As a result, homeowners need quality handymen to do these jobs right. House Doctors Professional Handyman Services, a national franchise with over 12 years of experience and 90-plus units across the country, is pleased to recognize the winners of the 2010 House Doctors Awards.


Rookie of the Year
Jim & Melanie Cox - Columbus, OH

Commitment to Excellence
Doug Coyle - Andover, MA

Top Sales
Rich Gapin - Mount Laurel, NJ
Dan Landon - Cincinnati, OH
Steven Cranford - Greensboro, NC
Jim & Melanie Cox - Columbus, OH
Ron Galipeau - Downington, PA
Erik & Christina Reichelt - Dover, DE
Hugh Sutherland - Alexandria, VA
Doug Coyle - Andover, MA
Todd Hall - Warren, OH
Joe & Pam Palko - Pottsville, PA

Customer Retention Award
Erik & Christina Reichelt - Dover, DE

Customer Service Award
Steve Boriss - St. Louis, MO

Franchise of the Year
Joe & Pam Palko - Pottsville, PA

House Doctors Goes to Clearwater Beach

Annual Convention Hosts Top Franchisees; Introduces New Strategies and Tactics

By Greg Haskett, VP of Shared Services

Every year, our House Doctors franchisees get together to celebrate another great year of business and discuss hot topics and what's new for the year ahead. This year we met in Clearwater Beach, FL. Themed Chart Your Course, we had several sessions, large and small, where franchisees gathered together to discuss all aspects of their businesses. As an industry leader in the home improvement segment, this convention in particular was special as we introduced several new items that our franchisees can use moving forward, including:

1. A new and improved online software that will put us ahead of the competition. Cloud computing is the way of the future and our franchise owners can now respond quicker than their competition with better data.

2. New financial benchmarks and tools specifically designed to maximize the profit of each franchise owner which gives them a unique tool to hit their personal income goals.

3. A strategic rollout of social media efforts that will broaden the reach of the House Doctors brand and meet our current & future customers where they are.

4. Lastly, and the best part of any gathering like this, is when the attendees can spend time together. We included extended breaks, franchisee-only meetings, and very successful role-playing sessions where franchise owners from across North America interacted with each and discussed their shared interests in building the House Doctors name.

Overall this year's convention was the best one yet. We received some very positive feedback from our franchisees.

• "As a new franchisee, I was very impressed that House Doctors is spending incredible amounts of effort to see us succeed on the bottom-line profits. The tools they are developing, such as ServiceCeo, are going to increase our efficiency, provide better monitoring of our business practices and trends, and improve our quality of life." Jim Kraeling, Savannah, GA
• "I thought it was a great convention. Learned lots by talking to other franchisees, both old and new." Steve Boriss, Chesterfield, MO
• "I thought Jim's presentations were spot on! I especially like when he laid down the 'model' speech, informing us how we should conform to the proven procedures. Heck, I'm new, I'm going to try it that way, for sure." Dave Mauldin, Austin, TX
• "What a great convention! The HD staff did a great job mixing some fun with the work. I always come away recognizing some areas that I need to focus on and make changes in to the way I do business." Steve Cranford, High Point, NC

House Doctors listed by Business News Daily as 1 of 8 Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities for 2011

The New Year is the time for a fresh look on life and many people take it as a time to reevaluate their career paths since it’s such a huge component to anyone’s life. BusinessNewsDaily just published an article about 8 Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities for 2011 and House Doctors was featured for their low initial investments and being home-based franchises. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here:

8 Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities for 2011

If you’re thinking 2011 is the year you’re going to start your own business, you might consider the thousands of franchise opportunities available. The International Franchise Association (IFA) web site is a good place to start pursuing your franchise ownership dream.

The organization relaunched its web site yesterday, adding functionality that makes it easier to access information about its 1,100 franchise members. (Read More)

House Doctors Featured in Washington Business Journal

The Washington Business Journal just published an article about franchisee Hugh Sutherland of House Doctors in Alexandria, VA. The article discusses why Hugh decided to start his own professional handyman service, House Doctors, which was a result of a lack of professionalism of handyman services in his market. Now, Hugh’s business has grown substantially since he started, expecting about a 25% sales increasing this year, where he has successfully created and provided a professional handyman service in his region. Check out the full article here.

House Doctors of Northern Virginia takes regular pulse of the region’s home improvement sector
by Tierney Plumb

Hugh Sutherland went from horror story to problem solver with his home repair and improvement business, which expects a 25 percent jump in revenue this year. The key, he says, is being extra choosy when it comes to hiring.

Hugh Sutherland used to hire handymen to work on his rental properties in Alexandria, Charlottesville, Va., and the Outer Banks, N.C.

One handyman he hired to pour a concrete slab showed up a week and a half late. Others were completely unresponsive. “They were terrible. They wouldn’t show up on time or return phone calls,” he says. “It was a bunch of ‘Chuck in a truck’ guys. I just sort of tolerated it and put up with it.”

Until, that is, he opened up his own home repair franchise. Fed up with the poor service, Sutherland, president and founder of ...

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House Doctors Franchisee Used as an Expert Source in Green Bay Press Gazette

Mike Harrison’s House Doctors location in Green Bay was recently featured in the Green Bay Press Gazette in an article about childproofing for the holidays in which Mike was used as an expert source. Below is a portion of the article and it can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Kid friendly: Get ready to host families during the holidays by childproofing your house
By Sarah Ludeman

Christmas Chaos
To ensure your house is toddler-friendly this Christmas, Collier recommends keeping poisonous plants such as mistletoe and poinsettias out of children's reach and blocking off the Christmas tree.

"Children are fixated by the bright bulbs and glass ornaments, so the tree itself is always a problem," Collier said. "The best thing to do is make sure the child does not have access to the tree. I usually recommend blocking the room off or putting up some sort of gate."

Another area of concern during the Christmas season is the fireplace.

"If you use a fireplace, you have to have something around it to keep the kids away," said Mike Harrison, owner of House Doctors. "Otherwise they could fall into it, burn a hand or a number of other things. Putting a gate around the fireplace is a good way to avoid this."

Electrical Outlets
When it comes to electrical outlets, Harrison recommends purchasing outlet caps and cord covers.

"There are a number of plastic outlet covers and electrical cord covers to choose from," Harrison said. "If you're having people with children over for the holidays, this is a simple and inexpensive step you can take to help protect kids from receiving unwanted shocks or worse."

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Deck the House and Let it Shine: Holiday Light-Hanging 101

Decorating Tips from a Professional Handyman; How to Light Up Your House Like an Expert

It’s that time again! Time for presents, family bonding, holiday cheer, and of course, the often dreaded and death-defying task of decorating the house for the season. Hanging holiday lights on the outside of your house can be not only difficult, but downright dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Luckily, Jarid Kossen, Franchise Development Manager for House Doctors Professional Handyman Services and all-around home improvement expert, is here to give some much needed advice to those who’d like to avoid broken bulbs and broken bones this holiday season.

Now it’s time to make some big decisions: what kind of lights do you want to hang? This is important because the right style for your home depends not only on the look you want to create, but also your budget. This includes the cost of the lights themselves, as well as the amount of electricity they require to operate.

Lights designated “C-7” and ”C-9” have 5- or 10-watt bulbs similar to those used in conventional nightlights, whereas the more common “mini-lights” utilize tiny 1.5 or 2.5-volt bulbs that burn cool and are both cheaper to buy and cheaper to operate, since they use much less energy than the C-bulbs.

The one benefit to the heavy-duty C-lights is that they are more durable and reliable—so you won’t have that domino effect of one broken or missing bulb causing the entire string to go out.

“Note, however, that with the mini-lights, a burnt-out bulb should not affect the rest of the string,” says Kossen. “The domino effect only happens when the chain is physically broken.”

However, this happens more often than you’d think. So, while you may be tempted to go for the long strings, which can include up to 200 bulbs, Kossen recommends buying the shorter, 50-light strings and just plugging them together end to end. This way, if one string is defective, you can just unplug and replace it, rather than having to take down and rewire your entire design.

“Successful light-hanging is all about proper preparation,” says Kossen. “So be sure to make thorough measurements beforehand. The last thing you want to discover when you’re teetering 10 feet off the ground with your ladder planted in a precarious-looking snow bank is that your extension cord is too short to reach the outlet!”

That is, if you need an outlet at all. The newest option in holiday lighting requires no electricity at all: Solar-powered LED lights are powered by a single solar panel, which is connected to a ground spike and powered by the sun. These lights come with a higher purchase price, but are likely to save money in the long run since they won’t affect your electric bill. Plus they’ll give you some good karma—a valuable commodity during the holiday season, to be sure!

“Regardless of the type of lights you buy, be sure to choose lights that are UL-approved for outdoor use, and always follow all of the manufacturer’s cautionary directions on the package,” says Kossen. “Also, be sure to test out your lights before you hang them.”
You will also need something to hang your lights on, such as plastic S-clips that are made specifically for hanging from gutters. Steer clear of the adhesive hooks unless they’re specially designed for outdoor use, otherwise they’ll likely come unstuck in inclement weather, warns Kossen. Also, steer clear of staples or nails when you’re attaching lights directly to the house—they can pierce or wear away at your house’s protective insulation, creating an electrical hazard.

Now it’s time to start hanging. If your home’s eaves are low, you may be able to use a stepladder; otherwise, an extension ladder is your best bet. Place it firmly on flat ground and lean it against the eaves, extended well above your eye line and leaning at an angle that will be comfortable and safe to climb—neither too steep nor too flat. Always have a spotter stand below to hold the ladder steady and monitor in case of an unforeseen accident. If you must lean the ladder against the gutter, Kossen suggests placing a short piece of 2 by 4 inside the gutter to reinforce it.

For attaching lights to window trim and similar vertical surfaces, you can use tube light clips or nail-on plastic clips, because they won’t be puncturing the house itself. Space your clips about 12 inches apart if you’re expecting snow, and up to 24 inches apart if you’re not.

“Above all, be careful and go slowly to avoid careless errors, which can lead to serious injuries,” says Kossen. “And when in doubt, you can always call in the professionals! House Doctor’s professional handymen are holiday light-hanging experts, so if you’d like to ease your burden this holiday season, just give us a call, and we’ll take care of it.”

You can leave the plate of cookies and glass of milk on the front stoop.

House Doctors featured in Tips & Quips from the Working World

House Doctors was recently featured in an article in a national blog called Tips & Quips from the Working World, entitled, “Home Handyman Services – How a Home Improvement Franchise Works.” The article discusses what it’s like to be the owner/operator of a professional handyman franchise. It includes interesting and useful information about how the franchise works, daily tasks, ups and downs of the job, and tips for potential handyman franchisees. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Home Handyman Services – How a Home Improvement Franchise Works

Home handyman services can be a profitable, interesting job! Here’s how a home improvement franchise works, plus job tips from a small business owner and operator.

“You have to like what you do,” says John Driesse, who is the franchise owner of House Doctors of North Jersey. “Running a business – not to mention starting one – consumes a lot of your time. There’s always something to do. You’re behind most of the time, and you have to be good at prioritizing things. Everything is important, but some things must be done before others.”

Driesse’s business is part of a large US-based handyman franchise company called House Doctors. Here, this professional handyman describes his job and offers career tips for aspiring small business owners…

Home Handyman Services – What Does a Professional Home Handyman Do?

A professional handyman’s job includes both residential repairs (eg, cleaning gutters, doing carpentry, installing pet doors, remodeling, etc) to commercial repairs (eg, fixing doors and windows, installing new carpets or floors, performing maintenance services, etc).

“Most people are surprised that we respond to their calls quickly, arrive when we say we are going to, and complete the work in a professional manner,” says Driesse. “The ‘professional handyman’ name carries somewhat of a negative connotation, and we’re working hard to change that.”

Owning and operating a home improvement franchise is different than working as a professional handyman.

(Read More)