House Doctors featured on WISH-TV Indy Style

House Doctors was recently featured in a segment on WISH-TV Indy Style. House Doctor Franchisee Erik 
Prock of Hamilton County gave demonstrations on how to correctly caulk around the tub and weather strip your doors. Erik also brought in samples of a dirty dryer filter and incandescent light bulbs designed to help home owners save money. Click here to view the segment or watch it below.
 

House Doctors: wishtv.com

Franchisee Profile: Hugh Sutherland of Greater D.C. and Northern Virginia

Franchisee Since: 2005
Franchise Location: Alexandria, DC, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax Co.


How Hugh Sutherland Got Started With House Doctor…

Hugh Sutherland has a history of entrepreneurship. He founded a company called Washington Courier, a package delivery company based in Washington DC. He developed the concept and grew the business. About 7 years ago, he sold it to pursue other career interests. In the interim before becoming a House Doctor franchisee, Hugh continued his involvement in real estate, fixing up and selling homes. It was at this time that Hugh started to notice a trend in the professionalism of handymen in his area. Whenever Hugh needed repairs done to his home, he called local handymen to come and fix the problems and most the time, those professionals turned out to be unprofessional, unreliable and inefficient. That’s when Hugh got the idea to look into business ownership in the handyman field.

Hugh was faced with two options. The first, start his own independent business or second, become a franchisee of an already-existing business. He chose the latter because he could use the knowledge of the support staff already in place to help him develop his business quicker than he could on his own.

What Intrigued Hugh Sutherland about House Doctor…

Out of all the franchises in this field that Hugh researched, House Doctors was by far the most ambitious, serious and professional according to Hugh. He was delighted and impressed by their ability to balance priorities and support his individual efforts through marketing, website development and management, SEM, and negotiation of contracts with vendors.

Something Interesting About Hugh Sutherland’s Business…

Despite economic conditions, Hugh has seen a 25% increase in his business this year. He equates the uptick in his business to a solid influx of repeat customers, people keeping their homes and fixing them up, people working harder, staying busier and still needing those repairs done, as well as the economy starting to pick up.

Hugh has 10 years of experience in the home improvement industry behind him, and realizes that customer retention is the key to growing a business. In order to do so, he provides superior customer service, including 24/7 support to answer calls and schedule appointments; he hires handymen in his territory in order to ensure reliability and calls his customers to give him updates on their repair services.

ABOUT HOUSE DOCTORS:

For more than 12 years, House Doctors, a 90-plus-unit professional handyman service, has brought commercial property owners and homeowners high standards of customer service, reliability, and quality workmanship.  Every House Doctors handyman location is independently owned and operated. Today, House Doctors continues to expand throughout the United States by offering franchise opportunities.  For more information on House Doctors, visit www.housedoctors.com.  

House Doctors Opens in Scranton by Father, Son Team

House Doctors brings new face to professional handyman service in October

It’s that time of the year again. Leaves are falling, the weather is getting colder and we are spending more time indoors. With the holidays approaching and school in full swing, many people forget that this time of the year is the perfect time to do a thorough home inspection to make sure your house is completely “winterized” for the next four months. These annual checks can save big money on your heating bill while avoiding costly mistakes that could occur from freezing temperatures. The experts from House Doctors are here to help with this list of easy tips and reminders for winterizing your home:

Exterior Inspection

• Check Hoses - Drain any hoses around your house to make sure there is no free flowing water or leaks in the pipes that could potentially freeze and lead to a broken pipe. Also, make sure to check hose beds for excess or standing water to ensure the area does not become hazardous when frozen.
• Clear Downspouts and Gutters -Avoid basement flooding and damage to your foundation by cleaning gutter channels and clearing downspouts of debris. Replace deteriorating or broken gutters to ensure proper water drainage.
• Protect your Pipes - Frozen or burst pipes are among a homeowner’s worst nightmares. As a preventative measure, add insulation to pipes in unheated areas, reducing heat loss from hot-water pipes and condensation on cold water pipes.
• Check your Chimney - Visually check the chimney for loose debris that could catch fire or block smoke from escaping the house. If not vented correctly, carbon monoxide can build up in your home and endanger the whole family.

Interior Inspection:

• Winterize Your Weather Stripping - First, do a simple light test around all of your door ways. If any light shows through, you need to replace the weather stripping. Use caulk on your doorways to seal out moisture and outside air as well as keep heat from leaking out of the house. Caulk creates a tight moisture barrier which prevents precipitation from seeping into the gaps and joints of your home.
• Basement/Utility Room- First, check for seal cracks and leaks in the walls and floors. Then make sure you clean the vents to ensure proper operation and then test, clean and lubricate the sump pump. As for your water heater, make sure you don’t crank the heart up too high and instead try insulating the outside of the tank to conserve energy and cut your bills.
• All of these steps can be taken to better ensure your house and family will be kept warm and happy this winter season. By taking some time to do a fall inspection of your house, you can avoid costly repairs and save money by making sure your home is ready for the cold.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ed and Bill Shoener are the owners and operators of House Doctor, a professional handyman service helping with dozens of tasks around the home, from the little “honey-do” projects to small remodels. They recently opened in the Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Pocono area and are ready to help with your every household question and concern.

How to Join House Doctors

There are still territories available for you to become a House Doctor handyman franchisee all across North America. There is a simple, three-step process that will enable you to find out more about this incredible franchise opportunity.

Step 1 Contact one of our Franchise Development Team members for further information. They will discuss the franchise with you and answer any questions you may have regarding House Doctors.

Step 2 Complete a simple, confidential application. This aids you in presenting your personal information to us and gives us the information we need when considering awarding a House Doctors handyman franchise.

Step 3 Attend a Discovery Day. This gives you the opportunity to meet us at our Home Office near Cincinnati, Ohio. It is your opportunity to get to know us and find out for yourself what House Doctors is all about. It is your opportunity to see what incredible potential there is in a House Doctors franchise. Contact a member of our Franchise Development Team to book your Discovery Day now!

If you wish to learn/receive more information about House Doctors handyman franchise, please click here!

House Doctor Franchise Opportunites

While a major advantage of investing in a franchise is potentially faster growth from the outset, one additional and distinct benefit to investing in the House Doctors handyman franchise is that we offer one of the most powerful marketing systems in the Home Repair industry.

The Security of House Doctors Home Office Support Support and communication from the House Doctors Home Office is paramount in maintaining confidence and consistency with our franchise owners. Our support program includes unlimited telephone contact, regular updates to the marketing program, continuing education, regional and national meetings, and much, much more…

Marketing Tools

A distinguishing feature of House Doctors handyman franchise is our unique year-round marketing system. This complete marketing system will give you the competitive edge you need to dominate your market.

• Professionally Designed Brochures
• Press Releases
• Newspaper/Magazine Ads
• Mailing Campaigns
• Seasonal Campaigns
• Booths for Trade Shows
• Toll-free Number
• Professional Internet Presence
• Brand Recognition

Training and Continuing Education The House Doctors training program has rightfully earned a distinguished reputation in the industry. During our comprehensive training course, you will learn how to successfully manage a House Doctors Handyman Franchise. We cover everything from initial set-up to marketing for growth from recruiting your Service Technicians to finding your customers. Our training and support is ongoing for the life of your franchise.

The Training includes:

• Fast Start Program – Our Pre-Training designed to ensure the best start
• Classroom Training – How to operate a successful House Doctors Franchise
• ServiceCEO – Our outstanding Online Management software
• Manuals – Your reference guide as you grow
• DVDs – For reference and training of your staff
• Intranet – Communication and contact with your fellow Franchisees
• Site Visits – Visits from the Home Office staff
• Regional Meetings – An opportunity to network with fellow Franchisees
• Annual Convention – Learning, networking, accolades and fun. An incredible annual experience.

Additional House Doctors Franchise Benefits

• National Accounts – The Home Office is committed to building relationships with National Companies who will use the services of our Franchisees
• National Discounts – The Home Office is dedicated to building relationships with National Companies who will offer services at discounted pricing to our Franchisees
• National Brand Identity – The Home Office is devoted to building Brand awareness Nationally for the benefit of our Franchisees

Request Additional Information or Read More

This New House: Less Housing Turnover Leads to More Home Repairs

Though most Americans aren’t buying new houses these days, they’re working harder than ever to preserve the homes they live in. Currently, the two largest home repair trends are going green and aging in place, according to the National Home Builders Association.

Handyman franchise House Doctors is seeing these trends unfold firsthand. Launched in 1996, the company’s 90 locations have witnessed the rise of the green movement, and, in response, have developed best-practice methods for helping homeowners reduce their utility costs and do their part to protect the environment.

“There are a lot of simple upgrades we make to our customers’ homes to help them improve their energy efficiency,” said Jim Hunter, House Doctors’ Chief Executive and President. “We install highly-efficient shower-heads and faucets, shrink and seal window kits to eliminate draft through window panes, change light bulbs and light fixtures, and fit outlet caps all to help homeowners become more environmentally friendly.”

While green retrofits are important and responsible, aging baby boomers need home improvements like ground floor bedrooms, hand rails, slip-resistant flooring, ramps, and wheelchair access now.

Every 7.7 seconds an American baby boomer turns 60. This aging populating will soon face a myriad of health problems that will require them to either leave their homes, or make immediate improvements to enable them to age in place and with dignity. Since many boomers lost a significant portion of their retirement savings in the recent economic downturn, they’re looking to stay in their current residences as long as possible, rather than selling in a down market and having to search for a new home.

“What’s unique about House Doctors’ handymen is that we build a relationship with our customers, so they know they can call on us for any task, no matter how small or large,” Hunter said. “Particularly for the aging seniors, we’re available for everything from light bulb changes to extensive renovations.”

House Doctors looks for franchisees that share its vision of bringing professionalism to the often fragmented and unreliable handymen industry. Ideal candidates should have some business or management experience, be comfortable managing a team of handyman, and have access to roughly $80,000 of start-up capital for the initial franchisee fee, company vans, and local marketing.

“This is an exciting time for us,” said Hunter. “The downturn in the housing market opened a window of opportunity in the home repair industry. Aging homes and homeowners have an increasing number of repair needs, and we’re prepared to help our customers meet these demands in a timely and professional manner.”

In addition to an affordable start-up cost, House Doctors is also differentiating itself from franchisor competition with its profit margin, of about 20 percent.

“We have strategically prepared our concept for any economic situation,” Hunter said. “This positioning has increased interest among would-be entrepreneurs and has maintained our growth even in a down economy.”

House Doctors DIY Disasters winner announced

House Doctors recently concluded our DIY Disasters contest, in which fans of our Facebook page submitted pictures or stories of a DIY project that went wrong. Check out the winning entry from Ted W. of Cincinnati, OH:

During a minor basement remodel, the gas dryer was to be moved about 18 inches to make room for a wall. No big deal, right?

After already using the wrong paint on the floor and destroying a lamp during the demolition of an old wall, I thought this would be something simple to accomplish. So, before going out for the evening, and while waiting on my wife to get ready, I thought I would go down and simply move it.

I got my arms around the dryer, took a good lifting posture, and shoved it!. Immediately, I heard a “snap” and then a loud “whoosing” sound… followed by the distinct odor of natural gas.

The gas line running from the supply to the dryer itself was the old fashion galvanized pipe and not the new flexible tubing. I had snapped the vertical pipe from the horizontal run in the rafter… snapped it right off so it would not even thread back.

After scrambling for a few moments to try and put it back together, and realizing the futility of that, I ran to the main gas shut off for the house. It must have been years since that lever was pulled and it would not budge.

Meanwhile the whole basement had started to fill up with gas. I ran upstairs and got the wife and the dog out of the house. Went back down to try again with a wrench and still no luck. We ended up calling the gas company emergency line and they did not seem to be too concerned by saying someone will be out within the hour.

So, with the entire house now filling up with gas, I called 911. Less than 2 minutes later a large fire truck comes down the street. By this time, you can smell the gas in the street! Two firemen go into the house and I show them where it is. Neither of them could move the lever and they were both significantly larger, stronger and younger than me. When the 2nd fire department vehicle showed up, he had a special tool that shut the gas off.

Lesson learned!

Ted took home a $400 gift card for his story. Congratulations!