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Abstract

Homeowners are routinely in need of minor home repairs ranging from broken water fixtures to leaking roofs. They rely on word of mouth or internet self-help tools to find a repair professional, but are still challenged with getting quality service at a fair price with minimal time and little expertise. For this assignment, I have developed a consulting service for homeowners in need of small home repairs. The service will solve for the primary issue of locating a reputable repair professional, as well as address concerns with getting quality workmanship and a fair contract. The business model compares closely to many other consulting services and does not rely on having a pre-established relationship with the consumer. Examples include dietitians, personal fitness consultants, and financial consultants.

  Service includes inspection of the needed repair, sourcing of 1 to 2 contractors with acceptable review ratings and all required licenses, scheduling of the service appointment, onsite meeting with the contractor and homeowner, and a professional recommendation based on the contract details and price. Major competitors are property management companies, home warranty services, Angie’s list, and internet based repair request services. However, these options require either a contractual commitment or the time and expertise to research contractors and review terms.

Primary customer profiles are single females, retired-elderly men or women, married working professionals with young children and part-time real estate investors recently entering the business. Marketing strategies include search engine advertising, targeted e-newsletter ads,

direct mail, partnerships with local independent real estate agents, and social media. The pricing model consists of a nominal flat fee plus a percentage of the repair amount.