January 30, 2008
There are things other handymen just don't want you to know!
I'm risking having any friends in this industry by telling you these things; but, I have decided that you need to know what they don't want you to know.
So, the very first you MUST know that handymen don't want you to know is:
"Free Estimates" are NEVER free!
Thats right when you call for a free estimate who do you think is paying for the time and gas it takes to look at and put an estimate together?
YOU are!
That's right every estimate that you get for free already contains the mark-up to cover the time, effort, and gas needed to come up with it. If one particular Handyman does not get your project he will ad that cost to his next "free estimate" and they will pay for his time.
This is the way it goes over and over until he gets his next job.
The entire idea of FREE estimates is part of the reason remodeling/repairs are so expensive.
Here is something else to think about ... with every "free estimate" you ask for you are spending your time and subjecting yourself to the aggressive sales tactics of each individual salesman.
They offer free estimates for a reason. They want the chance to get in your house and start convincing you that you need them and no one else.
What if you could get the Handyman with the highest work ethic, lowest price, and get it guaranteed?
You would never need another estimate again.
Things Other Handymen Don't Want You To Know: #2
2. There is a 100 % mark-up AT LEAST.
Most handyman companies employ an assortment of Handymen who all work for 40 to 50% of the contract.
When you get your "free estimate" it has already been marked up 100 to 150%.
Whatever the Handyman wants for the job he has to double (at least) to make his percentage. This is a huge mark-up by the company to cover overhead and advertising costs.
So the bigger the company or the more advertising they do does not mean a better company.
It only means more expensive repairs for you!
Things Other Handymen Don't Want You To Know: #3
3. They are "here today and gone tomorrow!"
When you want to give money to many Handyman companies they are so willing to show up and talk about your project and how wonderful they are as a company.
However when you want them to show up to honor a guarantee or return to fix something they missed or forgot, but have already been paid for, It is like they fell off the earth.
No call back, no service......just gone.
Norton Services has fixed the recipe for good home repair.
We keep our overhead and advertising costs to the bare minimum. Our savings is your savings. No one eats expenses in the business world. All costs are passed on to all customers.
Our solution? Norton networks with HOA groups, Real-estate companies, and Property Mgmt. companies.
We do low or no advertising unless needed, and we service are regular commercial customers that we have had for years. These methods keep work steady and expenses low. When you see a nice ad or business promotion you, as the consumer, pays for it. Like I said "no one eats expenses they just pass them along.
Our Handymen carry their own insurance.
They drive their own trucks (not company trucks) and they never pay 50 to 60% of their jobs to the company.
We don't offer or provide free estimates (only over the phone) and we are always available when you need us to come back.
The bottom line is the way Norton Handyman Services conducts business SAVES you money ... SAVES you stress and REPAIRS the problems that can occur in your home easily and efficiently.
Things Other Handymen Don't Want You To Know: #4
As I have said large handyman companies sub work out for half of or less than half of the total price. This is a 100 % mark up at least. Small companies may be cheaper but are notoriously unreliable as the big money jobs always come first and since you are dealing with a one man company or one man and his friend then you can't get immediate service or consistent service.
You will also see ads placed by third party salesmen.
Companies Like Service Magic, Pro Handyman, Home Connections and many others sell leads to Handyman Companies large and small alike. They charge the Handyman a percentage of what they believe the job is worth based on your description of your project. These same companies will sell the lead to several Handymen in your area. So when you fill out a questionnaire from a company who promises to send you some handymen they, the handymen, have already paid for your lead whether they get your job or not. They will add this fee to the final price to be reimbursed for having bought your lead. If they dont get your project then this fee is added to the next estimate they get.
So you as the homeowner are paying for this free service to have handymen sent to your house and you don't even know it.
You would have been better off to call that handyman yourself rather than to go through an Internet company promising to give you a "free" service