Harwinton resident’s home-repair franchise ‘a business with a purpose for me’
HARWINTON — For growing old home owners, even little careers can become hard: altering a gentle bulb, replacing window screens or repairing a squeaky door. Household members can support, but not always they could live significantly away from their mothers and fathers.
The following stage is to find a handyman, an individual to arrive by and get care of individuals little points. But that is a lot easier claimed than finished — the pandemic and companies’ greater expenses has left a void, in accordance to Harwinton resident Craig Henry.
Henry in June opened a Litchfield County franchise of TruBlue Full Household Care, which presents these types of companies on need or a agreement basis in which a experienced and accredited TruBlue staff member will come to aid out all-around the dwelling.
The corporation has locations in much more than 25 states.
Henry labored for an elevator enterprise for 23 many years,he mentioned, and fell 13 ft whilst on the work in 2018. He did his rehabilitation at Valerie Manor in Torrington. “I used months there,” he mentioned. “I broke my ankle, knee, bones in my back again. … I was not in a position to stroll or travel for months. I’ve had surgical procedures and reconstruction, and I come to feel fantastic now. But when I was in rehab, I had a lot of time to contemplate what I required to do subsequent.”
During his recovery, Henry and his wife, Heather, realized their property essential to be outfitted for his bodily necessities.
“I had issues performing everything at property,” Henry said. “The handyman experienced to come in, due to the fact my residence was not suited for my wants. I started off imagining about how there should be a great deal of folks who want to continue to be in their households, but they can’t, mainly because they just can’t preserve up with the upkeep and the repairs.”
He also seen that for the “small things,” like an electrical switch substitution or a smaller painting position, it was not easy to discover a particular person to do the operate. “I had a contractor performing our dream kitchen in this article in Harwinton, but it took awhile,” he mentioned. “It’s challenging to get persons to call you back contractors did not call back, or they would not give a quote, or they just would not clearly show up.
“And which is for the significant employment,” Henry said. “There’s a void for the tiny jobs — the every day points that aid keep the house going.”
Prospects might be a widow or widower, living on your own in the household house. It could be a couple dwelling in their longtime home, exactly where the “little things” have overcome them, and the household is falling into disrepair.
With his small business, “We do routine maintenance applications, in which we arrive out monthly with a checklist, and we do issues like substitute gentle bulbs and make repairs,” he reported.
“Our purchasers are incredibly appreciative,” Henry reported. “We deliver top quality services, and they are so content and keen to pay what we cost. The guys we mail on these employment have experienced a track record test, and if the consumer has issues, we will quickly respond with a mobile phone get in touch with. We really do not go away or get paid right up until they are happy.”
Because he begun TruBlue of NW Connecticut, he’s had numerous repeat prospects. “There’s undoubtedly a need to have,” he stated. “I’ve been performing the income facet of the company, and for me, it’s a particular relationship. I have mobility concerns, and they do, also. I can assistance them age in place.
“You really don’t want to notify them, ‘You require a wheelchair ramp,’ or seize bars, items like that,” he claimed. “But if you present buyers the options to make their residence far more obtainable, you can aid them maintain their dignity, and they can stay in their residence.
“It’s a business enterprise with a purpose for me,” Henry said. “I’m providing again, and encouraging people today.”
Sean Fitzgerald, president of TruBlue, reported the business was founded in 2011 he joined the business as president in 2020. “TruBlue arrived about soon after its founders understood that dwelling upkeep was a challenge for seniors,” he said.
“My history is in franchising and senior treatment, and I’ve acquired about that marketplace and also the worries persons confront with getting older parents,” he mentioned. “Back then, I was wanting for a answer like TruBlue, and when I discovered about it, I desired to be involved. It is such a terrific thought and so well-necessary. It’s been expanding swiftly at any time considering the fact that.”
The enterprise has house owners in Washington condition, Florida, California and Arizona, and is new to Connecticut with Henry’s franchise. “We’re making an attempt to expand into any big market place,” Fitzgerald said.
The property restore business enterprise can contain numerous things, and TruBlue doesn’t do a great deal reworking, he stated.
“We can do lavatory refreshers and walkout tubs for seniors, matters like that, but our major shoppers require aid about their house, specially busy households and seniors,” he stated. “If it’s some thing more comprehensive or concerned, we can bid assignments out for the buyer. … Our owners are licensed to help persons with growing old in put.”
Fitzgerald mentioned a correctly taken care of dwelling is crucial for the security of those living in the dwelling, and also helps the household retai value.
“By investing in schedule upkeep, the home owner retains additional price,” he explained. “So when they do offer it, that maintenance will shell out for by itself.”
To understand extra about TruBlue Complete Household Care, stop by https://trubluehousecare.com/nw-connecticut or contact 475-316-1645.