Do you get angry when you read about home repair scam artists that prey upon unsuspecting seniors? Do you believe that someone in your area should provide a safe haven of honesty and integrity by offering a comprehensive home repair service committed to helping seniors with their projects? Good for you. You'll carve out a great freelance job or volunteer gig that takes advantage of your fix-up skills, plus you'll end each day knowing that you gave back to folks who truly appreciate your skills. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Own the right tools for the right jobs. Check your stash of manual and electrical tools to see if they match up to those owned by professionals, including essentials like hammers, screwdrivers, a level, wrenches, pliers and saws. Flesh out your power tool library and include plumbing and electrical basics like a snake, circuit tester and caulk gun so you're prepared for just about anything.
2. Check with your insurance agent to review your personal liability coverage so you're prepared to handle situations that may arise as a result of home repair work done for your senior clients. Consider adding a clause to your service work contract that holds you harmless from unexpected damage or injury while you're on the job. Make certain your vehicle is large enough to cart your supplies and equipment around.
3. Produce paper fliers that detail your services so you have a marketing tool with which to attract home repair jobs. Remember to keep your audience in mind when you design the flier. Use large, easy-to-read typefaces (at least 14 points) to offer senior eyes an easy read. Put your photo on the flier, too. Mature audiences respond well to contractor photos on sales and advertising materials.
4. Keep your repair estimates within reason if you're charging for your services. Survey area home repair professionals to determine whether they charge by the project or by the hour. Use their pricing structure as a model for yours and apprise new clients that they will receive your senior rate. Alternately, lower your fees accordingly to accommodate the reduced incomes of your target market.
5. Be honest and forthright if you feel a job is beyond your experience. Respect your senior client base enough to give them the whole scoop on big repairs outside your purview so they'll be armed with an idea of a reasonable charge for the repair if they turn to another contractor for assistance.
6. Market your services to mature home owners at clubs, independent living facilities and other institutions frequented by seniors still in the market for repair services. Take advantage of marketing strategies to which seniors are known to respond, such as coupon clipping, friend-get-a-friend referrals and frequent user discounts. Count on word of mouth to pass along word of your home repair services and you'll become one popular contractor among area seniors, thanks to your honest business practices and kind heart.
Tags: home repair, your senior, your services, repair services
