Peace of Mind

Roman Jakubowycz and his wife, Andrea, recently launched HOCOA Home Repair Network right here in Northeast Ohio. This membership-based organization is designed to ease the tensions of homeowners in search of a reliable and professional contractor. Here’s how they can help you get any job done—right.

By: Beth Newcomb
Date: 10/08/2008
Tension. You can feel it start to creep up your neck the moment you realize the thing that’s wrong with your house requires the attention of a professional contractor.

Resignation. It’s what usually follows tension when you realize you’ll have to flip open the yellow pages or turn to the internet to do a search for the person who specializes in the thing you need done. Then you place two, four, maybe even six calls to the different companies listed. With perfect timing, you might get an actual person to pick up the phone, but more than likely it’s straight to voicemail.

The waiting game. This is the part where you spend the next few days trying to guess if and when your call will be returned. Assuming that you finally make contact, you must then rely on your own best abilities to evaluate and hire someone reputable.  

Now we all know that most contractors are honest, dependable and reputable. But it’s the weeding out of the ones who aren’t that takes the most time and energy.

That’s where Roman Jakubowycz and his wife Andrea come in.

Together they’ve launched Northeast Ohio’s HOCOA Home Repair Network, a franchise founded in 1993 that has grown to include independent owners like Roman and Andrea all over the country.

“The Better Business Bureau logged more than 9,600 complaints against contractors in 2006,” Roman shares. “Of the 3,800 different categories of complaints accepted by the BBB, those against contractors ranked 13th in terms of prevalence. We take the guesswork out of finding a reputable contractor.”

Here’s how it works: Roman invites local contractors (who have come to him by referral) to submit an application to join the network. “I spend hours interviewing and evaluating each one,” he assures. They are background checked and must agree to let HOCOA hold their certificates of insurance. “Less than 20-percent of applicants make the cut,” he adds.

HOCOA’s current list of contractors perform more than 100 specialty services like roofing and siding, window and gutter cleaning, plumbing, electrical work, tile, masonry, lawn care and even piano tuning.  
Customers simply place a call to HOCOA and the wheels are immediately set in motion. “A live person will always answer the phone no matter what time of day—or night—you call,” Andrea promises. Then they match you with a contractor who’s professionally trained in the specialty you need and who guarantees that he’ll give you his best price. Your call is returned by your contractor, usually within the hour. The work is performed in a timely fashion and you deal directly with the contractor throughout the entire process. Roman does a

follow-up to ensure you are completely satisfied.

It’s that simple.

HOCOA is a membership-based organization available at an affordable rate, especially over time. A one-year membership costs $58, two years is $89, and three years costs $100. A lifetime membership will run you $200.

For a limited time Mimi readers who call and join HOCOA, will automatically have their membership upgraded to the next level.

Roman says that while there are other local services that appear to screen contractors, they’re really just “lists” presented in an organized form—similar to the phone book. “You pay a fee to get a list,” he says. “We take away the hassle and frustration of home maintenance and repair by providing a much more thorough picture of who you’re doing business with.”

In addition to easy access to home repair and maintenance professionals, HOCOA also provides its members with access to services like Direct TV, digital phone service, travel and a $300 gas rebate program. “Our members also enjoy discounts on things like flooring that they’re able to buy directly from stores that are not open to the public,” Roman provides. New services and benefits are added every day, so no matter how HOCOA ends up enhancing your life, you’ll always have—Peace of mind.

To find out more about the benefits of a HOCOA membership, visit www.HocoaNeo.com where you can request more information, or call HOCOA NEO directly at 440-230-9066.

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