In The News

Mr. Handyman - Taking Care of Your "To Do" List ...And More!

Are you particular and downright fussy? Do you have high standards and want household jobs or commercial repairs done the right way? If that describes you, then Mr. Handyamn of Southeast Michigan wants your business!

"We target customer who have high expectations and appreciate quality work", says Mark Slagle, owner of the Trenton-based franchise. "We appreciate their business and like to deliver premium quality service. We also guarantee our work and stand by it."

Perhaps, the commitment to quality is what earned Mr. Handyman the distinction of being named 2010 Trenton Business of the Year.

Mr. Handyman of Southeast Michigan specializes in both residential and commercial repairs and improvements. His crew can handle minor household jobs such as hanging pictures, changing lighting fixtures, painting and cleaning gutters. A recent partnership with Mr. Makeover enables the company to tackle major jobs such as window replacement, carpentry projects, roofing additions, even full remodels and renovations.

If disasters, such as fire or flooding, strike your home or business, Mr. Handyman can become your designated contractor for insurance restoration work. The company's professionalism and quality work will provide the peace of mind needed during such troubling times.

Are you in the market for new windows? Do you want your new windows to have built in blinds? While wood windows with built in blinds are common, Mr. Makeover is the only manufacturer of vinyl replacement windows equipped with blinds. This special window is made locally right here in Michigan and sold throughout the country.

The Safeway Step is another unique product offered by Mr. Handyman and is geared toward seniors and handicapped clients. With this product, Mr. Handyman converts a standard bathtub, which many seniors have difficulty getting in and out, into a safe and accessible shower for two-thirds less than what you'd pay to remove and replace the original tub.

In fact, many senior citizen agencies such as the Detroit Area Agency on Aging rely upon Slagle's company to perform a multitude of repairs and renovations. Mr. Handyman is one of only a few registered contractors for the Senior Alliance in Wayne and the Information Center in Taylor.

"Many national service providers trust us to get the job done right while also respecting the confidentiality of their client base", says Slagle.

In April, the Environmental Protection Agency passed stringent guidelines requiring any repairs to homes built prior to 1978 that disturb more than six feet of painted surface to be done by EPA certified contractors. This major ruling is in response to the negative impact of lead on our health, especially in children. "We've registered, and I'm a certified contractor with the EPA", says Slagle.

In business nine years, Slagle attributes his company's success to quality work and follow through. "We do what we say we're going to do. Most businesses can't say that." He adds: "We employ personnel that support our commitment to delivering premium quality service. We have a good team that works together to deliver excellent service." Mark Slagle has managed to build an award-winning and successful Mr. Handyman franchise by providing top-notch customer service and quality workmanship while staying abrest of new products and services as well as maintaining and obtaining current and new credentials within his profession. He's able, ready and willing to take on your tough or easy home improvement projects.

With the arrival of spring and a noticeable upturn in the economy, Slagle is optimistic that people are ready to reinvest in their homes and businesses and now take care of some of the projects they may have put off. Mr. Handyman wants to be the company you call upon when you're ready for those improvements.

"We're looking forward to greater opportunities to help people improve their homes and businesses".

Remember, fussy and discerning customer are always welcome to call Mr. Handyman.

Mr. Handyman and Mr. Makeover, otherwise known as Mark Slagle and David Orr, presented a $150 Macy's gift card to Johnifay Tocco on Sept. 9. The drawing was from registrations received at the Trenton Mid-Summer Festival, Wyandotte Art Fair, Parade & Fireworks, The Downriver Cruise and Novi Women's International Expo. On Sept. 10, Mr. Handyman participated in its first National Day of Service, contributing more than 800 hours of charitable service to worthy individuals and organizations across the United States and Canada.

Locally, Mr. Handyman of Southeastern Wayne County, in downtown Trenton, also is participating in this initiative by helping The Information Center, a private, nonprofit organization in Taylor that assists individuals in need. Mr. Handyman of SEWC is donating a full day of service to help a client in Trenton with several repairs on a house.

The News Heard - Chamber Connections

Whether homeowners are taking measures to help save the planet, save money or achieve a more temperate living space, Mark Slagle, President of the Mr. Handyman franchise that services Wayne and Monroe counties, advises, "Better preparing your home for winter saves dollars and makes sense".

After 20 years of involvement in quality within the automotive industry, Slagle put his knack for fixing anything to work for him and bought his own company that fills a need inthe area for professional, bonded, licensed and well-trained handymen. These few energy saving "winterizing" tipsare from more than 8 years of providing excellent customer service, for which his franchise was recognized in 2004.

LIGHTING
An ENERGY STAR qualified compact flourescent light bulb will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in approximately 6 months. It uses 75% less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

HOT WATER HEATER
Electric water heaters can cost $40 aor more a month, especially during winter months when heat loss from the tank is greatests and the temperature of the water flowing into the tank is coldest. Turning down the heating element thermostat(s) by 10 degrees can save as much as $10 monthly. Repairing hot water leaks can save 10's of dollars monthly. Install an insulation jacket to minimize water tank heat loss if located in an unheated space.

For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%-34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank models. They can be 8%-14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water-around 86 gallons per day. Installing an electric timer or a digital thermostat to regulate temperatures for usage peaks is also helpful.

THERMOSTAT
A monthly savings of 3%-5% can be realized for every degree the room thermostat is lowered. Significant savings are possible by controlling the room temperature with a setback thermostat, which can be programmed to automatically lower the temperature of the home during the day when family members are away or during the night when everyone is asleep.

CLOSE AIR LEAKS
When air leaks around windows, energy is wasted. Applying caulking or applying wiather stripping around windows and doors can cut down on drafts and slash energy use between 10 and 50 percent.

INSULATION
Add insulation. While an unfinished attic is a heat trap during summer it is the biggest rason for heat loss during the winter. Detroit's old building codes only required 3.5 inches of insulationin the attic, which today is only the equivalent of an R-11 factor or lower. New building codes are at R-45. R-value guidelines byt he U.S. Department of Energy for ceilings and walls. They quickly save homeowners money.

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His kids say he can fix anything. He offers what he likes to call the "wow factor" and is focused on pleasing the customer. So who is this guy? He's more than just a guy with a hammer, he's Mr. Handyman.

After accepting Ford's buy-out offer in 2001, Mark Slagle decided to try his hand in the home improvement business. Slagle purchased a Mr. Handyman franchise shortly after leaving his management position. Slagle has been familiar with home repairs for the last 30 years with his own houses. But, he feels the two elements contributing to his success at Mr. Handyman has been his understanding of the mechanics of how the industry works and his business savvy skills.

These skills proved to be true when he earned the title of number one franchise location in North America by Mr. Handyman corporate office in 2004. "We show up when scheduled and do what we said we would do", says Slagle. "We give customers the wow factor by using our creativity and experience to solve problems customers haven't been able to solve."

Slagle and the rest of his team focus on customer satisfaction. "We provide customers with premium building and maintenance repairs so they can have time to do things most important to them", says Slagle. He also explains that Mr. Handyman is not just about fixing a problem; it's about the "whole experience" and satisfying the customer.

Slagle not only has a close connection to his experienced team members, but also his hometown of Trenton. He's lived within the city for the last 25 years.

Downriver Profile - About Town, Trenton