Meet The Friendly Team at Mr. Handyman of Greater Grand Rapids

Tom Raar

Owner

A Q&A with Tom Raar!

Q: What made you decide to choose Mr. Handyman to open your franchise business?

A: My brother, sister, and I all learned the “do-it-yourself” mentality from our Dad, and we all became quite handy with crafts and home repair projects. When I was making a career change, the idea of working with construction professionals appealed to me.

Q: Tell readers a little bit about your family and background.

A: I grew up near Detroit; however, my parents were from Grand Rapids. My brother and sister both ended up on the West side of Michigan so I chose to live in Holland during my years as a consultant. I have been a small business owner since 1994, first in the pharmaceutical industry and now in home services. I enjoy serving customers and the community by offering a reliable, trustworthy resource for home repair and improvements.

Q: Was your family a key factor in your decision to open your business?

A: Absolutely! My sister and I opened this business in 2008, and it has been a family operation ever since. My goal was to spend less time traveling and more time with my family which turned out to be an excellent decision.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in the future as a franchise owner?

A: I would like to continue growing my business while maintaining the key elements of customer satisfaction, project quality, and employee fulfillment.

Q: What are some common services that you provide customers?

1. Exterior carpentry: from resurfacing decks to installing new railings right up to full deck rebuilds, are that are satisfying for our technicians and our customers!
2. Bathroom remodel: whether it is a minor refresh or full gut and rebuild, we have experience making an old / dated bathroom look great!
3. Flooring: we frequently repair damaged subfloors and then install new flooring along with baseboards and shoe moulding / quarter-round.

Q: What’s the thing you like most about working with customers?

A: Seeing the impact of our home improvement efforts on their well-being. Customers commonly tell us “I wish I had done to hear this sooner” and “Working with your office and technicians was an absolute pleasure – they were communicative and professional throughout the job.”

Q: What do you think makes your business unique or a preferred provider in your area?

A: We hire full-time professional carpenters to be part of our team. We are licensed, insured, bonded, and we guarantee our work! We have a well-staffed, experienced office staff to maintain customer communication and schedules.

Laurel F

Operations Manager

Laurel has been with Mr. Handyman for over 11 years. She enjoys spending time with family and friends especially her three grown children. Laurel says “you won’t want me swinging a hammer in your home but I’ll be happy to schedule the right tech to take care of your projects!”

Heidi C

Customer Service Manager

Heidi has a passion for people. Graduating with a Bachelors of Business, Heidi has been in the Customer Service industry for over 15 years. She is great at communication with others which allows her to inform, help and advise customers clearly and effectively to meet their needs.

Larry D

Senior Service Professional

24 years in the construction industry has given Larry a lot of experience in all aspects of home improvements. Larry’s career includes new home construction, remodeling and property management as well as commercial banking. His five children keep him busy with sporting events and camping but Larry is also a much sought after umpire for girl’s fast pitch softball.

Aaron S

Senior Service Professional

Aaron has over 20 years of construction experience. He prides himself in quality workmanship, customer service excellence and being time conscience. In his spare time he likes to be outdoors and spending time with family.

Stephen J

Service Professional

Stephen has over 15 years in the home improvement industry. He excels in the skilled trades of carpentry, plumbing and minor electrical. In his free time he enjoy anything outdoors and motocross.

Jim S

Service Professional

Jim has been in the construction business for 40 years. He specializes in tile and flooring. In his free time he likes to play drums for his church and attend to his horses.