SAVANNAH, GA -- Globally-franchised Handyman Matters, Inc. says the company's first location in Georgia has taken off with a bang, posting revenues that have soared past expectations by nearly 25 percent.

Since the March opening of its Savannah franchise, Handyman Matters, which specializes in residential and commercial repair and remodeling, has exceeded its total volume goal by thousands of dollars, putting the company on pace to surpass its $300,000 first-year target, says Dale and Wanda Whittington, owners & operators of Handyman Matters of Coastal Georgia.

Mr. Whittington says the company's early success can be attributed to the positive buzz that's spreading throughout the region. "We're seeing good demand for our services through word of mouth. It's a result of the company's core values - making sure there's quality workmanship in a timely manner at a fair price. It's about customer satisfaction."

Handyman Matters features a fleet of craftsmen, which it sends to homes and businesses to fix everything from the kitchen sink to windows, walls, ceilings and doors. Craftsmen also build cabinets, closets, shelve units and other items.

Mr. Whittington said the early success of Handyman Matters would fast-forward the franchise's plan to expand its reach in the coastal Georgia market. Most of the company's projects have occurred in Savannah, Hinesville and Richmond Hill. But Whittington said the company is now fielding jobs in Statesboro, Brunswick, Jesup, Vidalia, Sylvania and Hilton Head Island.

"We're branching out. I'm readying to send craftsmen up and down the coast," he said.

Andy Bell, founder & president of Handyman Matters, headquartered in Denver, Co., said every franchisee is encouraged to operate by the company's core values. "Handyman Matters prides itself on taking care of its customers. We strive to maintain a positive, ethical and supportive relationship with the communities we service." The new franchise in Savannah has followed the Handyman Matters formula, said Bell, which has produced nearly 50 successful franchise locations across the world, including offices in more than 20 American states, Canada and Ireland.

Bell added that Mr. Whittington's experience in the construction industry has also put the Savannah franchise on a path of instant growth. Whittington has worked 37 years in construction, including 34 years with New Orleans-based Boh Brothers Construction Co. Most notably, he served as the project manager for Phase Two of the Truman Parkway in Chatham County, the only portion of the parkway ever built ahead of schedule.

"Dale and Wanda Whittington are the ideal candidates to help us expand our beliefs and business practices into the coastal Georgia market. We are excited about their success," Bell said. Mr. Whittington noted there's a broad socioeconomic target for the services provided by

Handyman Matters, including single women, busy professionals, young couples, senior citizens, second-home owners, contractors, property managers, business owners and others.

Handyman Matters also offers maintenance services to community organizations such as schools and churches, saving them from hiring an expensive full-time maintenance staff. The company
even partners with general contractors on projects, assisting with punch-list items such as plumbing, drywall and electrical work.

In addition, Handyman Matters markets a "Predictive Maintenance Program" for residential and commercial properties. Once a month, the company will come to a property and perform a comprehensive maintenance inspection. While craftsmen are at the property, they make sure to fix any leaky drains, loose screws, cracked walls or other building maintenance.

Mrs. Whittington said the monthly program saves property owners money in the long run on maintenance costs. "We can catch problems before they become something larger," she said.

The craftsmen employed by Handyman Matters go through a rigorous evaluation, including

aptitude tests, background checks and drug tests. On average, the company hires only one of every 10 applicants. Craftsmen are also tested to determine their expertise in specific trades, data the company considers when assigning projects.

"I hire people that I would put in my home. Most of my craftsmen are former small business owners in construction," said Mr. Whittington, noting that besides tools, Handyman Matters arms each craftsman with a PDA equipped with cellular, E-mail and text messaging service.

Different from most contractors, Handyman Matters decides a project's cost by charging for the exact man-hours and materials used, not by quoting an estimate before the project. "Seeing it broken down in detail sometimes scares people, but a consumer can reduce money spent this way," said Mr. Whittington, who pointed out all handyman jobs are guaranteed for a year.

Handyman Matters offers a 10 percent discount to senior citizens and military personnel. The company also offers churches and community groups one free hour of labor for every ten hours of purchased labor.

Building repair and remodeling is a hot industry in the United States, says Handyman Matters, especially residential. Citing figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the company says American homeowners spend an average of $972 on repairs each year - more if they're wealthy, older or live in the Northeast or West. By region, the average annual repair expenditure is $1,003 in the Northeast, $1,019 in the West, $983 in the Midwest and $886 in the South.

About Handyman Matters

Handyman Matters, Inc. (www.handymanmatters.com) is a maintenance franchise headquartered in Denver, Co. Founded in 1997, the company specializes in residential and commercial repair
and remodeling. A leader in its industry, Handyman Matters features nearly 50 franchise locations across the world, including offices in more than 20 American states, Canada and Ireland. Handyman Matters has used the franchise business model to complete more than 300,000 jobs worldwide for homeowners, community groups and local and national companies.

Source: Handymanmatters.com