Raise your hand if you have a list of reliable contractors who know you and will go the extra mile to make sure your clients are happy with their services.  Keep your hand in the air if this list is more than 10 people and includes everything from air duct cleaning to window washing.  Still a few hands?  Okay, have you checked the licensing, insurance, and both personal and professional references for these contractors along with the Better Business Bureau?  Do you act as a liasion between your client and the contractor throughout each home improvement project to make sure your client is happy?  And do you survey your clients after each project to make sure the contractors are still as good as the day you put them on your list?

I don't see any more hands.

Well, don't let that worry you.  You are Realtors, not contractors, and there is a better way for you to offer top-notch contractors to your clients without a big time investment on your part.

Recently I spoke to Jill Hanken of Homeworks Northwest, LLC in Seattle.  I heard about the company from someone at a networking event, and they just raved about the service they received.  Since our company works with contractors on behalf of Realtors, I had to check it out.  Jill and her partner Ricki have developed a referral network of contractors that have gone through a rigorous screening process, face-to-face interview, and continued reference checks after each and every customer.  They have the same dedication to your client that you do along with the time and resources to manage the process.

Do you have a lot of relocation business?  This service is perfect for those clients.  Whether they need a move-in cleaning, new paint in the dining room, or even a remodel, this service offers them the security that the contractors have all been screened and a third party will be overseeing the project.  It takes some of the stress away from moving, and Jill has even managed a project with an international client so their home was ready when they arrived.  It is really one-stop shopping from cleaning to remodeling.

This is the way the system works:

• The client fills out a form detailing the work request on the Homeworks Northwest website
• Homeworks Northwest evaluates the request and makes a recommendation for a contractor
• Homeworks Northwest sets up the initial appointment with the contractor and the client
• Once the bid is submitted, Homeworks will follow up with the client to discuss the final decision, and if the contractor is hired Homeworks Northwest will keep in touch with the client throughout the project to insure satisfaction
• Clients are surveyed after the project is completed 

Jill says 90% of the time women make calls to set up contractors for services around the home, and they find great comfort in knowing that the they have been thoroughly screened.  In addition, the client saves time calling around for estimates and using price as the only criteria for getting a job done.  In fact, Jill says her contractors are not always the cheapest, though they are all within industry standards.  As with most things, you get what you pay for, and using a professional to make repairs on your largest investment is a wise idea.

Homeworks Northwest is a family business, and Jill said this is what makes them stand out from national referral networks.  They know each and every contractor on their list and have met with them face-to-face.  They live in the area they service and use many of the contractors themselves.  Jill recommends using a local service when you can because of this.

Jill's company services the greater Seattle area and has a goal to expand further in Washington State.  If you do not live here you can find a similar company in your town by googling "contractor referral network in (your city)."  Once you find the network you want to use, add their business cards to your new homeowner packets or attach them to your checklist of things to do before you listing a home.  You'll be confident knowing you are providing excellent resources, and you will save a huge amount of time in making sure projects are completed and your clients are happy.