In The Media

The Service Guide was featured on WCCO TV, 5:00 p.m. news, Wednesday, July 5, 2006.
Below is the dialog from the story.

Jul 5, 2006 6:06 pm US/Central

Web Site Helps Hunt Reliable Contractors

Terri Gruca
Reporting

(WCCO) Minneapolis Summer signals project season around most homes. As most of us know, it can be tough to find reliable people to help with those projects ... until now. Nailing down the best contractors here in the Twin Cities is now a little easier.

Tish Alexander rarely encounters a project she can´t handle.

"I´m a do-it-yourselfer, that´s for sure," said Alexander.

She’s only lived in her home a few months, but Alexander has already tackled some big items. She added a new concrete driveway and a new deck out back.

"I just like the process, the creativity and being able to challenge myself," she said, "and knowing that I´ll do it no matter what it takes."

What some measure as work, Alexander considers character building.

But let´s face it -- most of us are not that handy. So a Minnesota woman created a new tool to help.

"Honestly, after the upside down wallpaper and paint on the wood instead of the walls, we thought we may be doing something we shouldn´t be doing,” said Diana Herzan. “There´s got to be a better process."

Herzan was used to hiring help. But after a few bad experiences, she decided to turn her lessons into her own project. She created a free home improvement Web site called The Service Guide that helps people find quality contractors.

"We have hundreds of contractors, but we have over 330 categories," she said.

To get on the site, contractors must be licensed, have good references and good records with the Better Business Bureau and the state of Minnesota.

"We check with the Department of Labor with those services that they regulate to make sure there are no open or current enforcement actions,” said Herzan. “Most people don´t go that far. We do."

Each contractor pays to be listed. But Herzan says they turn away contractors all the time because they can’t meet their qualifications. The Service Guide also checks each business quarterly to make sure they continue to meet those qualifications.