(Cincinnati, OH)---The world is filled with multi-talented handymen. But when you have a special project or even a small one that you just want done well, would you prefer that a craftsman or a jack-of-all-trades do the work?

When a customer calls Handyman Connection, their project is matched with the skills of a talented craftsman who has at least 10 years of professional experience. They are carefully screened for their qualifications in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, painting, remodeling work and more.

“Craftsmen have many talents, but they’re not good at 10 trades. It’s a common misconception,” said Joel Bell, executive vice president of Handyman Connection. “People are really good at specific things and we put the right person on the job. It’s a competitive advantage for us. Our customers know when a job is done well. If it’s always the same guy coming to their house, there is eventually going to be a job that he doesn’t do well because he doesn’t have that particular skill.”

Handyman Connection specializes in small- to medium-size home improvements, repairs and remodeling jobs from paint to plaster, drywall to decks and fences to faucets. The list is endless, from adding shelving or installing a ceiling fan to adding a light switch or installing new molding. Larger-scale projects include upgrading kitchens and baths or basements and attics.

“People are always looking for a trusted source who can get all the things on their to-do list done,” Bell said. “But so many things fall into a category where you just don’t know who to call. Handyman Connection does all those things. We figure out ways to solve problems.”

The skills of Handyman Connection craftsmen haven’t gone unnoticed. When the Style Network came to Cincinnati – home to Handyman Connection’s corporate headquarters – to film the “Messiest Home in the Country” for its “Clean House” series, Handyman Connection was chosen to be the featured contractor. CertaPro Painters – a sister company – handled all the painting.

But away from the bright lights of the camera are the realities of the current recession. Bell said Handyman Connection is standing firm. It hasn’t lost any customers, but instead, has seen a decrease in average job size. Customers have prioritized their to-do lists.

“We’ve seen projects done in phases where customers pick and choose what they want to do,” Bell said. “People were doing things they had to do vs. what they wanted to do, but now we’re starting to see an increase in bathroom and kitchen renovations. If people are going to stay in their houses because of the economy, they are going to enjoy them and do those projects.”

Handyman Connection does more remodeling projects than any other similar company in North America because customers notice a difference in Handyman Connection from the first time they call. Friendly customer service representatives answer all questions and handle scheduling for estimates or projects. Customers are given a firm price and craftsmen arrive on time with the tools to do the job. Follow-up calls are made to ensure customer satisfaction and workmanship is guaranteed for one year.

Providing an outstanding customer experience has always been a staple of Handyman Connection, but it has taken on added significance in a weak economy. Studies have shown that it costs five times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one. That fact hasn’t been lost on Bell and Handyman Connection franchise owners. To succeed in today’s marketplace, you have to differentiate yourself from the competition.

“People expect that we know how to do things,” Bell said. “We’re not going to impress anybody by installing baseboard properly. The customer experience is what’s going to help us retain customers. We strive to provide a world-class customer experience that starts when we first take a customer’s call.”