Meet Debra Cohen Of Homeowner Referral Network

My guest today is Debra Cohen, the founder of Homeowner Referral Network. “What a great idea” is the first thing that came to my mind when I found out about Debra’s business. Homeowner Referral Network(HRN) locates, screens and refers home improvement contractors to the home owners/home builders. Home owners/builders don’t have to go looking around for handymen, builders, painters etc. If we contact HRN, then they refer us to the right person.


The service is free for home owners. HRN’s earn their income from the contractors. Debra has put together all the information required to start this business in comprehensive manuals. This is a wonderful business opportunity for moms looking to work at moms. There is more information about business opportunity on her website. Read and get inspired.

How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Ten years ago my husband and I had just purchased our first home and–like most homeowners—we were struggling to find reliable home improvement contractors. When we finally found a skilled painter, plumber or electrician, I felt compelled to share his name with other homeowners in need of their services. From that humble start, I decided to launch and grew Home Remedies® of NY, Inc. into a personal concierge service linking homeowners with pre-screened, reliable home improvement professionals. I refer to my business as a Homeowner Referral Network (HRN).

What was your main motivation behind starting your own business?

After the birth of my first daughter, I wanted to find a better balance between career and family. I left my career in publishing to be a full time mom and after three months, our bills began to pile up and my self-esteem began to plummet. I longed for the stimulation of a career but also wanted to be a stay at home mom. I realized that there weren’t many jobs out there that that would allow me to work from home and earn the type of salary I wanted so I set out to create my own opportunity.

HRN seems to be an ideal business opportunity for mothers (and fathers) who are looking to start a new business. Am I right in assuming that this business is not restricted to American market alone but can be started anywhere in the world?

Yes, absolutely. There is a universal need for this type of service.

Can any contractor join HRN or is there a screening process?

No, not every contractor qualifies to be included in my network. There’s a very comprehensive screening process including license, insurance and reference checks. Each contractor must also meet 5 specific criteria to be referred by my HRN and I conduct ongoing customer satisfaction surveys with my customers to maintain quality control.

In the initial days what were some of the problems you faced and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge in the beginning was securing start up capital. We were living on one income and had a new house and a new baby. To launch Home Remedies my husband and I took a $5000 loan from his retirement savings plan and my husband now says that I’m the best investment he’s ever made. And, although I love to decorate and remodel, I didn’t have any home improvement experience at all when I first launched my business. This was also a big challenge initially. I decided to create a Board of Advisors to consult with me on with business and home improvement related issues. My Board includes my lawyer, insurance agent and webmaster as well as a few of the contractors in my network. My husband is also on the Board!

What is the cheapest, most effective bit of marketing you have ever done?

PR. By far, the most effective marketing tool is press attention. It’s a third party, impartial endorsement of your business.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Persistence
2. Creativity
3. Discipline
4. Determination
5. Working at what you love!

Sites Of Interest

http://www.hrnbiz.com

To read more stories about women in the direct selling industry click Direct Selling Resources.


This interview was published on 10th May 2007