Contact UsFrequently Asked Questions (full membership)
How is the Home Owners Club's full membership program different from other contractor referral services?
Contractor referral services have been around for many years in a variety of different forms. The most popular type has been the "pay-for-listing" model. Contractors pay a fee to the service in return for the promise of referrals. Any contractor willing to pay can participate.
This service from the Home Owners Club® is different. There are no up-front fees that contractors pay, nor any fees for referrals. This allows the Club to evaluate contractors on the quality of their service and the competitiveness of their pricing, without any obligation to provide job leads.
Does the Club accept advertising or payment from the contractors or vendors it recommends?
No. The Home Owners Club is an independent, objective, member-focused referral service and, therefore, does not ask for any referral fees or accept any advertising.
How are the Club's contractors screened and authorized?
To do work for the Club's members, a contractor must have already been in business for at least three years and have a solid track-record of performance.
- Mary B.
A Member for 7 years
The screening process consists of checking that all of the required insurance coverages are in order, ensuring the contractor license is current and the firm is financially stable, and researching whether there are any claims against the firm's bond.
When companies successfully pass the screening process, the Club begins recommending them for any appropriate projects. That's the real test. Because staff follows up on every job after referring a contractor, the Club receives immediate feedback on performance - and only those contractors who maintain superior standards get continued calls from the Club.
Why do these contractors choose to work with the Club?
The Club provides time-tested solutions to the problems most contractors face, such as securing work, helping clients plan their projects, collecting on outstanding bills and more.
Ours is a mutually beneficial relationship that's still delivering real results almost five decades after the Club's founding.
How many contractors will bid on my project?
For smaller jobs and emergency repairs - where prompt service is the top priority - the Club will dispatch one contractor to handle the project.
For major projects - such as painting, remodeling, installing a new roof or flooring - the Club will send multiple contractors to bid on the work, and even provide free inspections and consultations.
How do I know I'll be satisfied with the work?
Thanks to the Club's billing process, you have plenty of time to ensure the work was done to your satisfaction before any payments need to be made to the contractor.
After your job is completed, the contractor will send the invoice to the Club, not to you. Someone from the Club will review the bill and make sure it matches the agreed upon price, then call you to make sure you're satisfied with the work and the service provided. Only then will the Club forward the bill to you for final payment.
It's a three-step process that allows the Club to guarantee your satisfaction.
What if the contractor goes out of business?
The Club honors any contractor's guarantee - even in cases when the contractor has gone out of business.
How is the Club compensated for the services it provides members and contractors?
Unlike other referral services, the Club does not charge contractors any up-front fees, or any fees for referrals. The Club's only financial agreement with contractors is that all work successfully completed for members be billed through the Club. The Club then pays the contractor a discounted amount (as if it were charged on a credit card), while collecting the full invoiced amount from the member. In banking terms, this is called "factoring the invoice."
In addition, your annual membership dues help to cover some of the administrative costs the Club incurs, as well.
Do the Club's contractors charge members higher rates?
No. Each HOC-authorized contractor has signed an agreement with the Club that states they will "perform all work referred by the Club at current, competitive prices..." This means that Club members will be charged the contractor's regular hourly rates.
Plus, the Club regularly monitors the going rates for a wide variety of projects to ensure that the rates charged by HOC-authorized contractors are competitive, fair and reasonable.
What types of projects can the Club help me with?
The Club has authorized contractors who can help with virtually everything having to do with the repair, upkeep and modernization of your house and grounds:
Additions
Air-conditioning / cooling
Appliance repair
Architectural drawings
Asphalt repair / paving
Brick work
Carpentry
Carpet cleaning
Chimney cleaning
Construction
Doors (new)
Drywall repair / install
Electrical work
Fences and gates
Floor coverings
Furnace / heating system
Garage doors
Gardening
Glass block
Landscape design
Landscaping
Lawn irrigation system
Lawn maintenance
Locks and keys
Odd jobs
Painting
Pest control
Plastering
Plumbing
Pruning
Rain gutters
Remodeling
Roofing
Security systems
Sewer service
Small repairs
Stone work
Tile Work
Tree service
Upholstery cleaning
Vinyl siding (new)
Wallpaper install / remove
Water-damage
Water heater
Wildlife control
Windows (new)
Wood floor repair / install
Wood siding (new)
The Club can also schedule contractors to handle routine maintenance tasks on a regular basis, such as window washings, pest-control, gutter-cleaning and more.
How do most members hear about the club?
Word-of-mouth referrals have always been the best way for homeowners to hear about the Club. Approximately 95 percent of the Club's new members are referred by their friends and family members.
Other than the annual membership dues, are there any other fees for members?
No. Membership in the Home Owners Club is one of the most economical options available.
Does the Club sell its membership list to marketing companies?
No. None of the information you provide when applying for membership is ever sold or given to any outside party. You can take comfort in knowing that any personally identifiable information will be securely stored and kept strictly confidential.