Responding to Consumer Demand, Case® Establishes Industry First: National Brand for Full-service Home Remodeling

In a move set to transform the way Americans purchase home improvement and remodeling services, many of the Case® Handyman Services franchises across the country will become Case® Handyman & Remodeling effective March 1, 2005. Demand from consumers in the more than 60 markets currently served by the Case® system has driven a steady increase in work by franchisees on larger home improvement projects, as clients come to rely on the superior service and craftsmanship with which the Case® name has become synonymous. The change signals an important milestone in the company’s 44-year history and the $233 billion a year remodeling industry , expanding the scope of the Case® network of franchises from one predominantly focused on the handyman market segment to an unprecedented national network of remodeling companies. For the first time, consumers across the United States will be able to rely with confidence on a single brand to source a comprehensive range of home improvement services.

“This is a major step forward for our company, for the industry and for consumers,” said Case® president Mark Richardson, CR in announcing the change. “Since Case® franchises began operating on our handyman services model in 1997, anticipating and responding to the needs of the market have remained our priorities, and the name change to Case® Handyman & Remodeling is reflective of that approach. This represents a first in our industry — one that has to date been characterized by considerable fragmentation. Expanding the scope of our franchise means that for the first time, on all types and sizes of home improvement projects, homeowners nationwide can trust in the proven quality, stability, and integrity represented by the Case® name.”

Richardson — named one of “10 who will remake the remodeling industry” in this decade by Remodeling magazine — notes that the expansion of the Case® franchise only became feasible because of franchisees’ accomplishments in their markets and their strict adherence to the uncompromising standards of service and craftsmanship that have defined the Case® brand. To qualify for operation under the new Case® Handyman & Remodeling name, franchisees were required to demonstrate a superior track record of project management, customer service, quality control and fiscal stability.

The initial list of franchises changing to Case® Handyman & Remodeling includes: Cincinnati, OH; Carmel, IN; Concord, NH; St. Louis, MO; Amherst, NY; Maple Grove, MN; Roanoke, VA; Atlanta, GA (North Metro); Nashville, TN; Redmond, WA; Glastonbury, CT, and; Oklahoma City OK.
Market-driven expansion of scope

Owners/operators of Case® locations have established strong client bases and track records on handyman jobs which have driven repeat business and referrals – the core strategy of the company’s business model. As clients’ comfort levels in dealing with Case® Handyman Services locations have increased, their requests for remodeling work on a scale beyond the parameters synonymous with the term “handyman” have become more frequent. Indeed, many franchises selected for the change to Case® Handyman & Remodeling are already firmly established in their markets as premiere providers of a broad range of home improvement services — from the simplest maintenance and repair projects to full kitchen and bath remodels, construction of decks and sunrooms and full-scale basement finishes and upgrades.

Innovation of business management systems and award-winning proprietary software enabled Case® Design/Remodeling, Inc. headquarters offices to begin successfully servicing the handyman segment of the Washington D.C.-metro market in 1992. The company began offering franchises of its handyman business under the Case® Handyman Services brand in response to numerous requests for advice and systems from remodelers for the effective, profitable servicing of this segment that had traditionally eluded even the industry’s most seasoned practitioners. Case® franchises are also supported by a rigorous program of training and technical support, and robust local and national brand building initiatives.

Information on the Case® franchise opportunity, qualification requirements and application procedures is available by calling (800) 426-9434, or online at www.CaseHandyman.com.

Based in Bethesda, Maryland and with offices in Maryland and Virginia, Case® Design/Remodeling, Inc. (www.CaseDesign.com) has been serving the Washington D.C. metropolitan area since 1961. With its headquarters operations recognized as the nation’s largest full service remodeling firm , the company’s Case® franchises serve more than 50 cities nationwide.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University’s report “The Changing Structure of the Home Remodeling Industry: Improving America’s Housing 2005” is available for viewing and download online at http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/remodeling/remodeling2005.html.

Case® founder Fred Case and Case® president Mark Richardson are the only remodeling professionals on the Joint Center's Remodeling Futures Steering Committee.

ABOUT CASE®: Founded in 1961 by National Remodeling Hall of Fame inductee Frederic F. Case, CR, and with day-to-day operations guided by Mark Richardson, CR — voted one of “10 Who Will Remake the Remodeling Industry” — Case® Design/Remodeling, Inc. is the United States’ largest full-service residential remodeling company. With headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland and additional offices in Annapolis, MD, Chantilly, VA and Falls Church, VA, the multiple award-winning firm is recognized as one of the country’s premiere remodeling companies. Through its headquarters and franchises in more than 50 cities around the country Case® continues a tradition of industry innovation and superior design and remodeling service. Case® offers every client set time consultation appointments, security-cleared personnel and project warranties. For more information on Case® Design/Remodeling, Inc. and the Case® franchise, visit www.CaseDesign.com and www.CaseHandyman.com or call (800) 513-2250.