Henrico company matches members with contractors

Steve Green is a most unusual handyman.

He doesn't come to your house, he doesn't build fences and he can't do electrical work.

Yet, he wants to be the first guy you call if you wantthose things done.

Green owns Hocoa, a service network company in Henrico County that matches members with contractors.

Members, who pay an $89 membership fee, call him when they have work to be done on their homes. He then matches the job with screened contractors.

"We take the unknown out of the process," he said.

Green says Hocoa is part Better Business Bureau, part AAA and part concierge service.

While customers pay for the work, Green said Hocoa screens the contractors, saving clients time and, potentially, money.

Hocoa, he said, checks licenses, insurance coverage and references for each contractor.

The contractors are re-screened throughout the year.

Green said he has a "1½ strike policy" when it comes to complaints about the contractors.

"We just ask them to leave the network if they aren't doing what they are hired to do," he said.

To stay in the network -- beyond working on your house -- contractors must return calls, attend appointments and not bill more than their estimates.

The contractors benefit from Hocoa because they get a built-in network of customers.

Formed a year ago, Green has signed up 60 contractors and about 3,000 members. He has sent contractors out on about 1,000 jobs.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or .