Why This Franchisee Duo Transitioned Their Home Inspection Business into TruBlue Total House Care

When business partners J.D. Nelson and Scott Edwards discovered TruBlue Total House Care, the franchise that provides subscription-based home maintenance and handyman services for seniors and families, they saw an opportunity to take their business portfolio to the next level.

Nelson is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and has spent several years in the home services industry. Edwards worked in the health field and also spent over a decade in construction. The two have been business partners since starting a home inspection business in 2012, as well as a microbial and odor sanitization company a year later.

“We’ve done a total of over 20,000 home inspections, and in that time, we noticed a need amongst real estate agents, property managers and homeowners looking for professional handyman services,” said Nelson. “Once we built up our business, we were trying to figure out how to address that need.” 

And as established business owners, Nelson says they understood how difficult it could be to start something from scratch again. “When you add up all the costs you spend on the back-end, marketing and operations to start your own company, you end up spending just as much money, if not more, than you would in royalty costs with a franchise,” he said. “Plus, franchising is a full package deal, with a turn-key business and proven systems in place.”

While researching different franchise concepts, the duo came across TruBlue and immediately connected with its mission. “There are a lot of handyman services out there, but not many that address the needs of both seniors and busy families,” said Nelson. “Additionally, most ‘Chuck in a Truck’ handyman providers don’t provide that level of professionalism or take on smaller projects. A lot of contractors start out as handymen, but as they get into bigger jobs, they leave a void for the smaller jobs that they don’t want to take on any more. TruBlue takes on projects of all sizes.”

Edwards says he also saw first-hand the importance of senior care while working as a nursing assistant in a hospital.

“I spent a lot of time working with the elderly after surgeries, and I am very familiar with their struggles and where they most need help,” Edwards said. “There always seems to be a missing need within the senior care space, and home care is one of them. My wife and I just recently went through a similar situation with my father-in-law — he needed handrails installed and work done on the house to make it safe. The most exciting part of TruBlue is the work we will be able to do with the seniors and our ability to help them stay in their homes longer. We definitely want to be a part of that solution for seniors and busy families.”  

Nelson and Edwards did their due diligence, met the TruBlue leadership team and officially signed on with the brand in West Des Moines, Iowa. They are now transitioning their home inspection business and rebranding it to TruBlue Total House Care. 

“We are excited to help buyers and sellers make their homes move-in ready or pre-sale ready, help property managers who are looking to flip a house or apartment and help busy families who can’t keep up with maintenance,” said Nelson. “As far as senior citizens trying to age in place, we know this is an underserved market, and we want to help them improve their quality of life. We already have a lot of experience and a respectable reputation throughout our community, and this will allow us to become an even more valuable resource by providing total home care for everyone and anyone.”

The TruBlue team is actively seeking new franchise owners like Nelson and Edwards in markets across the country and has identified Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Naples, Florida, as well as Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas, as key development markets.

“J.D. and Scott are a great addition to the TruBlue family, and they already have in-depth experience in serving the homeowners of their market,” said Sean Fitzgerald, TruBlue’s President. “We are excited to see the further impact they can have on their community by teaming up with TruBlue and providing this much-needed service.”

The total investment estimate for a TruBlue Total House Care franchise ranges from $65,050–$91,400. To learn more about franchising with TruBlue, please visit https://trubluefranchise.com/.