ENTREPRENEUR WATCH

Dierdre Kurland, owner of Homeowner's Solution, a business connecting homeowners with contractors. Michael McCord photo

Much to her surprise, Deirdre Kurland, a former rising corporate star in the insurance industry, has become acquainted with scores of masons, carpenters, electricians, builders, floor furnishers, and general contractors.

No, Kurland didn't trade in her white collar for a hard hat but she did have an entrepreneurial moment of opportunity meeting necessity "" when your husband goes overseas on active military duty, to whom do you turn for vital household repairs?

Because her husband, Kevin, was the handyman around the house, "I never had to worry before," she said.

While she wasn't exactly worried when her husband was scheduled to leave for a year of active duty with the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing, the Seabrook resident was concerned.

As a result of her research in how to deal with potential issues around the house, she started a new business "" The Homeowner's Solution. In the process, Kurland became a "matchmaker" between homeowners seeking services but too busy to do extensive research and contractors seeking business but too busy to do serious marketing.

"People know how time consuming it is to find a good contractor, to even get your phone call returned," said Kurland. "I figured there's gotta be something here. I could probably save a ton of people a ton of legwork to find a good contractor."

Kurland, whose business began to take off shortly after she started it in early 2005, talked to Seacoast Ventures about her business, her expansion plans for the future and dealing with the delicate balancing act of being compensated by contractors while remaining an advocate for homeowners.

Seacoast Ventures: How do you decide who's in your contractor network?

Deirdre Kurland: It's like having a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. We have over 45 different contractors and we came up with a really rigorous screening process for each contractor. We check for bonding and appropriate insurance. Not only do I check with Better Business Bureau and the state Consumer Protection Bureau but I speak with a minimum of five different contractors for references. Only then do I accept them into the network: seven out of 10 times, I turn them away.

SV: Who are your customers?

DK: It runs the whole gamut. Couples who have husband and wife working full time and have no time to hunt on their own, moms at home with children all day, and the elderly. Most of them are in the Seacoast but they go from York and Kittery to Manchester and Seabrook and Derry. I go as far as my contractors travel.

They ask for something as simple as installing one little faucet to designing a custom built home "" I've had estimates from $100 to $250,000. The good part from the customers' perspective is that when it comes to a roofing estimate, it's nice to say you don't have a thing to worry about.

SV: How do you make money?

DK: I am paid by the contractors. When a residential or small business customer gets an estimate and signs onto a job, I get a fee from the contractor. I stay involved through the entire process and be in communication with the homeowner and the contractor "" I set up appointments, brief the contractors and make sure the customer is satisfied. We have an ongoing evaluation process. If something goes wrong, it's my reputation on the line as well.

SV: How do you get the word out about your business?

DK: I belong to quite a few networking groups. In the past, I've done some direct mail and a lot comes through word of mouth referrals. One thing I want to do is increase awareness among military families. The main reason I started this is because so many military spouses were in the same boat as I am.

SV: What are your plans for the business and what kind of challenges do you see in the future?

DK: One challenge I have is balancing my personal and professional lives but so far I love my job and I love being able to spend time with my children. It's the best decision I've ever made career wise.

I want to take the business to the next level and start hiring some military spouses or stay-at-home parents. I need to start bringing on more employees because the Seacoast region is growing fast and there are plenty of customers. I can see hiring five to 10 employees and having 100 to 125 contractors in the network.