Flint, Michigan, Man Saves Home by Starting Home Improvement Business

The rate of foreclosures and houses for sale on the market, especially in Michigan, are on a steady rise. One man was about to go through the same ordeal, but got lucky with a business he developed and "fixed" up his mortgage payments.

Just a short time ago, Flint resident Chad White was about to lose his house. He had just been laid off from his his job of a six-figure income. The bank had sent him a notice that he has six months to catch up on his mortgage or he'd go into foreclosure.

Being a "mister fixer upper," he had an idea. He would start his own business, Home Savers. He specializes in doing small repairs on other people's houses. And as the greater Flint area's economy declined and foreclosures increased, he found himself riding out what almost took everything he owned.

A few years ago, the business owner rented a small 200-square-foot building to begin what he'd hoped to be a successful business. The building much resembled a small house .Within a year, he was profiting more than what he was at his previous job he lost.

"We were very successful last year bringing in over $1 million in a gross income. This year, I'm expecting that number to be almost doubled," says the handy man.

"We have 34 employees now."

The business now works with not only individual customers, but banks needing to repair houses that have been claimed by foreclosure make up more than half of the income. The rest of the yearly gross is made up of insurance companies paying out to repair houses with other damages such as water damage.

"We do a lot of work on houses that have been burned or water logged. Each house has its own story. They're all quite sad," he says of several repairs.

"Many of the stories involve a death or divorce and foreclosure is inevitable sometimes."

Despite his own story and the stories of so many others he does work for, White is considering opening another location to maximize his exposure and increase his employees.

The lay-off came the same day that his wife had quit her job as a request by White. He had convinced her they no longer needed the extra income.

"I came home one day and asked her if she'd quit. She said yes, and I then told her I got laid-off."

The couple had just gotten married, were planning on having children, and had bills that paid out over $4500 each month.

"My wife went back to work for a period of time while I started repairing homes. The schedule was hectic. I'd work late and get up early and start the cycle over again," White said of his prebusiness work hours.

What makes Home Savers different from other repair companies that allow it to profit so high in such a deprived location?

"We aim to do something extra for each and every customer, commercial or residential."

The company's customers enjoy the perk. For example, one of his customers had lost power and their basement flooded. Of course companies will dry the basement, but Home Savers will replace the housing necessities damaged by the flood such as paint and carpet.

"Customers love it. And so do the insurance companies," he says with a chuckle.

The bids on his jobs range from installing a $400 door to doing $75,000 in repairs paid out by an insurance company.

"My first big work was for an insurance company. We repaired $65,000 in damages and it launched the business."

White, a minister, said his faith had gotten him through the trials he faced after the lay-off. His wife now a mom and stays home to tend to the children. His employee staff is growing and what's next for the business owner?

"My employees are good at what they do and they're quick. We may be in the middle of a job and get a call reporting something that needed immediate attention and we'll send over a handful of guys to get the job started many times within a few hours," he says of his associates.

"We just purchased a Dura Patcher, so we'll now be able to repair parking lots for businesses as well. We're the complete package."