Your house is so much more than just a roof over your head. It’s your home. It’s the heart of your family, and the place where your children grow up. It’s the place you wake up to each new morning, the place you come to at the end of the day, and the gathering place for family, friends, and relatives. You want it to be comfy. You want it to be attractive. You want it to be calming when you come home at the end of a hectic day. You want it to run efficiently and smoothly. Tom Trachta, owner of Tom’s Home Repair, says he can help you accomplish all of this and more.

While growing up on a farm in Cedar Rapids, Tom was always interested in fixing random things. “There was always something that needed to be fixed,” he says. He loved to take apart various items on the farm and then see if he could put them back together. It was this kind of can-do attitude that led Tom to help nearby friends and neighbors with different odds and ends related to home repairs.

In 1974, Tom realized that he made more money doing home repairs for others than at any other job he could find, so he started his own business out of his home in Cedar Rapids. Today he is still a one-man business; he doesn’t have anyone working for him. “I am the boss,” he stresses. “I do everything in this company.” Tom says he loves that he can set his own hours and do something that he loves to do for the rest of his life.

The purpose of Tom’s business is to help others, he says. Providing a good service is what he is here for. “I can do about 90% of the repairs that anyone could think of,” he states. Tom repairs windows, doors, roofs, vinyl, and wall tiles. He also does kitchen, patio, basement, and bath renovations, as well as painting, drywall installation, and carpentry. Tom’s business has been open for over 35 years.

One of Tom’s main responsibilities is to make sure people know about his business. He says advertising is a huge asset to him. “I want people to know about my business and that they can call me and get help with any problem they need, no matter how big or small it is,” he shares. Tom does all of his advertising exclusively in Women’s Edition magazine. “I have been very satisfied in how my business has picked up since I started advertising in Women’s Edition,” he says. “Women are a big part in most home repairs. They are hard-working women who have a say in how they want their house to look. For the most part, they are the decision-maker (when it comes to) home repairs.”

When a client first calls Tom, he sets up a time to meet with him or her at their home so he can look around and discuss the repair(s) they need. He says he lets them know right away how much he estimates the cost to be and when it should be finished. He also makes sure that his clients know which jobs will take longer than others.

Doing home repairs is satisfying to Tom, he says. He enjoys seeing what he has accomplished at the end of the day. “It’s very gratifying to see my customers satisfied with the work I‘ve done for them.” The smiles on their faces and the compliments Tom receives from them are signs of them being satisfied customers, he adds. Previous customers often refer Tom’s Home Repair to their family and friends, which is essential for his business.
Tom’s philosophy when he works is to build trust and respect with his clients. In fact, Tom has never met some of his customers. “They just leave their key under their doormat and have me do the work while they’re at work or gone doing errands. It means a lot to me that my clients can trust me that much,” he says.

I contacted several previous customers of Tom’s Home Repair. Client Gayle Goodale of Cedar Rapids had work done on her outdoor patio by Tom, and says that he did a beautiful job. “Tom does great work,” she stresses. “He is very reliable, prompt, neat, and his prices are extremely reasonable.” Mary from Hy-Vee shares, “Tom is awesome. He gets the job done quickly. He’s very dependable, and he’s always on time or early. He gave me honest and helpful advice without charging me. He doesn’t try to squeeze a buck out of you.”

Tom’s Home Repair is a full-time business. Tom has a work phone that goes straight to voicemail in order for customers to leave a message explaining what type of repair they need. It is very important to him that he responds to customers in a professional and timely manner, he says. He also likes to maintain his equipment, making sure he has all the tools he needs for the job and making sure they are all in top-notch condition.

The economy has had an impact on Tom’s Home Repair, he says. Tom explains that he has noticed people wanting to remodel their home rather than purchasing a brand-new home. A few winters ago, Tom had a scare when calls were not coming in, but as soon as the weather got better, the calls came rolling in. Business has been excellent ever since, he says.

“I am very dedicated to this business. It is mental and physical work 24/7,” he says. “I am always thinking about what I have to do next.” Tom stresses that when you’re starting your own business, you must crawl before you walk. “You have to start out slow and take little steps or you will fall,” he says. He explains that a lot of mistakes will be made, but that doesn’t mean that you just give up. “You have to analyze everything you do and expect the unexpected. It helps to have a little bit of experience with your line of work before you just dive right in.” Tom had his sights for this business set years ago when he helped people in need. “I try my best to please everyone,” he explains. “I hope the overall consensus is good.”

One thing Tom loves about his job is the variety of people he meets. There is always something different to expect when Tom gets a call from a new client. He doesn’t have any “common jobs,” he shares. “Everything is random—that’s another thing I love about my job. It will never get repetitive and boring.”

To make an appointment to do some remodeling around your house or any sort of repair work, contact Tom’s Home Repair at 319-395-0296

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