From left: Michael Kline and Zorik Gordon. Photos courtesy of Serviz

Hiring a handyman can be a headache-inducing experience. Sometimes the job ends up costing more than the original estimate, or the five-star Yelp reviews turn out to be pure fiction. There is little protection for customers who simply want their homes to function properly.

Zorik Gordon and Michael Kline, two veterans of the tech industry, recognized these issues and set out to change the way people approach home repairs and services. This past July, they launched Serviz (serviz.com), a website and iPhone app (an Android version is planned to launch sometime this year) that allows users to find repairmen, plumbers, cleaners, electricians and other home specialists on demand. Users can book a background-checked professional for same-day service and see exactly what it will cost beforehand.

The whole process of booking and buying a home service is really broken, Gordon said. We created a new solution.

All of the Serviz professionals are required to have a clean criminal record, insurance, a license (if necessary) and good reviews from customers in order to stay listed. They all are given tablet devices so customers can track their arrival time and pay the bill electronically.

Its free to book an appointment. Listed prices vary per service, but customers may also book a repairman for a service not listed, for $45 to $60 per hour, depending on the project. The company marks up parts and labor 20 percent.

We think the rates in the current market are just too high, Kline said. A lot of market research went into our pricing. Were willing to survive on lower margins because, for us, its about building lifetime customer relationships.

Currently, Serviz, which is headquartered in Sherman Oaks, is available throughout all of Los Angeles and Orange counties, but Gordon said he plans eventually to take it global.

Gordon said that Serviz has more going for it than price: It also helps alleviate safety concerns because people dont always know who theyre hiring to come into their home when they call up a business.

We were considering hiring one potential merchant until 17 negative things had come up on his background check. This is somebody out there who is advertising his services, and he gets to go into peoples houses. That alone is a huge fundamental difference between [us and the existing system], Gordon said. Having an intermediary company is a buffer between yourself and the merchant.

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Home repair at the touch of a button

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Syracuse, NY -- The last Onondaga County jury to hear murder evidence against Lynnquan Kellam ended deadlocked after three days, 11 to 1.

This week, a second jury begins to hear the case against Kellam, 28, who is accused of shooting Arthur Bullock, 54, to death May 31, 2013 on Bullock's front porch at 142 Fage Ave. Bullock was shot in the head during a robbery and died at Upstate University Hospital.

Kellam, who was on the porch, says he was not the shooter, but another victim of the actual robber. But prosecutor Melinda McGunnigle counter that an eyewitness saw Kellam pull the trigger and that others corroborated the witness's story.

The last jury remained deadlocked, 6-6, on the second day of deliberations in August. That changed to 11-1 by the end of the day.

But the panel could never reach a unanimous verdict. County Court Judge Joseph Fahey excused them on the third day.

Defense lawyer Don Kelly argued during the first trial that the witnesses colluded against Kellam to protect the true shooter's identity.

That jury was left with little physical evidence pointing to Kellam as the gunman. Forensic tests did not link him to the crime.

Syracuse police described Bullock as a handyman who came onto the porch to defend his friends. But evidence showed that a crowd had come to Bullock's house that night to buy drugs. He stumbled upon the robbery while leaving his house, Kelly has said.

Testimony in the retrial continues today.

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New trial in Syracuse handyman murder underway after last jury deadlocked at 11-1

Portland police arrested a 59-year-old handyman last week who they say scammed at least four customers by charging them for work he never completed.

Clinton Timothy Reany, who police say also goes by Dan Reany or Rick Mintkenbaugh, was arrested Wednesday by Portland Police Bureau detectives assigned to the bureau's elder crimes unit.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, a bureau spokesman, said Reany allegedly would contact homeowners and offer to repair sidewalks or driveways for a fee.

He would then collect half the fee for the job, perform a little work, ask for more money and then leave before completing the job. He often left the property damaged after allegedly pocketing thousands of dollars.

Simpson said Reany allegedly has repeated the scam for nearly 40 years across the country, operating under the business name of Concrete Solutions orConcrete Plus and targeting the elderly.

The Star-News in Wilmington, North Carolina reports that Reany wasconvicted of scamming about a dozen people and sent to prison in 2007.

On its website, the North Carolina Department of Public Safetylists Reany's arrests dating back to 2004 for similar offenses.

Reany's Lincoln Continental with North Carolina license plates was seized following his arrest.

Reanywas booked into the Justice Center Jail on Sunday on accusations of two counts of identity theft, and one count of methamphetamine possession, with bail set at $15,000.

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Reany or has additional information about him is asked to call Detective Teresa Uttke at 503-823-0969.

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Portland police elder crimes detectives arrest 'handyman' on accusations of fraud

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Custom Woodworking Handyman Services, Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch / EdNonnemacher.com
EdNonnemacher.com. Handyman, Custom Woodworking, Carpentry, Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch.

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News 12 at 6 o'clock / December 30, 2014

MCDUFFIE COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW) -- Virginia Hurd planned to fix her home in time for winter. "I was looking for somebody to do some repair work," said Hurd.

So when she found a business card for Mr. Handyman inside a Terminix bag on her front door she called the number. Hurd said, owner James Hand told her he was up for the job and had actually done work for her in the past. "And that he does repair work for Terminix when there's termite damage," said Hurd.

She said she agreed to have Hand, write a contract to install wood and plastic around her screened in porch, install gates on her deck, and underpinning underneath her home. The completed job would cost $1,250. "When I'd come home in the evening, he'd be out there. He'd have his Terminix truck backed into my front yard and he'd be working out of it," said Hurd.

She said in the end, the work was shoddy. Hurd said she tried for weeks to get Hand to handle the problem, with no luck. "I told him that if he didn't get in touch with me I was going to call 12 On Your Side," said Hurd.

But first, Hurd said she contacted his full time employer, Terminix. We did too.

In a statement, Terminix says: All employees of Terminix Service, Inc. sign an agreement stating that he will not 1) during recognized business hours, or at any other time, perform services for any person, firm, or corporation not authorized by the Company during the term of his employment; and 2) not either directly or indirectly solicit work for or accept business from any customer of the Company either for himself or for others during employment with the Company. While we cannot discuss specific personnel issues, the employee in question is no longer employed by our franchise. We apologize for the inconvenience this presented to Ms. Hurd. She is a long-standing customer of Terminix, and we look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to her and our other valued customers.

Hand called Hurd while we were there. "He (Hand) called and he said he just got fired, and he'd be over here this afternoon because he wants to make it all right," said Hurd.

This afternoon we did reach Hand by phone. He admitted he worked for Terminix, but did contracting jobs on the side. He also said, This had nothing to do with Terminix. I blame News 12 for getting me fired."

Meanwhile, Hurd admits she made some mistakes, like not getting a contract with company letterhead or even a signature from Hand. In the end, she said she did what she had to do. "I didn't want him to get fired, so I do feel bad about that, but he brought it on himself," said Hurd.

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12 OYS: Exterminator moonlighting as handyman, fired