New Wichita franchise is available to help anyone, but particularly one group

There’s a new handyman service in Wichita that’s available to anyone, but franchisees Tad and Tara Albright have one group they’re especially hoping to help with their new TruBlue Home Service Ally.

“What I’m trying to grow is just for senior services,” Tad Albright said. “That’s really what’s near and dear to me and my wife.”

He said he’s a certified aging-in-place specialist, which he said involved intense training for helping people age in place.

His and his wife’s own parents were part of the inspiration for that.

Albright said his 91-year-old father “cared for my mom for 12 years” in their two-story home.

“She was able to live out her life in her home.”

He said for others now he’s “just trying to provide that level of comfort (and) sense of dignity.”

Familiarity is important, too, he said.

The company offers free assessments for making modifications in people’s homes, such as adding grab bars and other things “just trying to make a home safe.”

Albright said he’s going to focus on growing the business, and he’s hiring others to do the work.

“It could be a painting a bedroom. It could be fixing a faucet.”

TruBlue also offers recurring monthly and quarterly services, such as general maintenance and changing light bulbs.

It also offers services to help residents prepare their homes for selling or for inspections.

Albright said he wants to work with real estate agents, occupational therapists and others who know what help people need.

TruBlue has a full-time senior care person on the franchise staff among other people who can help the business, Albright said.

“That credibility is really what I’m trying to leverage.”

Albright had a trucking and recycling business years ago, and he said it’s harder to start a business on your own than with a franchise.

“I’ve done that other route, and it was more than I wanted to take on at 58 years old.”

Also, he said he wanted to differentiate the business.

“There’s a lot of handymen in the world.”

This story was originally published December 11, 2023 at 4:04 AM.