LAWRENCE, N.J.--“Housecalls Mower Repair,” is a unique, full-service, mobile mower repair company that services all types of lawn/garden equipment, and all “walkable or ridable” small engine powered machines/tools right at your home. In other words no more loading your mower or tractor on into your car/truck and or hitch!!! Servicing MERCER and MIDDLESEX COUNTIES!!!
Entrepreneur and owner, Jason Buckley, explained that his uncle started the business a decade and a half ago.
Following a five-year stint working for a large retailer, where he covered a territory in Staten Island, his uncle decided to work for himself after growing increasingly dissatisfied. He simply “went with it,” said Buckley, noting that his uncle knew the business inside and out since his own father operated a popular dealership and repair shop in Mercer County, NJ, for four decades, though they closed it in 1998.
After operating his own mobile service for about four years, he decided to expand what was now a full time effort beyond Staten Island, to New Jersey where business quickly took off.
In an exclusive interview with www.NJnewsjersey.com reporters Buckley explained "that he slowly learned the business on the job, as his uncle’s apprentice, through hands on experience."
“The first day I got in the truck with my uncle (to drive to a job), I knew nothing about lawn mowers,” recalled Buckley of his invaluable field experience.
Fast forward a few years and his uncle said: “ ‘It’s time for your own truck,’” said Buckley.
So, in addition to investing in his own truck-trailer, he purchased a territory from his uncle to operate as his own.
Fast forward another two and a half years, when his uncle decided to retire, Buckley and his own father, a key investor, arranged a plan to purchase the remainder of the business from his uncle. That included the Mercer County territory, which he acquired in mid-August of last summer, he said.
In the spring he typically makes 10 -12 stops a day, and to handle “overflow,” hires his cousin, who operates his own franchise in PA, as an extra technician when needed.
Buckley said if it’s “walkable or ridable,” Housecalls will service it, adding that “all the work is done at [the customer’s] location,” of the gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment he services, including: Walk mowers, tractors, generators, snow throwers, rototillers, walk behind edgers, and log splitters, among many other types of equipment. (Housecalls does not service small hand held trimmers, backpack blowers, or chain saws, he said.)
The company does not use any used parts, explained Buckley, adding that he also distributes parts to many landscapers, when it’s practical and time permits.
He said he gets about a dozen orders a year from landscapers.
Additionally, he’s sold parts to institutions in New Jersey, which recently racked up a sizable purchase order, choosing Housecalls because of its superior customer service and track record.
He stands behind all work, taking care of each patron completely and going beyond to find solutions that create good will and positive word of mouth.
For instance, Buckley would only charge for a new belt, if the one he recently installed on a machine snapped shortly after being installed, and not charge for the trip to the customer’s home or the labor again.
“We will repair or replace anything during the warranty period for any reason,” he said, citing a 90-day full warranty on any and all work that they do -- labor and parts are covered with no questions asked.
They also perform diagnostics, and do annual preventive service work.
Buckley said he’s considering franchising the business, as others would benefit from the expertise and many good systems and standard procedures developed through years of experience acquired by he and his family.
“We have to get bigger,” added Buckley.
In NJ, business is seasonal; the volume of service calls depends largely on whether conditions. The spring season begins by the second week of March, running through the first week of April. However, “customers don’t think about [their equipment],” unless temperatures outside are higher, or “until it’s nice out and the calendar says spring time,” he said.
By the middle of June, the sale of parts tapers off, while in August, business depends largely on the amount of rain.
“If it’s not dry, grass is not growing, so we don’t get a lot of business,” said Buckley.
This year, for instance the business experienced a very good January.
In the winter, the amount of snowfall is critical to business, he said, adding that a blizzard two years ago accounted for the best February ever.
Aside from saving $75 to transport your mower to a brick and mortar store, if you can even find one still open these days, the advantages of a mobile service run the gamut, and include being able to watch the work being done in real time (if you choose to), and not having to worry about where your machine is or when it will be returned or ready for you to pick-up.
