Total Protect survey reveals high demand for appliance repairs

In a recent national survey conducted by TotalProtect, a consumer product owned by Cross Country Home Services (CCHS), findings revealed that 65% of consumers had to repair or replace a major appliance or home system last year and more than 35% of the survey respondents needed both a repair and a replacement. Results also indicated that air conditioners were among the top named system to be repaired or replaced.

With the hot summer months approaching, these findings are especially relevant. The statistics found in the TotalProtect survey coincide with CCHS’s own data that shows call volume increases in the summer due to air conditioner repairs or replacements needed.

Other findings from the TotalProtect survey revealed a major concern of consumers is finding a dependable repair person. When participants of the survey were asked what the biggest challenge is to having a major appliance or home system repaired or replaced, 56 % said finding a reliable repair person was their top concern.

To counter homeowners’ increased demand for dependable customer service during the hottest months, CCHS recently announced it will hire 130 new employees in the first two quarters of 2013, adding to the company’s staff of over 600 employees. There will be 90 new hires at the company’s customer service facility in Anderson, S.C. and 40 at their headquarters in Sunrise, Fla. Most of the new positions will be dedicated to customer service and authorizations.

For additional information on the Total Protect survey, read our press release here:http://www.cchs.com/press-article/-/journal_content/10180/NATIONAL-SURVEY-REVEALS-65-PERCENT-OF-CONSUMERS-REPAIRED

For more information about TotalProtect, visit www.totalprotect.com.

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Home Warranties offer peace of mind to homeowners amid uncertain economic climate

Our newly released white paper  explores the growing appeal of home warranty products among homeowners as they cope with significant financial stress in the recovering economy. According to the findings of a recent national survey by TotalProtect®, most homeowners are ill equipped to deal with the unanticipated expense that a broken home system creates. The comfort that a home warranty system can provide is invaluable during a time when many homeowners do not have the means to handle the cost of appliance repairs.

“The results of our survey show that many Americans are not prepared for unexpected expenses and even a smaller dollar amount could cause a household financial crisis,” said CCHS president Sandra Finn. “A home warranty can help protect a homeowner’s savings and provide peace of mind during this fragile recovery.”

The white paper also reveals that in addition to the financial burden placed on homeowners, many feel anxiety over the entire process of dealing with a broken system, including how to find someone who can help. Consumers are turning to companies like CCHS that can mitigate worry by offering solid relationships with qualified contractors for repair and replacement work.

CCHS’s new white paper emphasizes that a home warranty can be a practical and important management solution for many homeowners, and can offer relief to consumers during times of economic uncertainty. For more information about the value of home warranty systems, read our full white paper here: http://www.cchs.com/white-papers

To read our press release, follow this link:

http://www.cchs.com/press-article/-/journal_content/10180/NEW-WHITE-PAPER-STATE-OF-HOME-MANAGEMENT

For more information on Cross Country Home Services, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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CCHS ranked #1 in the Top Women-Led Businesses in Florida

Peggy Nordeen or Starmark and Sandi Finn of CCHS

We’re proud to announce that our president, Sandi Finn was honored at The Commonwealth Institute of South Florida’s (TCI’s) 8th Annual Top Women-Led Businesses in Florida luncheon in Miami. Sandi has ranked in the top five women-led organizations in Florida for the past seven years, and this year took home the top spot!

Sandi promotes a culture at CCHS that is focused on creativity, strategic vision and cross-functional teamwork. Under her leadership, the company has enjoyed double-digit revenue growth and increased its employee base significantly. Sandi credits much of her success to her strategic focus, natural problem-solving abilities and passion for business. She’s on the board of TCI and was recently named one of South Florida Business Leader’s 2012 Women Extraordinaire.

Here are some of the highlights from this year’s survey conducted by Moore Research:

  • 53% of women-led organizations state they are more optimistic about current economic conditions inFlorida, with many expecting continued improvement through 2013
  • Taxes and government regulations are viewed as major concerns for many women-led businesses, inhibiting their confidence to expand or take risks
  • Women understand the importance of leveraging technology in their business, with 35% stating they will use technology-based solutions to address their business challenges this year
  • Mentoring other women for leadership continues to be important, with 77% stating this is valuable to their business

To read about Sandi and the other TCI honorees, read the Sun-Sentinel story: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-women-business-leaders-florida-20130319-17,0,5877479.story

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Family Services a Top Priority for HMS National

Doug Stein, President of HMS; Mickey Nocera, Board President of Place of Hope; and Sandi Finn, President of CCHS

Our affiliate, HMS National, is literally bursting with happiness today following its announcement of a $100,000 donation to Place of Hope, a superb child welfare organization in Palm Beach Gardens,Fla. The nonprofit provides foster care, family outreach and support programs for abused and neglected children.

“Corporate giving is a considerable ‘game changer’ for the youth of Place of Hope, who benefit directly from the vision, generosity and benevolence of the business community,” said Mickey Nocera, Board President of Place of Hope.

HMS has sponsored the nonprofit’s Annual Golf Invitational and Charity Dinner since it’s inception, and was a Gold Level sponsor at this year’s event.

For more information, read the news release here.

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CROSS COUNTRY HOME SERVICES HIRING 130 EMPLOYEES

We’re staffing up to ensure we meet our company’s mission to make home management easy, especially during the hot summer months when our call volume significantly increases.  Delivering the kind of high-level service that is hallmark to our company is our top priority, and we’re pleased to announce that we will hire 130 new employees in the first two quarters of 2013. There will be 90 new hires at our customer service facility in Anderson, S.C. and 40 at our headquarters in Sunrise, Fla.  These employees will join our team of more than 600 employees and most of the new positions will be dedicated to customer service and authorizations, as our call centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Last year, our advanced preparation was put to the test when record-setting temperatures had most of the country under excessive heat warnings for protracted periods. Over a one week period in late June, CCHS experienced a 54 percent increase in service calls. Despite the heavy volume, the average call was answered in less than one minute and customers received same-day or next-day service through the company’s extensive network of over 40,000 highly qualified, independent service partners located from coast to coast.

We understand that a broken air conditioner can be disastrous for a family, so it’s critical that we’re prepared to be there for our customers in these types of emergencies.

For more information or to apply, keep an eye on our website at http://www.cchs.com/careers.

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