Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Dennison.
Hi Travis, can you introduce yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
2020 was a crazy and unpredictable year. In March, I was working with a startup that garnered 8 figures in funding. It was exciting, and I planned on staying with the company for the project. While working from home during the lockdown, I discovered a new passion for home renovations. Because of the flexibility I was afforded during the pandemic, I could renovate a duplex I had recently purchased in the West End of Atlanta. The renovation provided the foundational experience I needed to learn not only the ups and downs of DIY home projects but also the insight that guided me through the creative process, learning new skills, and the project’s completion. During this time, my neighbors noticed the work that I was doing. Many seniors began to ask if I could help them with some of the things they saw me doing. Cleaning up yards, replacing light fixtures, and straightening or strengthening leaning railings or banisters became minor items I could take care of for them with relative ease. And I enjoyed and felt blessed to be able to serve them in this way. I became even more encouraged as I learned that some were getting citations from the city about home repair items. This presented several different challenges. Most were on fixed incomes, unable to do the work themselves, and had difficulty finding quality handypersons to do the work. Citations and fines were piling up for many of them. I reached out to a fraternity brother of mine. He was an event planner and DJ; that line of work had dried up with the pandemic. I talked with him about the issue and proposed some solutions, and he was glad to jump in and help me; it gave him something to do and a valuable way to contribute. Word quickly spread through the community and city council meetings that we were great handymen and home technicians. We started to gain experience, new skills, customers, and referrals, so I decided to resign from my company and go into business full-time. I called my company, 404 ATL Handyman. We discovered a huge need for capable and reliable home technicians in Atlanta. Four years later, we have a small team of dedicated contractors and over 20 commercial partners, and we have successfully serviced over 500 residential clients in the Atlanta metro area. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and the City of Atlanta has recognized us as their Official Handyman in 2022.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of my biggest struggles was transitioning from corporate life to self-employment/entrepreneurship. Once I decided I was all in, it was a matter of figuring out the next step. And then the next step, and the next. I have shared that with other entrepreneurs who ask me that question. Sometimes, you have to start moving without having a clear path in front of you. Trust in God and yourself so that you can figure things out. Then boom, one day, you will look up and realize how far you’ve come, and the path forward seems a bit clearer. I can’t say that it was ever a solo endeavor. I was blessed to find mentors from other industries willing to share their knowledge and support me.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We provide white glove handyperson service. I have a background in Information Technology and Engineering, so we specialize in smart home automation and home refreshing. We are home technicians, and our team consists of a certified electrician and an HVAC technician (my father). We have tackled most of the project requests we’ve received and are proud of that! It speaks directly to one of our company’s pillars- only take on what we can handle. We’ve noticed that many of our competitors/contemporaries will overleverage their time and workforce to get higher-paying projects in this space. We stick to our core competencies and adhere to a scope that allows us to see happy customers versus those stressed out because of looming or inaccurate timelines or budgets.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I want people to know that they are fully capable of doing anything that they set their minds and hearts to. The best advice that I’ve been given is not to be afraid to fail. And if I fail, I fail cheap and fast so that I can move on to something that will undoubtedly be better. Sometimes, people are afraid to start something because of the possibility of failure. Failing is a part of life. If you’re lucky enough to learn from failures and mistakes, you’ll see that the bigger picture is about gaining knowledge and compassion for yourself that you can share with others. Continue reading and learning, and the goals you have set for yourself will get closer and closer to your reality!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://404handyman.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlhandyman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/404ATLHandyman/
