It’s that time of the year when homeowners living on the North Shore start to face their list of New Year’s resolutions and to-dos. And for most, that list includes many home-related touch-ups, fixes, and repairs that have been put off for too long. Staring down that list can be stressful. Where do you start? Who do you call? And how do you know if you are getting a fair price?

But, it’s time to take a deep breath.

There is help.

“Talo was created to make your life easier,” explains Talo Home Concierge’s Chad Gardner. “Being a homeowner shouldn’t feel like another job.”

Gardner, of Winnetka, and business partner Brad Hughes, of Northbrook, recently launched Talo, a service that promises to take the guesswork and headache out of home maintenance and repairs.

The concept is simple. Homeowners sign up for the $299 annual subscription and receive access to a live 24/7 concierge. Whenever a home problem arises, clients simply call, text, or email, and Talo handles the rest. The concierge determines the scope of the service required, books a vendor from Talo’s network of high-quality providers, and confirms the pre-negotiated, competitive rate for the job.

“We are for homeowners who just don’t want to deal with the stress anymore,” says Hughes. “If a problem occurs in the home, many families simply don’t have the time to spend half of their day finding someone they can trust to fix it. We have researched and vetted top notch people and can secure top notch prices for these sorts of home services.”

Talo helps clients with everything from routine maintenance, like window washing and gutter cleaning, to emergency repairs for heat, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical, to full-scale remodels. The preferred contractor network encompasses more than fifty home services, and always ensures all work is done in the most efficient and satisfactory way.

“So many of our clients have come to us because they have had horrible experiences with vendors and contractors,” says Gardner. “People don’t show up when they promise, or they do a shoddy job, or the pricing is unfair. So many people are out there trying to take advantage of homeowners, especially up here on the North Shore.” Talo clients don’t have to worry about those issues. “Our vendors are incentivized to do an exceptional job the first time, because they want to remain part of this growing network,” Hughes explains.

If clients are too busy to meet those contractors, Talo offers a home attendant service for an additional fee. And if you are escaping the long Chicago winter and need someone to check in on your home while you are away, Talo has you covered. For just $40 per visit, Talo Concierge’s talented staff can check in on your home.

Talo also provides customers with customized quarterly home maintenance plans. They will remind you when it’s time to change filters, have your chimney cleaned, or windows washed, for example. And then they will schedule it all for you. “Our clients don’t have to think about anything. They go about living their lives, and we make sure things around their homes are running smoothly,” says Gardner.

The response so far has been overwhelming. “There are so many dual-income families who just don’t want to deal with the headache anymore,” says Gardner. “We also see a lot of single parents eager to outsource these tasks, and adult children purchasing our service for elderly parents who can no longer manage their home safely.”

Talo’s clients come from all across the North Shore and surrounding suburbs. The company recently expanded into downtown Chicago and plans to service the Western Suburbs later this year. “We are a perfect solution for anyone who takes pride in their home and just doesn’t have the time or inclination to do what needs to be done,” says Hughes.

Talo Home Concierge is located at 1 Northfield Plaza in Winnetka, 844-4MY-TALO, [email protected], taloconcierge.com.