About Home in 802
We're social beings and we rely on our friends and family to help inform us and our decisions. So it's not uncommon for us to ask a neighbor who they hired to plow their driveway or fix their gutter. But the answer to those questions is lost almost as soon as the words are spoken. So we set out to capture them and share them with you and give you the opportunity to share your experiences about working any of the contractors and service providers found here. And if we haven't listed them yet, you can suggest them!
How is Home in 802 different from Angie's List and HomeAdvisor? It's local - by Vermonters, for Vermonters and in this small state, that matters.
We Believe
We believe in local first. Sounds like a lofty goal but this simply means our default should be to look for local solutions first. That’s why Home in 802 exists - to assist with finding solutions that come from within our community.
We believe in supporting our neighbors. It’s our collective gritty, thrifty, indomitable spirit and creative resilience that helps keep us and our neighbors afloat. And we know Vermont better than anyone. We know how fickle the weather can be, how we are trusted to pay the $3 for our organic tomato at the farm stand even though no one's watching and the cash box is just sitting there - not to mention who to ask when it comes to learning what our neighbor is up to. We want the security of knowing that when we call someone to fix our furnace at 2am on a morning when the thermostat reads minus 2 degrees, we’ll get a real person that will - despite a bit of grumbling - come and fix it.
Of course there may be times when the local solution doesn’t measure up to our expectations, but give local first a try is our promise to each other.
Local first also sets a standard for those of us that provide services. When a neighbor seeks us out in a professional capacity, there is an unspoken obligation to meet or exceed their expectations. It’s a measure of us as members of the community as well as human beings. The most important thing is to participate and give our best.
Community
One of the values of community is that we know the name and face of the person we’re doing business with. Our kids may know their kids. We may see each other at 4th of July parades, bake sales, and bowling tournaments. With this familiarity comes a level of responsibility toward each other. If for no other reason - remember there has to be someone to pick up that phone when it comes our turn to call for help.
Accountability is another asset of community. This is why we not only allow but encourage comments! We may not like to hear what our neighbors have to say about our work but it 's a part of being an invested member of a community - as long as what is said is fair and our own opinion.
Values
Vermont has long been at the leading edge of taking a stand. Sometimes good, like when we declared war on Germany months before Pearl Harbor - and sometimes bad … like, well, I can’t think of an example here.
Every state claims to have its own unique character and values. We’re no different in our claim but we are different in our character. When you live in a place long enough, you earn the right to speak your mind and still be respected for it. In Vermont the same is true as long as you give it your best, what you say is fair, and what you say is your own opinion and not someone else’s.
Left to Right
It doesn’t matter if we’re liberal left, conservative right, or dodgy middle of the road. What matters is our commitment to supporting each other. Politics don’t matter when it’s minus 10 outside and the furnace won’t work.
Giving Back
Home in 802 is built and maintained by Vermonters for Vermonters. While we support this project with revenue from advertising, we do NOT charge a fee to be listed in our directory - and we never will. We also give free advertising to community organizations that address:
- Homelessness
- Hunger
- Child & Family Issues
- Elderly Issues
- Employment
- Food Security
- Education
- Environment
- Unemployment