When Turner Schenzel first ventured into the handyman business, his vision was clear—to create a handyman service that prioritized trust, professionalism, and exceptional customer experience—while also creating a lasting legacy for his team. Five years later, as the owner of Ace Handyman Services, he’s delivering on that promise, one drywall repair and ceiling fan installation at a time.
In a recent interview on the Spotlight Omaha podcast, Turner shared insights into what sets his business apart, the challenges of scaling operations, and why customer trust is at the heart of everything they do.
“When in Doubt, Give Us a Call”
The beauty of Ace Handyman Services, Turner explained, is its versatility. “Our team handles anything from hanging pictures to a bathroom remodel and everything in between,” he said. That includes carpentry, doors, trim, cabinets, decks, fences, drywall, shower doors, light plumbing, faucets, toilets, TV mounts, shelving, and more.
While their scope of work includes carpentry, drywall, and light plumbing, Turner emphasized that the company stays within its expertise. “We draw the line at licensed plumbing and electrical work—anything requiring permits or structural changes.” For those situations, they refer clients to trusted contractors they’ve already vetted.
This approach allows the team to remain laser-focused on delivering quality. Customers appreciate their straightforward time-and-materials billing model. “We give a rough time estimate over the phone, and once our Craftsman arrives, they confirm the time or adjust it,” Turner explained. The result? Transparency and peace of mind for clients—and sometimes even excitement over a lower bill than expected—a win-win for all involved.
A People-First Approach
If there’s one thing Turner is proud of, it’s his team. “Our hiring process is rigorous,” he said, describing how potential employees are vetted not only for their technical skills but also for their character. “We’re really picky about it because we care about our team a lot. The way to keep good guys is to add more good guys.”
Turner’s team members come with diverse skill sets—one might have 25 years of carpentry experience, while another specializes in drywall. This specialization allows Ace Handyman Services to handle a wide variety of jobs with confidence.
To build trust with customers, Turner goes the extra mile. Before an appointment, clients receive a text message with a photo and brief bio of their assigned Craftsman. “It’s a big deal,” Turner said. “People appreciate knowing who’s coming into their home. It’s part of building that trust.”
“Humble, Hungry, and Smart”
The ideology of Ace Handyman Services can be summed up in three words: humble, hungry, and smart. Borrowed from a Patrick Lencioni book, these traits are the foundation of the company’s hiring and employee development practices.
“Humility is about being teachable and coachable,” Turner said. “Hungry is having a fire to work hard, and smart is about being people-smart—reading the room, interacting well with others.” These values aren’t just hiring criteria; they’re the metrics by which employees are evaluated long after joining the team.
Scaling with Care
While Turner is passionate about growing the business, he’s candid about the challenges of expansion. In addition to the Omaha location, Ace Handyman Services has offices in Lincoln and Des Moines. Managing remote locations, however, is no small feat.
“It’s harder to run a location remotely, especially if you don’t know the community,” Turner admitted. “Here in Omaha, I can be hands-on every day—meeting people, building relationships. It’s harder to do that from afar.”
Despite these challenges, Turner remains committed to maintaining the high standards that have earned his team over 525 five-star Google reviews.
Leaving a Legacy
For Turner, this business is about more than just fixing homes—it’s about building a legacy. “I want to provide a place where I can hire people, love on them, and care for them,” he shared. His passion for stewardship extends beyond his employees to the clients they serve.
“When customers open their homes to us, they’re trusting us,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important to me that every Craftsman we hire is someone we can trust, too.”
The Future of Ace Handyman Services
Looking ahead, Turner is excited about Ace Hardware’s plans to expand its service offerings, potentially introducing plumbing and electrical services under the Ace umbrella. But for now, his focus remains on Omaha.
As Turner said, “I love Omaha. We’re here to stay.”
If you’re in the Omaha area and need a trusted handyman, Turner’s advice is simple: “When in doubt, give us a call.” Whether it’s fixing a faucet or mounting a TV, Ace Handyman Services is ready to do the job with professionalism and care.
