In this exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Gilbert Moore, founder and CEO of RepairFind, discusses how his firsthand experience as an electrical contractor inspired him to transform the home repair industry. Frustrated by the lack of trust and inefficiencies that homeowners and tradespeople face, Gilbert set out to build a platform that simplifies and modernizes the entire service process. RepairFind’s innovative dual-app system bridges the gap between clients and contractors by offering verified professionals, secure payments, and real-time communication—all designed to create a smoother, more reliable experience. Gilbert also highlights how embracing multilingual support and technology-driven solutions has expanded access and opportunity within diverse communities. Discover how RepairFind is redefining home services with transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency at its core.
Gilbert Moore is the CEO and founder of RepairFind, a Vancouver-based platform revolutionizing the home repair and maintenance industry. RepairFind’s innovative dual-app solution seamlessly connects customers with contractors, fostering a transparent and efficient service experience. Drawing from his experience as an electrical contractor, Moore launched RepairFind with a mission to enhance transparency, simplify the booking process, and build lasting trust between customers and service providers.
What inspired you to create RepairFind, and how did your extensive experience as an electrical contractor influence your vision for revolutionizing the home repair and maintenance industry?
During my years as an electrical contractor, I repeatedly saw the inefficiencies that plagued the home services industry, and the mistrust that existed between customers and tradespeople. Homeowners often struggled to find reliable, verified contractors, while skilled tradespeople like me faced challenges with finding work, delayed payments, high advertising costs, and inefficient leads. These persistent issues highlighted the need for a better solution, and that’s what inspired me to create RepairFind.
My goal was to build a platform that empowers both sides of the marketplace and streamlines the home services booking process. We designed features to address real pain points, such as secure, satisfaction-based payments, rigorous contractor vetting, and real-time chat tools for smoother coordination. Ultimately, RepairFind bridges gaps in trust, transparency, and efficiency, modernizing how home services are delivered while providing tradespeople with tools to grow their careers.
The home services sector faces many inefficiencies such as unreliable contractors and payment delays. How does RepairFind’s dual-app platform uniquely address these pain points for both homeowners and tradespeople?
RepairFind’s dual-app platform uniquely addresses inefficiencies by prioritizing trust and transparency. For homeowners, the app ensures access to verified contractors. Many platforms list contractors without validating licenses or assessing the quality of prior work, leading to poor hiring decisions. Our RepairFind contractors undergo comprehensive license and background verification to ensure credibility.
It also offers secure, satisfaction-based payments, significantly reducing risks. Historically, transactions lack safeguards, exposing homeowners and contractors alike to financial risk. Consumers may receive subpar service after full payment, while contractors often go unpaid without viable dispute resolution mechanisms. Our in-app payment system ensures financial transactions are safeguarded to minimize non-payment risk for contractors, and homeowners pay only after the work is completed to their satisfaction.
Beyond these pain points, RepairFind also simplifies job posting, allows real-time communication, and offers side-by-side quote comparisons. Tradespeople benefit from intelligent job-matching, notifications, and automated invoicing, streamlining operations and eliminating wasted advertising costs. Our project management tools make tracking jobs and managing client interactions seamless, while dispute resolution systems ensure fair outcomes.
By addressing key pain points head-on, RepairFind delivers value to both parties and creates a more efficient home services ecosystem.
RepairFind supports five languages including Punjabi and Mandarin. Why was embracing multilingualism important, and how has this approach enhanced inclusivity and community engagement within your platform?
Embracing multilingualism was essential to our mission of accessibility and inclusivity. Vancouver is home to diverse communities, many of whom prefer to communicate in other languages than English. By supporting five languages, including Punjabi, Mandarin, French, and Spanish, RepairFind opens doors for skilled tradespeople from various backgrounds to thrive, while ensuring homeowners feel confident and understood throughout the process.
This approach has strengthened community engagement. For example, newcomers to Canada who may face language barriers can now find opportunities to establish themselves in skilled trades, while diverse homeowners can connect with professionals who truly understand their needs. Multilingualism doesn’t just broaden our platform’s reach; it fosters trust and collaboration across communities.
Digital transformation is reshaping many industries. How is RepairFind leveraging technology to modernize home services, and what future innovations can users expect from your platform?
RepairFind leverages technology to modernize home services by offering an integrated platform for contractors and homeowners. For homeowners, the Customer App features a simple, user-friendly design that makes it easy to find and hire trusted professionals. The four-step process—creating an account, browsing verified contractors, booking services, and real-time communication—removes the hassle of extensive research or unreliable recommendations.
For contractors, the platform simplifies administrative tasks with the Contractor App. It allows them to manage appointments, track projects, send invoices, and receive instant job notifications tailored to their skills. By combining all these tools in one place, RepairFind replaces outdated methods like classified ads or cold-calling, making everything more efficient.
Looking ahead, we’ll introduce material procurement services to reduce downtime and financing options for major projects. We’re also focused on youth skilled trade engagement, connecting younger generations with apprenticeship and mentorship opportunities. By continually adopting innovative features, RepairFind ensures that both homeowners and tradespeople stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.
As a final thought, what advice would you give to small and medium-sized businesses aiming to innovate and grow in traditionally manual industries like home services?What inspired you to create RepairFind, and how did your extensive experience as an electrical contractor influence your vision for revolutionizing the home repair and maintenance industry?
During my years as an electrical contractor, I repeatedly saw the inefficiencies that plagued the home services industry, and the mistrust that existed between customers and tradespeople. Homeowners often struggled to find reliable, verified contractors, while skilled tradespeople like me faced challenges with finding work, delayed payments, high advertising costs, and inefficient leads. These persistent issues highlighted the need for a better solution, and that’s what inspired me to create RepairFind.
My goal was to build a platform that empowers both sides of the marketplace and streamlines the home services booking process. We designed features to address real pain points, such as secure, satisfaction-based payments, rigorous contractor vetting, and real-time chat tools for smoother coordination. Ultimately, RepairFind bridges gaps in trust, transparency, and efficiency, modernizing how home services are delivered while providing tradespeople with tools to grow their careers.
The home services sector faces many inefficiencies such as unreliable contractors and payment delays. How does RepairFind’s dual-app platform uniquely address these pain points for both homeowners and tradespeople?
RepairFind’s dual-app platform uniquely addresses inefficiencies by prioritizing trust and transparency. For homeowners, the app ensures access to verified contractors. Many platforms list contractors without validating licenses or assessing the quality of prior work, leading to poor hiring decisions. Our RepairFind contractors undergo comprehensive license and background verification to ensure credibility.
It also offers secure, satisfaction-based payments, significantly reducing risks. Historically, transactions lack safeguards, exposing homeowners and contractors alike to financial risk. Consumers may receive subpar service after full payment, while contractors often go unpaid without viable dispute resolution mechanisms. Our in-app payment system ensures financial transactions are safeguarded to minimize non-payment risk for contractors, and homeowners pay only after the work is completed to their satisfaction.
Beyond these pain points, RepairFind also simplifies job posting, allows real-time communication, and offers side-by-side quote comparisons. Tradespeople benefit from intelligent job-matching, notifications, and automated invoicing, streamlining operations and eliminating wasted advertising costs. Our project management tools make tracking jobs and managing client interactions seamless, while dispute resolution systems ensure fair outcomes.
By addressing key pain points head-on, RepairFind delivers value to both parties and creates a more efficient home services ecosystem.
RepairFind supports five languages including Punjabi and Mandarin. Why was embracing multilingualism important, and how has this approach enhanced inclusivity and community engagement within your platform?
Embracing multilingualism was essential to our mission of accessibility and inclusivity. Vancouver is home to diverse communities, many of whom prefer to communicate in other languages than English. By supporting five languages, including Punjabi, Mandarin, French, and Spanish, RepairFind opens doors for skilled tradespeople from various backgrounds to thrive, while ensuring homeowners feel confident and understood throughout the process.
This approach has strengthened community engagement. For example, newcomers to Canada who may face language barriers can now find opportunities to establish themselves in skilled trades, while diverse homeowners can connect with professionals who truly understand their needs. Multilingualism doesn’t just broaden our platform’s reach; it fosters trust and collaboration across communities.
Digital transformation is reshaping many industries. How is RepairFind leveraging technology to modernize home services, and what future innovations can users expect from your platform?
RepairFind leverages technology to modernize home services by offering an integrated platform for contractors and homeowners. For homeowners, the Customer App features a simple, user-friendly design that makes it easy to find and hire trusted professionals. The four-step process—creating an account, browsing verified contractors, booking services, and real-time communication—removes the hassle of extensive research or unreliable recommendations.
For contractors, the platform simplifies administrative tasks with the Contractor App. It allows them to manage appointments, track projects, send invoices, and receive instant job notifications tailored to their skills. By combining all these tools in one place, RepairFind replaces outdated methods like classified ads or cold-calling, making everything more efficient.
Looking ahead, we’ll introduce material procurement services to reduce downtime and financing options for major projects. We’re also focused on youth skilled trade engagement, connecting younger generations with apprenticeship and mentorship opportunities. By continually adopting innovative features, RepairFind ensures that both homeowners and tradespeople stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.
As a final thought, what advice would you give to small and medium-sized businesses aiming to innovate and grow in traditionally manual industries like home services?
For small and medium-sized businesses in traditionally manual industries, my advice is to focus on understanding your audience and leveraging technology to meet their needs. Innovation doesn’t have to be complex — it should address real pain points. For RepairFind, this meant creating tools that offer transparency, secure payments, and streamlined communication.
Additionally, inclusivity and collaboration are key. Engage with your community, listen to stakeholders, and adapt to diverse user requirements. Finally, don’t be afraid to invest in systems that can scale. Technology can simplify operations, build trust, and differentiate your business in a competitive market.