Comparing The Smart Fix Handyman vs DFW Improved for work in Fort Worth? Both are real companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and both can do good work. They just do different work. The Smart Fix is a handyman and small-to-mid remodel shop with W-2 employees and a Fort Worth office in Haslet. DFW Improved is a Plano-based design-build remodeler that focuses on bigger renovations and room additions. The right pick comes down to the size and type of project on your list.
I’m Chance with The Smart Fix. I’ll lay this out as fairly as I can. If your project is a better fit for them, I’ll say so. Our team won’t try to win a job we shouldn’t be doing.
Quick Comparison Table
| The Smart Fix Handyman | DFW Improved | |
|---|---|---|
| Main type of work | Handyman repairs, installs, light plumbing and electric, kitchen and bath remodels, commercial | Full-home remodels, room additions, kitchen and bath, outdoor living, insurance restoration |
| Google rating | 5.0 stars across 300+ reviews | 4.7 stars across roughly 200 reviews |
| Years in business | Growing DFW handyman company, founded by Chance O’Shel | 20+ years remodeling DFW homes |
| Fort Worth office | Yes. Haslet, TX (north Fort Worth) | No. Plano HQ. Serves northeast Tarrant County |
| Crew model | W-2 employees only | In-house design and project team plus trade partners |
| Licensing and insurance | $1M liability + workers comp on every job | Texas residential contractor license M-36161, insured |
| Warranty | 1-year labor guarantee | 1-year workmanship warranty |
| Hours | 7 days a week | Monday through Friday |
| Best for | To-do lists, repairs, mid-size remodels, fast scheduling | Larger luxury remodels, design-build projects, additions |
How We Put This Comparison Together
Facts here come from both companies’ websites, their Google Business Profiles, and the Texas state license database. Pricing notes come from public pages and our own field experience in Fort Worth. We didn’t pay either company to be ranked, and we didn’t ask DFW Improved for input. If we got anything wrong, send us a note through thesmartfixhandyman.com and we’ll update it.
The Smart Fix Handyman at a Glance
The Smart Fix Handyman started in Fort Worth and still runs our main shop out of Haslet, just north of downtown. We send our own W-2 techs out. No random subs you’ve never met. We are built for the kind of work most Fort Worth homeowners actually need in a year. Drywall holes, door alignment, fence boards, faucet swaps, fixture installs, water-damage patches, TV mounts, and yes, kitchen and bath remodels too.
Our rate is $145 an hour with a $95 job minimum, so you know what you’re walking into before we show up. Every job carries a 1-year labor guarantee. If we did it and it’s wrong, we come back at no charge. You can see what we cover in the area on our Fort Worth service page.
Where we shine is the to-do list. The kind with eight small projects you’ve been ignoring for a year. We knock those out in one visit, often in one afternoon, with one tech you can talk to.
DFW Improved at a Glance
DFW Improved has been remodeling homes in the metro for more than 20 years out of their Plano office and design center. They run a design-build process, meaning their team handles design, materials selection, and construction in one shop. They hold Texas residential contractor license M-36161, carry a Better Business Bureau A+ rating, and they are a National Kitchen and Bath Association member. They have also won multiple Best of Houzz awards.
Their core projects are kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, room additions, insurance restoration, outdoor living spaces, and aging-in-place modifications. They serve the North Dallas region, Collin County, and the northeast side of Tarrant County. Places like Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, Trophy Club, and Westlake. If you are in central or south Fort Worth, you are a longer drive from their HQ, and that can affect scheduling.
Where The Smart Fix Is the Better Fit in Fort Worth
Pick The Smart Fix when:
- You have a list of small to mid-size repairs. Drywall, doors, fixtures, fences, deck boards, tile patches, TV mounts.
- You want a real Fort Worth office and faster scheduling, not a 30-mile drive from Plano.
- You want to know the rate before the visit. $145 an hour, $95 minimum, no surprise design-fee invoice.
- You want a one-tech, one-day, one-bill kind of project.
- You need weekend or evening help. We run 7 days a week.
- Your remodel is more about refresh and update than a from-scratch design. Think new vanity, new tile, new paint, not blowing out a wall for a 600-square-foot addition.
Where DFW Improved Might Be the Better Fit
I’ll say this plainly. We would point you toward DFW Improved (or another design-build remodeler) when:
- You want a designer in the project from day one, with a showroom visit to pick finishes.
- You’re adding square footage. Room additions, garage conversions, and second-story builds are their world more than ours.
- You want a full-house renovation with architectural drawings, permits at scale, and a project manager running the schedule for months.
- You are doing high-end luxury work where the price tag is six figures and you want a designer-curated finish package.
- You are filing an insurance restoration claim and want a contractor who handles that paperwork all the time.
We are not going to fake a luxury addition bid to win a job. That kind of project needs the bigger machine.
A Quick Story
I tell our guys in training, “If it’s the wrong job for us, say so.” Last fall we got a call from a homeowner near Camp Bowie. She wanted us to bid an addition with a sunroom, a new roofline, a new HVAC zone, the works. I looked at the plans and told her straight up, “This is a year of design and permitting. You want a full design-build shop, not us.” We sent her two names. She still calls us for her to-do list work. That’s how we do this.
How to Decide
Look at the project, not the brand.
Under a day of work, repairs, installs, paint, or fixture swaps. Call The Smart Fix.
One room remodel with no wall moves, either company can do it. Call us first for speed and price. Call DFW Improved if you want a designer in your kitchen picking quartz with you.
Whole-house, addition, or six-figure design-build. Call a design-build firm. We are happy to refer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Smart Fix Handyman or DFW Improved cheaper?
For small jobs, The Smart Fix is almost always less. We bill at $145 an hour with a $95 minimum and we do not add a design fee. For large design-build remodels, prices are project-based at both companies and depend on scope. Get a written quote from each and compare them line by line.
Does DFW Improved serve all of Fort Worth?
DFW Improved is based in Plano and lists service to North Dallas, Collin County, and parts of Northeast Tarrant County. Cities like Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, Trophy Club, and Westlake. Central, south, and far-west Fort Worth are not listed as primary service areas on their site, so confirm with them before booking.
Are both companies licensed and insured?
Yes. The Smart Fix Handyman carries $1 million in liability coverage plus workers comp and sends only W-2 employees. DFW Improved holds Texas residential contractor license M-36161 and lists insurance on their site.
Who has more Google reviews?
The Smart Fix Handyman has more than 300 five-star Google reviews. DFW Improved has around 200 reviews with a 4.7 average. Both are strong numbers. Read the recent reviews, not just the totals.
Can The Smart Fix do a full kitchen or bathroom remodel?
Yes. We remodel kitchens and bathrooms across Fort Worth and the rest of DFW. Tile, vanities, fixtures, lighting, flooring, and finish work. If you want a designer-led process with a showroom, a design-build remodeler is a better match. If you know what you want and you want one in-house crew running it with a clear price, we are a good fit.
Bottom Line
The right pick for Fort Worth comes down to project fit. Match the company to the work, not the other way around. If you are staring at a list, call us at 817-310-8511 or request pricing at thesmartfixhandyman.com. If you want this checked or handled, reach out through thesmartfixhandyman.com.
Chance | The Smart Fix
This article is an opinion-based comparison written by The Smart Fix Handyman. Review counts, ratings, service areas, pricing, and offerings are accurate as of June 2026 and are subject to change at either company. Confirm any details directly with each company before booking work.
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