The 5 Home Improvement Sites you didn't know existing (and how they hurt the industry)


My name is Teris, I am contractor but I am also the founder of EFynch.com. EFynch is a Baltimore based, community job board. I created EFynch because of the alternatives that I tried within my own personal business (yes, EFynch is a "I could make a better ____" business). I explain the "other sites" below because there are a few traps you could avoid. These are so big- I actually created EFynch as a "logic based" alternative (meaning, it uses the hiring process I use in property management).

Many sites that you see advertised online are actually advertising sites themselves. They are modern "yellow pages"- with no emphasis being on "modern" (eg. their antiquated). Home improvement is basically a Freelance Economy, but not sites really revolutionized how you hire- they are just band aids.

So, what does Home Improvement Have? You've seen the cheezy commercials, but from my personal experience this is what is "behind the curtain":


5 types of home improvement sites and how they hurt the industry:
1. Pay Per Lead: Homeowner submits request to the "trusted site". Your information is sent to a sales representatives who calls every contractor with a website in your area. They literally SELL your information to the first pro willing to pay $15 to $500 for your personal contact information.

2. Advertising: Trust me, her "list" is simply a modern version of the yellow pages. When you start getting rated, you are afforded the privileged to market your good ratings if you respond when she asks "Got Money?".

3. The Rating Sites: It's nice to see ratings of restaurants or products but what about a handyman? The issue is that restaurants get so many ratings, it is impossible for the owner to sway the overall ratings by calling friends and asking for favorable reviews. Handymen, not so much. Community/ neighborhood sites are filled with biased and fake reviews. (at EFynch, the only way a pro gets a ratings is if we have verified the job took place and money was exchanged).

4. The Neighborhood Site: Building on #3, the "neighborhood site" suffers from the same issues. I've literally seen reviews so detailed they could be written by no other than a contractors mother! Plus, one site has "neighborhoods" which are comprised of 100 square miles and over 10k people-- some neighborhood! It's funny how the guy who cuts you off on the road yesterday now has the perfect plumber to clean your pipes!


5. The Uber Clones: Push a button and get a pro! The problem is I've seen advertisement where a freelancer exclaims "yesterday I made money trimming hedges, today I did crown molding!" Is that what you want? These sites can take up to 49% for their piece of the pie- not good for local economy and blindsides the Pro/ Freelancer who is participating.




So, what did we make in response? EFynch!
With EFynch,  the idea is simple and follows classic freelance models. Homeowners are able to post requests for work on their home (for free), and local contractors can view job information, and then submit a bid or questions for the job (for free). The homeowner can see the information, reply, hire, and even pay using our EFynch Escrow system which keeps everything transparent.  No meetings, no sales calls, etc. EFynch saves time for both the Pro and the Homeowner.
*we hide homeowners information in job post to protect privacy.

If a pro or handyman cannot perform (because of the requested date, price, etc.)- they simply skip over the posting and no time is wasted. No sales, no meetings, etc. Plus, we give the homeowner tools to evaluate pros such as the only True Verified Rating System, and the industries first Social Media Integration which allows you to see who worked for someone in your social network and their reviews, without having to publicly post a request.


So let me know what you think? Give us a try! Always happy to help with new contractors and homeowners.





The information above is distributed by EFynch.com but is not necessarily the opinion of the company. The opinion and descriptions above are based on the experience of an EFynch employee and are his own experience, as a contractor and handyman in Maryland.

Special thanks to a few groups for helping us obtain this information:
- Baltimore TV Mount
- Rehab Construction
- Tenant Build Out





Popular posts from this blog

The Big Fuzzy Bumble Bee- What are they? Do they Hurt? How to Kill them.

Image
 EFynch is a handyman and homeowner community board based in Baltimore, Maryland. We provide advice, guidance, and help facilitate communications so, as a homeowner, you can manage any project like a pro! (Baltimore, MD ) Every spring my home is flooded with big, bumbling, furry, clumsy bees. It literally looks like the early stages of some biblical catastrophe. When I first saw them, I didn't know what to do. They'd swarm, swoop, dive, and worst of all- they were living behind my gutters and in my deck digging holes in the wood! I immediately turned to social media where, just as expected, I received a host of conflicting information in which each respondent was more sure than the previous one. So, I rolled up my sleeves, put on my reading glasses and after intense research I compiled the information below and I hope this helps. Grab your tennis rackets and a can of WD-40, because we're in for a wild safari! 1. What are they? They are commonly known as wood ...
Read more

Shovel your driveway for convenience. Shovel the sidewalk or be FINED!

Image
By: Teris Pantazes of EFynch.com Timonium, MD: After every snowstorm you will ultimately hear the scrape of distant shovels and snowblowers. These are your good neighbors who are out clearing their driveways in order to avoid busting their Phisteris' or just taking a terrible slip.  But I have to tell you, it doesn't end there. As a dog owner (actually, 2 mutts in my household!), I take them out for an stroll every evening. I constantly encounter a lack of sidewalk clearing and because I don't want to be a nosy neighbor, I politely trudge through the snow risking my own demise. Therein lies a problem because without resolution, you are opening yourself to fines and even worse, HOMEOWNER LIABILITY. I live in Baltimore County. But, I have also managed properties in Prince George's, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, and Washington D.C.  I can tell you without any hesitation of doubt that within each and these jurisdictions- THE SIDEWALK IS THE HOMEOWNERS ...
Read more

Why you should hire a licensed tv installer to mount your flatscreen

Image
 There are many reasons why you should hire a licensed professional to perform any home improvement work in your home and mounting your tv’s are not exception. Here is a video from Baltimore TV Mount and Maryland TV mount going over the reason why.  Hope this helps all those homeowners and tenants looking to prepare for the big game on Sunday with a new big screen tv!  Remember, we are also starting to help those in Salt Lake City and Denver .
Read more