I recently spoke with Derek Smith, CEO of HomeSpot (www.homespothq.com).  HomeSpot is like an online user manual for your house.  Helping homeowners maintain, protect and manage their property.   HomeSpotHQ has had a lot of attention in the news lately and I am happy Derek made the time for this interview.

Derek Smith, CEO of HomeSpotHQ.com

CHUCK: Tell me a little about your background and training.

DEREK:  I am originally from Spokane, Washington, and I’ve been doing software development in some form or another as long as I can remember. My first ‘product’ was developed in high school as a flash card system for basic Japanese characters. In college I developed a system to manage our college’s radio station, and also did internships for a multinational chemical company as well as a regional gold mining company. Since then I have worked for privately held and publicly traded companies, non-profits, state government, and had a 6 year season doing freelance software development and consulting.

CHUCK: How did you come up with the idea for HomeSpotHQ?

DEREK:  When I bought my first home in 2005 I immediately started doing various projects. Everything from replacing light fixtures, repainting rooms, and plenty of landscaping. I had always had in mind creating some type of electronic knowledge base so I could have a record of before and after pictures or just notes about some little oddity that occurred when doing a project. In 2009 I was working for a software company that was having a lot of trouble bringing a product to market, which led to a very tumultuous work environment. A co-worker and I would end up having regular brainstorming sessions for new businesses that we could start on the side. HomeSpot was probably the 3rd or 4th idea that we tossed around, but after getting some feedback on the idea, we decided to move forward to start building the product and see if we could get it to market. Our first release occurred 4 or 5 months later, and within a few months we had several hundred registered users. That was enough validation for us to keep pursuing it.

CHUCK: Please explain how you came up with the name HomeSpotHQ.

DEREK:  Well, we knew we needed some variation on home or house in the name. We mostly just brainstormed and then would check to see what domain names were available to register. We added the HQ to make it a bit more distinct.

CHUCK: Any big challenges in developing or testing HomeSpotHQ?

DEREK:  As it turned out, I started the development of HomeSpot HQ the same week that my 2nd daughter was born, so in those early days the biggest challenge was fatigue. I would stay up late coding and go to bed right about the time my wife would wake up to feed the baby.  So lack of sleep was a big challenge.

CHUCK: Who is the typical user of HomeSpotHQ?

DEREK:  Our typical user is a home owner that is oriented towards  organization.  Many also enjoy  do-it-yourself home repair and improvement. We have users from nearly all 50 states as well as a handful of other countries. They recognize the importance of routine maintenance for their home, and like having a system that will help them plan and organize the work that needs to be done.

CHUCK: Can you offer a preview of new features planned for your product?

DEREK:   Sure – we get almost all of our feature suggestions from our users, and we try to incorporate as many as we can in each release. Probably our biggest request is the ability to manage multiple properties under one account. This feature is under development now and will be released in 2012. We also are looking at ways to incorporate the routine maintenance tasks for vehicles into the product as well.

CHUCK: Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

DEREK:  We have been working on planning out apps for the various mobile and tablet platforms like Android and the iPad and iPhone. Also we’re working with remodeling and handyman contractors on a platform they can use to offer HomeSpot HQ to their clients called HomeSpot Pro.

CHUCK:  Anything else you would like to share?

DEREK:  I always love to take the opportunity to thank our users. Every time you use HomeSpot you encourage us to keep developing new features and ideas. Without our users, we would not have the story to tell that we do. So to the more than 5,000 homeowners who have joined HomeSpot, I personally offer my sincere thanks.

CHUCK:  Thanks Derek for taking the time with me!

Learn more at www.homespothq.com.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the EPA is stepping up its enforcement of the RRP lead paint rule.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stepped up its enforcement of the Lead- Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (RRP) with inspections that focus on company certification and other records required under the rule governing the renovation of older homes, according to remodelers and contractors who have been subject to the inspections.

Under the EPA’s lead paint regulation, remodelers and other contractors working in homes built before 1978 must take precautions to contain lead dust — including using lead-safe work practices, establishing dust containment areas and containing dust during the renovation, cleaning up after the project and maintaining detailed records.

See full article on the NAHB site.

Lead was used historically as paint additive up until it was banned from use in the United States in the 1970′s.  Lead poses a serious to adults and children, especially as a result of dust made during various home renovation projects.

If you own or work on a home that was built prior to 1978, please scan previous posts on RRP and lead paint hazards on this blog and also visit the EPA website for full details.

…

I was interviewed and quoted in the August issue of Remodeling Magazine, an industry leading journal published by Hanley Wood.  The article highlights pro’s and con’s of accepting credit cards as a form of payment for remodelers and home improvement contractors.

Read the full article .  My quote is below.

Chuck Solomon, president of Remodel & Repair Solutions, in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., gives his customers the option to use credit cards but only via PayPal.com or Google Checkout. “I let the customer know that I add the 2.9% processing fee that I have to pay onto their bill for that convenience,” he says. “These are both very easy to set up and there is no monthly fee involved.”

Solomon points out that he only offers this as a convenience for the relatively few customers who ask to pay by credit card.

>>>

There is a new direct mailing option now available from the USPS.  It is called Every Door Direct Mail and can be found online at  www.uspseverydoor.com.  This is a new product which makes it easier to for do-it-yourself mailings as well as lowers the cost.

It does this by eliminating the need to purchase mailing lists  and the need for labeling individual mail pieces.  You provide the mailing piece and pay postage as low as 14.2 cents per item.  Through a USPS online application, you select the area you want to mail, the total size of the mailing (min. of 200 and max of 5,000 unless special permit is acquired).  You select the area you want to mail online, it calculates the size and cost of the mailing, prints out a few forms and bring the forms and mailings to your local post office to purchase and deliver you mailings.  The PO takes care of the rest.

>>>

Past tips on how to fix a loose door hinge are often cumbersome and time consuming.These tips often include gluing things like match sticks, golf tees or even tooth picks to tighten a loose hinge. A new solution now exists with the Fringe Screw by Fritan Technology.I recently tried out this product and am pleased with the results.

The Fringe Screw is designed to fix loose interior door hinges caused by stripped screw holes. It features a standard size #9 countersunk head but with oversized threads.Allowing the screw threads to embed in the enlarged or stripped screw hole while the head sits flush in the hinge. The Fringe Screw has the same finished look as a typical hinge screw when installed.It provides a simple, sturdy, quick, and attractive solution to loose door hinges caused by stripped door hinge screw holes and no glue or tooth picks are required.

I spoke with the inventor of this product, Frederick “Fritz” Krach, Engineering Manager with Fritan Technology, the maker of the Fringe Screw. Here is a recap of our conversation.

CHUCK: Tell me a little about your background and training.

FRITZ: I have a Master’s degree in electrical engineering and worked for eight years in the aerospace industry before founding Fritan Technology in 2009.I also have a background in aviation as a pilot and flight instructor.Early in my career I worked for several years as an auto mechanic and was ASE certified.   I became familiar with home maintenance and repairs at a young age by taking care of my parent’s home.I continue to learn more about this everyday as I am in the middle of my own home renovation project.

CHUCK: How did you come up with the idea for the Fringe Screw?

FRITZ: I first became aware of the problem with loose door hinges and stripped screw holes at a job I held when I was a teenager.The front door to the shop was loose and I would see one of the employees taking the loose screws out and stuffing the screw holes with wood shavings.Within a couple months of doing this, the door would be loose again.  Years later, when I had my own house, I had the same problem.I looked for a better solution than the “toothpicks and glue” approach.I tried long screws, but rarely did they seem to find the wood of a wall framing stud.There are two reasons for this: in older homes, such as my own, doors were often installed in large openings and shimmed in place with thick wood planks, resulting in a large distance between the door jamb and the nearest wall stud.Another reason is that door hinge screws do not align well with wall studs.The screw holes on a hinge sit close to the edge of the door jamb near where the casing trim is located.A long screw driven straight through a hinge hole will most likely extend into the wallboard or plaster, not the wall stud.  I needed a better solution, so Fringe Screw was really born out of necessity.After giving the problem some thought, the design just occurred to me: start with a basic hinge screw and make the thread diameter larger, but not so large that it would not fit through the hole in the hinge.

CHUCK: Explain how long it took you to get from initial prototype to a product available for purchase?Any notable hurdles along the way?

FRITZ: The design cycle was around one year for Fringe Screw.The first step was identifying the dimensions for the new screw.This involved a combination of common sense and testing.The design was then turned into a set of manufacturing prints.A physical prototype was difficult to achieve because of cost.We were very careful with the design specifications because of this.The first product run was a success and sold well, but was only produced in a brass finish.Since then, the biggest change we have made is offering Fringe Screw in three finishes, namely, antique brass, bright brass, and satin nickel. The biggest hurdle encountered was finding the right manufacturer for Fringe Screw.It is important to perform due diligence when looking for manufacturers.The success of a product depends on their ability to deliver what has been specified.

CHUCK: Did you do any special product testing for the Fringe Screw?Explain how you tested the product.

FRITZ: We performed two types of testing on Fringe Screw: performance testing and quality assurance testing.Performance testing was carried out to determine how well Fringe Screw would work in its intended application.Examples of what was tested or measured include strength, area of surface contact between screw and hinge, and pull out resistance. Quality assurance testing was performed to ensure that Fringe Screw met its design specifications and was uniformly produced.These tests inspected the dimensions of the screws and the quality of the finish.The objective of quality testing is to make sure that our customers never receive a defective product.

CHUCK: What types of people purchase the Fringe Screw?

FRITZ: Fringe Screw is purchased by both professionals and home/business owners.Professionals that use Fringe Screw include handymen and handywomen, building renovation and remodeling contractors, building maintenance technicians, and locksmiths.Since Fringe Screw does not require special skills or tools to install, home and business owners also purchase it.Men and women alike use Fringe Screw to secure loose doors in their homes and offices.

CHUCK: Where is this product made?

FRITZ: Fringe Screw is made in the USA.It is actually made by two US-owned and operated companies: one that manufactures the screws and another that plates them.Additionally, Fritan Technology is owned and operated in the USA.A purchase of Fringe Screws therefore supports three US companies, in addition to the shipping companies we use.

CHUCK: Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

FRITZ: We are pursuing many projects.Our approach is to leverage the visibility our company has received from Fringe Screw and produce other products related to home maintenance and repair.One product we are working on is a picture frame hanger that we call “Framan Hanger.”I do not want to reveal too many details yet, but our goal is to produce a product that is easier to install than existing frame hangers. We are also looking at other fasteners for older homes.One is a wall-mounted hook for hanging pictures that is specially designed for plaster and lath walls.Another product is a ceiling-mounted hook that is designed to be used with really thick ceilings like you would find in an older home where drywall has been installed over an existing plaster and lath ceiling. We also are developing an electronic system that will aid in inventorying items.

CHUCK: Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ product inventor?

FRITZ: My best advice would be to do your homework before investing a lot of money or time.One can do this by first determining how original the idea is.Look through patent applications, store shelves, internet searches, etc. to see if someone else has already invented it.  If the idea is indeed original, then come up with a rough plan as to how it can be achieved.Make sure that the technology needed either exists or is worth the risk of trying to develop.Also make sure it can be manufactured at a cost that would make it profitable. Finally, if your idea is unique and feasible, find out if anyone will buy it.Perform a market analysis and determine who your customers will be.Then reach some of those customers and find out how much they would be willing to pay for the product.If the product is unique, feasible, and capable of generating demand, then it is a winner and should be pursued.If not, then invest time in changing the idea to meet these three requirements or come up with a brand new product idea.

CHUCK:  Thank you for your time!

For additional information and to purchase the Fringe Screw, please go to www.FritanTechnology.com.

>>>

Q: Tell me a little about your background and training.

A: I have a master’s degree in electrical engineering and worked for eight years in the aerospace industry before founding Fritan Technology in 2009.I also have a background in aviation as a pilot and flight instructor.Early in my career I worked for several years as an auto mechanic and was ASE certified.

I became familiar with home maintenance and repairs at a young age by taking care of my parent’s home.I continue to learn more about this everyday as I am in the middle of my own home renovation project.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the Fringe Screw?

A: I first became aware of the problem with loose door hinges and stripped screw holes at a job I held when I was a teenager.The front door to this shop was loose and I would see one of the employees taking the loose screws out and stuffing the screw holes with wood shavings.Within a couple months of doing this, the door would be loose again.

Years later, when I had my own house, I had the same problem.I looked for a better solution than the “toothpicks and glue” approach.I tried long screws, but rarely did they seem to find the wood of a wall framing stud.There are two reasons for this: in older homes, such as my own, doors were often installed in large openings and shimmed in place with thick wood planks, resulting in a large distance between the door jamb and the nearest wall stud.Another reason is that door hinge screws do not align well with wall studs.The screw holes on a hinge sit close to the edge of the door jamb near where the casing trim is.A long screw driven straight through a hinge hole will most likely extend into the wallboard or plaster, not the wall stud.

I needed a better solution, so Fringe Screw was really born out of necessity.After giving the problem some thought, the design just occurred to me: start with a basic hinge screw and make the thread diameter larger, but not so large that it would not fit through the hole in the hinge.

Q: Explain how long it took you to get from initial prototype to a product available for purchase?(Were there) any notable hurdles along the way?

A: The design cycle was around one year for Fringe Screw.The first step was identifying the dimensions for the new screw.This involved a combination of common sense and testing.The design was then turned into a set of manufacturing prints.A physical prototype was difficult to achieve because of cost.We were very careful with the design specifications because of this.The first product run was a success and sold well, but was only produced in a brass finish.Since then, the biggest change we have made is offering Fringe Screw in three finishes, namely, antique brass, bright brass, and satin nickel.

The biggest hurdle encountered was finding the right manufacturer for Fringe Screw.It is important to perform due diligence when looking for manufacturers.The success of a product depends on their ability to deliver what has been specified.

Q: Did you do any special product testing for the Fringe Screw?Explain how or who you tested the product.

A: We performed two types of testing on Fringe Screw: performance testing and quality assurance testing.Performance testing was carried out to determine how well Fringe Screw would work in its intended application.Examples of what was tested or measured include strength, area of surface contact between screw and hinge, and pull out resistance.

Quality assurance testing was performed to ensure that Fringe Screw meet its design specifications and was uniformly produced.These tests inspected the dimensions of the screws and the quality of the finish.The objective of quality testing is to make sure that our customers never receive a defective product.

Q: What types of people purchase the Fringe Screw?

A: Fringe Screw is purchased by both professionals and home/business owners.Professionals that use Fringe Screw include handymen and handywomen, building renovation and remodeling contractors, building maintenance technicians, and locksmiths.Since Fringe Screw does not require special skills or tools to install, home and business owners also purchase it.Men and women alike use Fringe Screw to secure loose doors in their homes and offices.

Q: Where is this product made?

A: Fringe Screw is made in the USA.It is actually made by two US-owned and operated companies: one that manufactures the screws and another that plates them.Additionally, Fritan Technology is owned and operated in the USA.A purchase of Fringe Screws therefore supports three US companies, in addition to the shipping companies we use.

Q: Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

A: We are pursuing many projects.Our approach is to leverage the visibility our company has received from Fringe Screw and produce other products related to home maintenance and repair.One product we are working on is a picture frame hanger that we call “Framan Hanger.”I do not want to reveal too many details yet, but our goal is to produce a product that is easier to install than existing frame hangers.

We are also looking at other fasteners for older homes.One is a wall-mounted hook for hanging pictures that is specially designed for plaster and lath walls.Another product is a ceiling-mounted hook that is designed to be used with really thick ceilings like you would find in an older home where drywall has been installed over an existing plaster and lath ceiling.

We also are developing an electronic system that will aid in inventorying items.

Q: Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ product inventor?

A: My best advice would be to do your homework before investing a lot of money or time.One can do this by first determining how original the idea is.Look through patent applications, store shelves, internet searches, etc. to see if someone else has already invented it.

If the idea is indeed original, then come up with a rough plan as to how it can be achieved.Make sure that the technology needed either exists or is worth the risk of trying to develop.Also make sure it can be manufactured at a cost that would make it profitable.

Finally, if your idea is unique and feasible, find out if anyone will buy it.Perform a market analysis and determine who your customers will be.Then reach some of those customers and find out how much they would be willing to pay for the product.If the product is unique, feasible, and capable of generating demand, then it is a winner and should be pursued.If not, then invest time in changing the idea to meet these three requirements or come up with a brand new product idea.

I recently authored an article for the website eHow.com.  The article covers the steps on how to hire a home improvement handyman to work on projects on your house.  This article covers seven steps to help make the right decision and hire the best person for your home improvement project.  Only hire those with the proper skills for a particular project.  Remember that hiring an unskilled individual will end up costing more to redo or correct things done improperly.   Read the entire article at eHow.com.

Below you will find excerpts from my interview with James Williams, CEO of Skan Technologies (www.skantechnologies.com).  I met Jim via a Linked-In group we were both members of online.  He was gracious enough to take part in this interview.

James Williams, WurkPads Creator

CHUCK:  Tell me a little about your background and what it is that you do today?

JIM:  I am owner of Skan Technologies, LLC.  I started Skan Tech as a way to bring my ideas from the drawing board to the market.  Most of my ideas revolve around ergonomics and efficiency.  Whenever I am doing something my mind naturally starts spinning in the background looking for a better way to achieve the desired end result.  If I have an idea I write it down or make a voice note on my phone.  Tinkering in my shop is one of my favorite hobbies so I’ll make a prototype out of junk I have laying around and see if there is any future for the idea.  The downside of this is that I tend to save old vacuum cleaners and other broken stuff.  Fortunately I have plenty of space behind my shop in Alaska to hide my stuff so our house doesn’t resemble a hoarder’s domain.  Of course starting up a product development company is not cheep so I still commercial fish in Alaska 4-5 months a year to augment our income.  I started fishing for crab (Deadliest Catch) back in the ’80s when Dutch Harbor was the wild west and the Elbowroom gained it’s reputation.  Now I primarily fish for Halibut.

CHUCK:  Where did you come up with the idea for WurkPads?

JIM:  Tension on the Fishing Vessel Kilkenny was high during the summer Shelikof Straits Scallop season so we decided to take a break for a week.  I used this time to begin work on an out building on our property in Homer, Alaska.  I was putting in the sub floor, hating the latest set of kneepads that I had purchased because the strap kept biting into the back of my thighs and calves.  The idea for a strapless kneepad had been circulating through my grey matter for some time and on this day it surfaced again.  “How can a get rid of this freaking strap” kept spinning in the background.  I was blinded by the bright light that came on in my mind and immediately went to my shop to tinker.  I had some old suspender clips and foam from work I had done on the NeckAid project so I pulled my utility knife out of my tool belt, trimmed out an oval, and after modifying the suspender clips, attached them to the edges with pop rivets.  Voila, a strapless kneepad was born.

A prototype of the WurkPads

CHUCK:  How long did it take you to get from prototype to product available for purchase?

JIM:     A long time.  The light that seared my retina came on in June of 2006 and I told myself that I was going to steamroll this product to the market as fast as humanly possible.  We received our first run of 1500 pair in August 2010.  Not exactly steamrolling.  The winter of 2006-07 I refined the hand-tooled prototypes and got them into the hands of tradesmen.  My parents were building a house at the time so we had a few sets on the site for the subs to try.  Of course there were issues with the crude prototypes but we had an overwhelming thumbs up from those who tried them.  I searched for a company to help engineer and produce the product and came across GID (www.gidcompany.com).  The product development time line was agonizingly slow since Jim Grimes and I are both perfectionists.  I would tell him what I wanted.  He would come up with a better solution than my idea.  We would get a prototype made.  I would test the prototype. I would make suggestions based on field tests that I performed.  We would make another prototype.  etc.  Grimes and I are both strong headed but once the wax is cleared from the ears we both are open to alternative view points and solutions.  The collaboration was synergistic.

CHUCK:  What types of professionals are using the WurkPads?

JIM:  Carpenters, plumbers, tile guys, utility workers, handymen, landscapers, gardeners. We have a few large corporations that offer it in their PPE crib. We are working on getting it to the Air force and National Guard.

CHUCK:  I heard the WurkPad will soon be available in the big box home improvement retail stores, when will that happen?

JIM:  We have gotten the green light from one of them.  When the buyer saw the product he said that it “screamed quality” and wanted to keep the quality standard for their high volume purchases.  We are negotiating the deal this week.  I imagine it will be available from the big boys sometime in 2011.  In the meantime product can be purchased from Skan Tech’s website (www.skantechnologies.com).  You have to see the user video on the site to appreciate the product.

CHUCK:  Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

JIM:  Yes.  There are several… if your readers want to see them they’ll have to sign a non-compete agreement or look for them on the Skan Tech website in hopefully less than 4 years.

CHUCK:  Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ inventor?

JIM:  It’s not for the faint of heart.  Write your ideas down and test them out if possible.  Treat it as an expensive hobby and maybe you’ll make some $ down the road.  Get a good patent attorney.  I can recommend one.  Even if you think you know what you’re doing legal counsel is still a must.  There are a lot of scams out there that just want to take the inventor’s money and never really put any effort into their ideas.

To learn more or purchase a pair, go to www.skantechnologies.com.   Jim has offered a $5 discount to my readers to  purchase a pair of WurkPads.  Click on ‘Contact’ on the top menu and send me a request for details.

>>>

remodeling blog

There continues to be a good deal of discussion around the remodeling industry about starting a new trade association.  The industry has two organizations that serve in this role.  NARI, and the NAHB Remodeler’s Council but some seem to believe that those organizations aren’t fully meeting the needs of remodelers.  Here is a new discussion on the topic on the Remodel Crazy website.

>>>

This week marked the start of a new resource for contractors and remodelers.    daily5remodel.com is being produced by a remodeling industry veteran, Leah Thayer.   A journalist with many years covering the remodel industry.  Subscribers to this free service receive a concise daily briefing of what is happening in the industry.

FROM the site:

Our first product, “daily5Remodel.com: industry intel from Leah Thayer,” is for remodeling professionals representing many stakeholders within the industry, including remodeling contractors, designers and architects, specialized trade contractors, real estate brokers, home builders, manufacturers, consultants, building arts educators, policymakers and more.

Register online before October 1st and become eligible for a drawing for a free Apple ipad.  Learn more at daily5remodel.com.

>>>

FREE Webinar for contractors- How fit is your business?  Part of the Growth Coach Webinar series.  I have attended a few of these webinars and have always found some helpful information for my business in each.  It is and hour investment to help improve your home improvement or handyman business.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept 8th, 2010 – 2:00 PM Eastern

WHERE:  Your computer

To learn more and register, click here.

>>