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.

Seeking established residential remodeling contractors to participate in a survey for a new project I am working on.  The survey maybe done anonymously and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

Click here to  Take Survey

The purpose of the survey is to help me research a business model I am developing. This model is specific to remodelers,  small home builders and residential general contractors.  The  survey is a first step in helping me prove (or not) my theory.

The next steps will include more in-depth surveys/interviews with remodelers and selecting a small number of remodelers to actually test the model in the field. Then final testing in the field will be with a larger group.

I am looking for favorable results at each stage to decide whether to continue or not to the next stage. My hope is that if the research and testing go well, I will publish the results and remodelers can decide if they want to adapt the model with their own business.

Click here to Take Survey

Thank you for your input and please forward this to other quality remodelers you know.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Hello,

I am heading to Baltimore for the Remodeling Show tomorrow.  If you are attending, please stop by and we can meet in-person .  I will be at the ELMS Software Booth number 4103, right near the NARI booth.  I would enjoy meeting my blog subscribers.  So stop on by if you plan on attending this conference.

Regards,

Chuck

Follow-up to this post (9-21-10)

Besides being behind a bit with a backload of work to do from being out of the office for almost a week from my day job, I enjoyed my time at this years Remodeling Show.  Neat new products to see, many optimists in the crowd.  My favorite part was meeting and talking with a number of remodeling professionals from around the country.

The deadline to register for the Remodeling Show on September 14-17, 2010 in Baltimore has been extended to September 1st. Much of this exhibition is FREE to attendees. You just need to register by September 1st. This year’s event is being held in Baltimore, Maryland. See Remodeling Show for details.

Admission into the Exhibit Hall, including Tool Alley, the Kitchen and Bath Showcase, on-floor education like installation clinics, deck workshops and all the presenting exhibit is FREE.

I will be attending. Let me know if you plan on attending and we can meet-up.

See Remodeling Show for details.

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As a contractor, think about how many different supplier vendors you pay in excess of $600 to each year. Even a small contractor could easily have 50-75 suppliers. You then would have to request and collect Federal taxpayer identification numbers from each, track every expense made to each vendor (QuickBooks and other similar accounting software can do this for you), produce and submit 1099′s to the vendor and IRS each year.

There are a few proposals out there to amend this regulation before it goes into effect. Stay tuned!

Also see CNN.com for more information.

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Queensboro Shirt company is offering deep discounts (up to 50% off) on there line of embroidered shirts, hats, and other products. Click here for custom-embroidered logo shirts and apparel or on the image below.

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The folks at Footbridge Media can assist your contracting, remodeling, painting, specialty trades or handyman business with getting more customers.   Their marketing consultants specialize in the home improvement industry and can provide you a cost-effective marketing program that will get customers contacting your for your services.

They provide a customized website, SEO, marketing consultant and more for a monthly subscription fee of only $149.  Learn more at FootBridgeMedia.com.

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