Best Online Contractor Directory

Reviews ServiceMagic vs AngiesList Company Connect vs Competitors - Scam Complaints

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:36:00 GMT

Are you tired of paying for leads from ServiceMagic that don't convert into sales? Have you tried to get your name promoted on Angie's List but failed? HomeFellas.com has the premier home improvement directory. While these three contractor services may seem to offer the same options, they have major differences that can drastically affect your wallet. Before you pay a membership fee or limit your access to contractor information, compare Service Magic vs Angies List vs HomeFellas to find out why you should by listing your business with us for FREE.

	HomeFellas	Angies List	Service Magic
Membership Requirements:	Our home-improvement directory is FREE for contractors AND consumers, which means BETTER connections and NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Think it sounds better already? You're right!	Limits your ability to connect with consumers because it requires a fee to access the contractor directory. While some consumers will pay anywhere from $4.95 to $14.95 per month, many use HomeFellas.com FREE community listings.	Contractors must "pay to play" to use ServiceMagic's service. It is not uncommon to pay $50 or more per cold or warm lead. These costs then become additional overhead that must be included your estimates.
Other Fees:	At HomeFellas.com, free means free. We don't have any hidden costs!	Additional membership fees often apply. Many consumers won't pay an additional $10 to access a different contractor category, which means lost leads for your business.	The fee varies, and the more you want, the more it costs. For lead generation, contractors must pay per lead, but ServiceMagic does not qualify leads.
Trial Membership:	We don't require a paid membership. When you list your business with HomeFellas.com, any consumer even guests can access your information.	AngiesList.com only provides trial memberships in new locations.	ServiceMagic.com doesn't offer a trial membership.
Service Area:	We serve a national audience. Whether you want to connect to customers in Florida or Washington, we can help. Expand your ability to generate leads by listing your information for each city where you conduct business.	When you consider HomeFellas vs. Angie's List, location is one area where HomeFella's clearly wins. Angie's List is not in every major city in the US, but HomeFellas is.	ServiceMagic has directory listings for most US cities and includes a few Canadian locations.
Rating System:	Ratings and reviews are just part of an enhanced listing with HomeFellas. Consumer's post information about their experience with you and have advanced ratings they can provide.	You can't join Angie's List without a recommendation or positive review. Since the list operates on reviews, negative reviews will hurt your standing in the directory even if the reviews come from an unethical competitor.	Before you can list your business with ServiceMagic, you must pass its internal review process. If you pass, you can pay to join the directory. Users can also add reviews.
Paid Sponsorship:	We don't charge you anything to list your business on our contractor list. We take complaints very seriously and will flag contractors with poor business practice. This way you can see both the good and bad and make your choice appropriately.	If you're willing to pay for your listing, you may be able to reach more potential clients. Angie's List does accept paid sponsorships, but only by category.	When you compare HomeFellas vs. ServiceMagic, you'll see that ServiceMagic only accepts paid sponsorships.
Service Type:	Aside from providing a free contractor listing, we connect you with consumers. Anyone interested in hiring a contractor can ask us for a second opinion or bid. This is your chance to outbid your competition!	Angies List only provides a contractor directory it doesn't offer other services, like HomeFellas.com second-opinion lead generation option.	ServiceMagic provides consumers with two or three business listings for every inquiry it gets. To be included in this service, you must pay for lead generation.
Complaints:	Our record is clean! While Angie's List and ServiceMagic both have negative complaints on file with the Better Business Bureau, we're complaint free. Yes HomeFellas.com is newer, but a big reason is that we don't constrain our service with hefty costs to either the consumer or contractor.	Angies List has over 50 complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau, and it only has 2 out 5 stars on Epinions. It also gets negative reviews from a large number of ex-members.	ServiceMagic has over 414 complaints on file with the Better Business Bureau, and most of those complaints are from contractors discussing the scam like tactics. Additionally, most contractors receive cold leads and few leads convert to sales.
Additional Factors:	HomeFellas.com is your answer to the issues reported by consumers of ServiceMagic or Angie's List. If you're tired of wasting time and money, join our FREE business directory today!	Angie's List generates memberships through an affiliate program, which means that many people using the list aren't interested in your business. They're trying to make their own money by referral.	You may get poor leads just so the company can make money. While it tries to offer assurances to consumers, it fails to address concerns from contractors.

HomeFellas.com will connect you to consumers actually looking to hire local contractors. Quit wasting money on cold leads and add your business to our directory today!

Japan Relief Donation - Earth Day 2011 with HomeFellas

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:24:00 GMT

Celebrate Earth Day 2011 & HomeFellas will donate to Red Cross Japan Relief Fund.

Go green this Valentine day! Not red with jealousy. Check out these great Eco-Friendly gift ideas!

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:59:00 GMT

Red roses, chocolate and champagne scream out romance to your loved one on Valentine's Day - but at what environmental cost? While you're planning a sweet treat for your lover, don't forget to be sweet to the planet as well. Whether you're green at heart or not, show your love with these home-grown and environmentally friendly ideas.

♥ Write a love letter on a recycled and hand-decorated card. Mail it. Cost 44 cents.

♥ Ensure your Valentine's card is made from recycled products. For a more personal touch, make your own or opt for an E-card. while making your own card might cost less than half of the store bought one, an e-card is free..and you can send as many as you want!

♥ Don't buy roses for Valentine's Day! It's common, expected, expensive and not eco-friendly. Buy a potted plant or plant seed that have yet to bloom as a symbol of things yet to come. Better yet, plant a tree for them!

♥ Give the gift of music. Make a custom-made play list on their iPod or on Pandora.com.

♥ Use silly & sweet kids' valentines: a whole box full of silly puns and clichés, handwritten by you! All for just a couple of bucks. Mail a box of ‘em. Fill his briefcase with them. Tape them all over her car. Fill the sink with them. Fill her pillow with them. Mail one a day for a month.

♥ Pamper them in consignment style: Get them something big from the consignment store that they need and have always wanted to have, but always held back on...because it was too impractical, too weird, or too self-indulgent.

♥ Do you praise them in public? When's the last time you told someone else how lucky you feel to have this person in your life? Complimenting them in front of someone else will make them feel extra special on this day. It is the most priceless thing someone could ever gift!

♥ Turn Valentine's Day into a real holiday: Take the day off work. Then spend the day in bed together. Go to the movies. Go out to lunch. Go dancing. Take a drive. Go for a stroll.

♥ Send him/her a box filled with those Valentine Conversation Heart candies. A BIG box. Or replace all the Cheerios with Valentine Conversation Hearts. Or use them to spell out a romantic message to her. Leave it on the kitchen table or paste it to a piece of construction paper.

♥ Make breakfast in bed - heart shaped pancakes are a sweet and easy way to share your love. You can even use cookie cutters to get the right shapes.

♥ Sing a song - make up a fun song for your loved one and sing it to them (without laughing)! Get creative. The key is to be spontaneous and surprising with some silliness and creativity.

Only a healthy heart can fall in Love!

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:29:00 GMT

It is believed that Love and laughter can cure all problems. But how Is an unhealthy heart supposed to be happy and in love? If you want to improve the health of your heart and your over all health and well being as well, the following heart health dietary tips are going to come in handy. These are diet recommendations that have been recommended by the American Heart Association for being able to improve the health of your heart and otherwise promote heart health and an overall sense of well being.

1. Quit smoking. This is the first and foremost step taken to a healthy heart. A little will power and a little motivation will keep you away from the temptation.

2. Cut down on salt: Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

3. Eat Heart Healthy Foods: Choose foods that can reduce cholesterol and improve heart health, such as fruits, vegetables, seafood , fish containing omega-3 fatty acids (salmon and bluefish), soy, nuts and whole-grain breads and cereals.

4. Cut the Fat: In order to reduce your intake of fat, you should substitute in fat-free and nonfat or low-fat varieties of milk, yogurt, cream, ice cream and other dairy products for your diet.

5. Monitor Your Alcohol: Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Remember, anything taken in excess is fatal!

6. Check for Diabetes: Increased blood sugar can be a factor in the onset of heart disease, especially if you are 20-45 kg (50-100 pounds) overweight. Controlling the disease is often just a matter of losing extra pounds, exercising regularly and following a heart-healthy diet.

Prevention is better than cure so one should work hard to keep their heart healthy in the first place. The only thing one has to ensure to keep his heart healthy is a regulated intake of food and sufficient physical exercise.

Homefellas salutes all our weatherpersons. Hats off!!

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:49:00 GMT

February 5 is National Weatherman's Day , commemorating the birth of John Jeffries in 1744. Jeffries, one of America's first weather observers, began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774 and he took the first balloon observation in 1784. This is a day to recognize the men and women who collectively provide Americans with the best weather, water, and climate forecasts and warning services of any nation.

Many of us take weather information for granted. Turn on a light switch, you get light. Turn on your television or radio, or check a web site and you get the weather forecast. It’s easy to forget that around the clock, dedicated meteorologists and weathercasters are vigilantly creating forecasts to help you plan your day, and issuing warnings to help keep you safe. So if you see or meet a weatherman/woman today or any other day, make sure you thank them and appreciate them for a job well done.

Prevention is always better than cure.

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:42:00 GMT

Snow & Ice Traction Devices help people to walk normally on the icy, slippery ground. If you plan to go hiking or walking somewhere with a lot of snow or ice, wearing Snow & Ice Traction Devices can help you to keep safe in these conditions. These traction devices have cleats on the bottom that dig into the ground when walking to prohibit sliding on the slippery ground.

Ergodyne has come up with the TREX™ 6310 Ice Traction Device. This adjustable one-piece boot and shoe accessory features replaceable rugged steel studs and an aggressive tread pattern that give workers a tenacious grip and stability on ice, snow, and other slippery surfaces. Made out of stretchable rubber, the TREX™ 6310 provides easy on/off and remains flexible in the most extreme environments.

It is ideal for anyone working in a slippery, slushy, snowy environment and in need of additional traction.

Prevention is always better than cure.

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:42:00 GMT

The birth of Punxsutawney Phil, The seer of seers!

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:56:00 GMT

February 2 brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year: Groundhog Day – the only one led by a rodent! Even though many gather to have a look at Phil, not everyone knows its history. According to Stormfax it all started with Candlemas Day. This day originally came from the Germans and was the mid-point between the first day of the winter and the first day of spring. Legend said that if this day was fair (sunny), then the second-half of winter would be stormy. In their native land of Germany, the Germans looked at a badger to see if they could see his shadow. When they settled in North America in Pennsylvania, the local Indians had a great respect for groundhogs so they substituted a groundhog for the badger. And as they say, the rest is history and now every February 2, everyone looks to a small town in Pennsylvania for a weather prediction!"

Winterization - Winter proofing - Winterizing your home

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:05:11 GMT

It is that time of year again to hunker down and get ready for Jack Frost nipping at your nose - Winterization. The 2011 Farmers Almanac issued a more gentle winter forecast for this year as compared to 2010. Read on, take note on how to deal with winter proofing - winterizing your home and get ready to be ready for this Winter...

Mortgage Payment Calculator with Taxes and Insurance, PITI - Home Loan

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:59:00 GMT

A home loan calculator is the quickest way of working out all the financial issues surrounding a mortgage. You might want to how much you will pay back in total for a particular plan, how much you will pay back per month at various rates of interest and so on. You can drop property tax and insurance into the equation to come with the overall costs. You can also construct amortization tables or graphs in the better mortgage calculators.

Intense police chase ends with burglar stuck in a garbage truck!

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:03:00 GMT

An intense police chase in Ohio (click link to view) ended with the suspect stuck in a garbage truck while trying to hide from authorities. Police say James Brienzo was spotted leaving a Walmart with a cart full of stolen goods. He then jumped into a dumpster to hide which was then picked up by a garbage truck!!

The funniest part was that Mr. Brienzo was compacted many times while inside the truck. He used his cell phone to call for help but was still injured and is listed in critical condition.

These times are rampant with bad guys on the lookout for burglar opportunities. If you are thinking about beefing up your alarm burglar system ahead of time away from home, the good news is that there are plenty of affordable alarm burglar systems.

Prevent A Burglary - DIY Home Alarm Burglar Systems Setup

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:54:00 GMT

Vacation time can be a bonanza time for bad guys on the lookout for burglary opportunities. If you are thinking about beefing up your alarm burglar system ahead of time away from home, the good news is that there are plenty of affordable alarm burglar systems on the market. Before you invest in a alarm burglar system, though, it is worth making sure you have taken the basic security measures.

Swimming Pools For Dummies - Pool Chemicals, Chlorine & Maintenance

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:44:00 GMT

If you have a swimming pool, you want to swim in safe, clean sparkling water. A big part of achieving this is swimming pool maintenance of the pool's filter with regular back washing and occasional replacement. The pool also needs the attention of vacuum cleaners and care with pool covers to stop too much dust and dirt entering the swimming pool. After these essentials, balanced water is the key to the best swimmer experience.

Tip of the Day (Health): Play video games to be healthy!

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:18:00 GMT

The search for that magic ‘exercise-is –fun’ factor is now a huge industry. Wii Fit, for instance, was the top non-PC game of 2009 and is still selling like crazy with revenue in the billions of dollars. Best of all you can play it in your living room and get healthy at the same time!

Memorial Day - Meaning of, Activities For Kids, When Is Parade, Sales Weekend 2011, Recipes

Fri, 14 May 2010 04:34:00 GMT

When Memorial Day for some is a visit to a national cemetery to remember loved ones who have served their country. For others it is the unofficial start of summer and time to find those long neglected summer bbq recipes and maybe even check out the local parade schedule. For most of us there is time for both remembrance and celebration.

Garden Tools, Tips & Ideas - Organic vs Container vs Vegetable vs Raised Beds Gardening

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:45:00 GMT

Is your garden going to to be a showpiece with a huge range of wonderful blooms? Will your garden be full of children who need space to play? Are healthy vegetables what you most want? So many questions, lets get started!

Types Of Fast Growing Trees, Royal Empress Tree - Catalpa | Growing & Planting Zones

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:26:00 GMT

Fast Growing Tree: Across the world, more than 1 billion people from 190 countries will be taking part in activities and celebrations in support of planting trees. How do you plan on doing your part? Plant the world's fastest growing trees and other fast growing trees...

Spring House Cleaning Checklist, Schedule, Services, Supplies & Tips

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:38:00 GMT

If you are less than perfect in your daily cleaning routines (like many of us), a Spring cleaning list is the smartest way to get started. Here is some house cleaning tips to get you started.

Spring Lawn Care Maintenance Tips & Landscaping Ideas - Scotts vs Vigoro vs GPR vs Trugreen

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:02:30 GMT

Feeling lazy, too much Work? What do you mean you dont want to get started? A good looking lawn adds value to your property, which is even more important now that the housing market is picking up. Ready to continue? So how does one prepare their lawn for the rest of the year? In this article you will find Lawn Care Advice, Lawn Care Maintenance, Lawn Care Do It Yourself Tips.

Cash for Caulkers

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:18:12 GMT

If you have not heard yet, the government is thinking about morphing the cash for clunkers (CARS Program) concept from autos to homes & businesses. Not familiar with the clunkers program? Doubt it, because that is how big it was! Record sales were achieved with a simple $3,500-$4,500 incentive to trade in your gas guzzler for a greener vehicle...