Battery Fire Starter: modern way to start your bonfire

 For centuries man has huddled around fire. In the great outdoors we historically used traditional fire pits encircled with stones and rocks. This has evolved over time to include metal firepits and now even the smokeless firepit famously known as Solostove. 

One thing that hasn’t changed is the struggle to start these fires. The modern man can use a regular lighter or if he is feeling like showing off, revert to a classic striker (flint), his knife, and tinder. 

There is no doubt that starting your outdoor firepit or fire stove can be a challenge. Getting that initial spark is not a problem in modern times but converting that spark to a roaring, warming fire can be. 

That is where science can come in. A fire needs fuel, air, and spark to survive. In an outdoor firepit, the fuel is wood, the spark is usually a modern lighter, and of course- air is all around. However, the challenge is getting the 3 to work together that causes issues. 

This is where the StoveBlo comes to light. Because firepits and bonfires need air, the solution that this modern battery powered air blower (a revised version of the fire bellow), can help you. 

With a small but powerful rechargeable fan, the stoveblo delivers a steady and concentrated shot of hair right to your hottest tenders. While using this rechargeable fan on your bonfire and fire pit, it can be described to heat the coals to a point that burns so hot a single ember can ignite an entire fire within seconds. It can do this with more efficiency than even a propane torch. You might even need sunglasses that the ember can glow so bright. 

Because you do not need a propane or gas powered torch. The stoveblo produces no toxins or fumes and is safe in storage while being light and compact enough to bring on a camping trips and other outdoor excursions. 

Truly, the bonfire hosts best friend, the stove blow is a rechargeable fire bellow that will impress your guests, woo your loved ones, and give you extra time to enjoy the fire, strum your guitar, or pour the drink- all while staying warm. 

Full post on our launch can be seen by visiting Bonfire Tips and Tricks, advice. 

 Baltimore TV Mounting and Installation 

As an installer of tvs in Baltimore, I often get asked many questions and am always happy to give advice and guidance, even to those who are not my customers. 

I’ve installed over 10,000 tvs in the past 13 years, some of my work you have probably seen including tv installations for many commercial clients:

- Fitbit/ Best Buy, Timonium, Maryland: 3 tvs for Fitbit displays

- Maryland State Highway Association, White Marsh, MD: 15 tvs in interstate 95 rest stops

- Katzen Eye Group, Lutherville, Reisterstown, Rosedale: 4 TVs installed for Ray Ban Eye Wear

- Qdoba Mexican Grille Towson, Timonium- remove/ install several tvs.

And many more.

I’ve installed TVs on brick, drywall, tile, over fireplaces, and even on steel!!

Here are some of the questions I often get asked.

Can you install on brick: Yes. Installing a TV on brick can often be some of the most secure tv installations/ mountings that I do. Brick is a hard substance (so is concrete). I typically use my own anchors which are different than the ones that come in the box. Hammer drilling is needed to securely mount a tv on brick or other types of masonry- but these are sometime my strongest tv mounts.

Do you supply mounting hardware: Yes I do. And when I install your tv on a mount that I provide (for an additional fee), I use a specific mount that I choose just for your tv based on the location, stud type, and viewing preferences. 

Can you install in steel studs: Yes. Installing on steel studs requires the use of specialized drill bits to cut through steel. I also use different anchors (just like with masonry- but a different type of anchor) and installing on metal studs can be most common in apartments or high rise building such as those found downtown in Baltimore or the inner harbor. 

Are you licensed: Yes, I am one of only 2 licensed and insured installed in the entire state of Maryland! This is important and you can see more about this here. Importance of licensed tv installs.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. The best way to contact me is to text me at 410-562-9103. I am capable of installing all TVs including the Samsung Frame!

Baltimore Maryland Home Improvement and Construction Work I do

 

I currently live in Timonium, Maryland but will hopefully be moving to Glen Arm very soon (house under contract, fingers crossed). As a professional home improvement contractor, I have been working in the commercial and residential construction industry literally since I was 10 years old. My father owned a contracting and property management company in Upper Marlboro and I grew up running crews, fixing houses, etc. As soon as I could, I began learning and researching electrical repairs as this segment had always interested me. 

In 2008 while completing my masters degree in construction at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland- we had to do a final project (called the practicum). For this, I chose to study solar energy and wrote about ways that commercial investment property owners could implement solar energy on their properties while profiting (you can find that here). 

Today, I run 2 home improvement companies, both serving the Baltimore Metro Area.

Baltimore TV Mount: This is a company I formed by accident. In 2008 while working in solar, I was in a training class at a factory. During lunch one session, the instructor explained they had a tv installation section set up (they used to make solar panels in the same factory as tvs). I just bought a tv and had trouble mounting it, so I went to the class and learned the right way to install tvs on various types of walls. Fast forward a few years later- I started a construction tech company after selling the solar company. To make ends meat, I started installing tvs on the side. The tech company never took off but tv mounting did. I enjoy mounting tvs. In fact, because of my experience in home construction in the past and my love for electronics and technology, I enjoy the tough jobs like plaster walls, brick, tile, outdoor, indoor, whatever there is- I really love installing tvs. 

Baltimore Car Charger- this company is touching back on my solar energy installation experience. Electric Vehicle car chargers (EV chargers), are actually a lot like solar inverters. Chargers and solar inverters both install on the wall and tie into your electric breaker box almost in an identical way. Plus mounting car chargers is a lot like mounting tvs. I’ve always loved electric cars- when younger my parents took my to DC in the 90’s to view the college solar car competitions that used to take place. Now I am happy to be a part of the industry and helping fuel the growth of electric cars by installing electric vehicle chargers  in homes. I am would like to get an electric pickup sometime in the soon (torn between Tesla, Rivian, or the Ford F-150 lightning)- but for now, I am getting a BMW i3.

So this is me in a nutshell. I love working on homes, I love new technology.  Whether it is mounting a sharp, samsung, til, or sony tv to your plaster wall in Owings mills, or installing your new Tesla car charger in Cockeysville- I am here to help. 

Home seller —-> home buyer- the advice your house needs.

 Baltimore, Maryland.

We found advice for new home buyers when purchasing a home. Although this daunting task can be one that many homeowners find daunting, there is plenty of advice out here and never a shortage of resources. 

We found a great article on homebuyer and home seller advice and would like to share it with you. This blog is put on by a pre-sale home improvement Contractor that specialized in helping home sellers with inspections repairs. Because of their unique position, they see the houses before you buy them and we think they are best suited to offer advice because of this position. 

Items you might want to consider would be kitchen renovations, bathroom renovation, painting, technology updates (tv mounting, nest thermostats, smart smoke alarms, etc.) These are all things that you can do to customize your new house. You are the homeowner so this is now your castle.

Make sure to have specialty items inspected and develop a plan to keep up with homeowner maintenance, and plan for capital expenditures. Every 30 years, you have to spend $10k on a new roof. Not worried about that now? Just think- when you add in the HVAc, refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and other major items, this can add to $50 per month in savings needed. 

Every smart homeowner should save now for those costs. This way when they are needed, you can pay for these home improvement updates without dipping into your personal savings. Or. .   When you sell a home, you can handle the home inspection repairs without the same issues that most home sellers face when they go to sell and are shocked by the repairs which were on the horizon, but now are required due to buyer financing, etc. 

Home Sellers have new options when selling a home: help with pre-sale, home inspection repairs.

Baltimore Maryland/ Washington D.C.

When preparing to sell your home, there are several things you can do before and during the home sale process that will help you get maximum returns and reduce your time on market. Often, some contractors like to push for a whole house renovation but Teris Pantazes, co-founder of Baltimore and Washington D.C. Based Settle Rite Pre Sale Home Improvement has advice and warns against this.

For over 30 years, Mr. Pantazes has worked on hundreds of homes that were being sold or being preparing to be put on market. His experience includes working with home sellers, banks, and even municipalities and developing a plan which would help a home move quickly.

“They key is knowing your market” Pantazes states. “Simply taking a shotgun approach and replacing everything in the home is not always the best option, in fact, it can reduce your return on investment and often money is wasted by a contractor who wants to install a high price home improvement product that buyers really don’t want and your realtor doesn’t need”. Pantazes is referring to items that often are high dollar but rarely fetch a return.

A recent study found that the average homebuyer spends between 15 and 25 minutes in a home prior to making a decision. If this is accurate, an item like focusing your funds or finances on a kitchen or bathroom remodel gives the highest return, because those are the items that buyers remember. However, there is a point of diminishing returns as home sellers decide to invest money in their homes and each circumstance is unique. A kitchen or bathroom investment might have a 60% return for some home sellers whereas sealing your driveway might provide none (imagine how many home buyers look at a driveway before making an offer compared to the new countertops you have installed).

Pantazes also highlights the amount of time it takes to renovate an entire home. “When selling a property, as any realtor would attest, time is of the essence and a home seller must hit at the right moment and be ready for negotiation. Realtors don’t want to engage on your property and then wait 2 months for a contractor to do a full renovation or rehab. This holds up the sale”. In fact, in the U.S., most homes are sold in the warmer spring and summer months and if a home seller were to start a renovation in mid-summer, chances are they would loose most of the potential buyers for that home sale season.

In summary, when preparing your home for market, it is much more important to use a professional group that is focused on precision updates that have the highest return, not a shotgun approach of renovate everything. Each property is unique and you want to work with a company like Settle Rite to determine which updates and improvement will get you the most return on your investment and interest buyers to move quickly.

Paying For Home Inspection Repairs

How to pay for Home Inspection repairs

When selling a home in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, or Pennsylvania, a home seller may have to consider a great deal of repair work as a result of home inspections. There are many options to consider, like consulting with Baltimore Handyman website, which is arranged like a Freelance site for contractors, you can call a contractor directly, like Baltimore Handyman and TV Mount,  or you can use other sites like Angie's List, or Craigslist.

However, matter who you use, it has to be taken into consideration of how to pay for the repairs. That is why we are interested in the home repair payment organization, Settle Rite. You can't put repair costs on your credit card, you can't finance them, if you are going to purchase a new home, these are not options because you will be seeking a new home purchase.

Inspection repairs can be costly, imagine a week before settlement having to replace your HVAC system or installing all new smoke detectors. This is enough to make any home seller or realtor nervous, and should be researched fully.

This happened in baltimore last year when home seller was told to replace several outlets, and other home inspection repairs. They did not have the money to pay for them and their bank, said no more debt. This was a problem and their realtor turned to local handyman group. They were able to obtain the best contractor and finance for their pre-settlement home inspection repairs.

Thanks for reaching out- we are based in Washington D.C. and are here to help.


As you are likely aware, EFynch often works with Agents from Long & Foster and other Realtor groups. In doing this, we have launched Settle Rite by EFynch. Settle Rite helps homeowners prepare their homes for market and perform Home Inspection Repairs as Settlement approaches. The benefit of a home seller using Settle Rite is that in most cases, we can defer payments until closing so you can obtain home and inspection repairs immediately, but not have to pay until closing. There are no credit checks or marks on your credit so our services will not effect your ability to get a new mortgage when upgrading to a new home.

Looking for more information on pre-sale home improvement services: There is a website for that! Maryland Pre-Sale Home Improvement is a blog and information site that caters to this group- we recommend you check them out!

Baltimore and Washington DC handyman

Baltimore and Washington D.C Handyman reviews are something that is hard to come by. When you are a home owner or buyer looking for a new roof, a handyman sometimes will not make the final cut. You need a good roofer. 

However, if you have a problem with plumbing, installing a TV, or other handyman/ home improvment in Balitmore.

The roofer may not be the best choice.

It is important for you to do the due diligence. A home is your largest investment and you cannot just choose any regular contractor. Roofing is a specialty and  homeowner must pay particular attention. 

We want to give you the best advice. As a handyman, I wouldn't try to do a roof- my best jobs are done on the ground or in the house (i.e. tv mounting, painting, drywall, sink install, etc.).

Let me know when you need help on that, otherwise, forget the handyman and contact a good (or the best) quality contractor/ roofer.

Thank you,

Baltimore Handyman Group 

Baltimore Maryland Realtors and Contractor Referrals- how to navigate new rules.

Baltimore, MD: Starting in 2011 and amended several times since then, Maryland Realtors have been unable to refer home improvement contractors (handymen) unless they followed a strict set of protocols prior to, and during the course of the referrals. 

These set of rules have inhibited many Realtors in providing the full service and discuss past experiences that help many Maryland Homeowners and Homebuyers. Can you imagine asking for handyman and your Realtor responding with "sorry, I can't tell you who I know?". This has caused a lot of anguish in the community. . .

Until now. . .

Baltimore Startup and App (Web, iPhone, Android) EFynch has come up with a solution and is currently testing the system with Long & Foster as an approved vendor in the Home Service Division.

EFynch initially launched in October 2016 and after several strategy sessions with L&F Team Members in Chantilly, Virginia, the group developed a product that not only helps Real Estate Agents refer contractors- but actually makes the entire process as easy as hitting a single button in the app on on the web.

Handyman services are often required for all homesellers and many homebuyers want to use their help to get a jump start on various improvements and general work around their new homes.

In addition, EFynch provides new homebuyers (1st time or those who are upgrading) with valuable information on maintence and repair issues that they may not be fully aware of. EFynch strives itself on being a "community for home improvement" and helping Realtors, Agents, Homebuyers, and the local handyman is all part of the goal.

Information is verified by EFynch and they also provide the necessary links and backup information for each homeowner or Realtor to verify themselves.

Handymen have literally laid the cornerstone in many communities. But today, we need to verify license to be careful.

This program is only available in Maryland, specifically the Handyman and Handymen in the Baltimore Metro Area (Baltimore, Columbia, Pasadena, Annapolis, Ellicott City, Timonium, Reisterstown, White Marsh, Catonsvillef, Crofton, etc.)


property management app for home buyers

Work with on-demand handyman app: Here is the details on fees

An image comparing TaskRabbit, Handy, Takl, and Homee. This is taken from EFynch's website but we have verified the information. Takl (from Nashville) comes in the highest and seems the be the "boldest" (not in a good way). Taskrabbit is 2nd both groups assess a 40%+ fee. Competitors are lower and have better sites.

Working with an on demand- handyman app can be a valuable prospect.

Home Improvement is one of the last industries to engage in digital and it is one of the largest in the U.S.

Historically, home improvement has also been hard for advertisers as the field is crowded and the smart run away with the work leaving the small and independent guys to fend for scraps.  Around Maryland and Washington D.C., most independent handyman take year to build a customer base and typically the more successful guys are in their later years of their careers and had started while in their early 20's to build their rolodex.

Enter technology. Apps and the digital world are trying to reshape this. We are still in the early years of this movement but we looked at several local companies in the Maryland/ D.C./ and Virginia areas to see how each stacked up and treated their listed service providers.

Here is a list:

Taskrabbit: A quick Google Search shows several lawsuits in the past. With taskrabbit you are somewhat working for their organization. They say they do this to control standards but it seems to be a way to dictate price.

Handy: Same as Taskrabbit- you actually work for Handy. I had a Handy housecleaner work at my house before- she gave me her number as she left and I used her for another 2 years. They take such a high fee I didn't think it was fair.

Takl: Takl is a new group out of Nashhville. Working with Takl appears to be okay at first because the founder is a good ole boy who has been known to treat people right. This is good EXCEPT- Takl only allows for limited jobs and takes the highest commission cuts out of any of the competitors. Takl has to pay for all the commercials you hear and at the end- you may only walk away with 50% of what the customers has paid. Competition will likely overtake this group very quickly.

EFynch: We like EFynch. It's an open platform and they take the smallest fees (a modest 2% currently). The platform is 100% open and EFynch claims to be a community for connections (homeowner and handyman). This local group has promise and one of the few which has no restrictions on how many jobs you must take. 

We could not find much on Homee. Unlike TaskRabbit and Takl, Homee has has little press but the rates still seem extremely high.

See the chart above. Handyman and home improvement is competitive. Contractors need to find new ways to reach customers because the industry is shifting and the old dinosaurs will be left in the cold.  As we just celebrated Independance day in Washington D.C., we have to wait and see how the year unfolds in this industry. Things are changing but in our opinion commission rates are FAR too high for full penetration.

So if you need a handyman still where to go? It is still about going out and getting bids wherever you can and comparing multiple options for that next contractor.

Baltimore Metro (Towson/ Timonium/ White Marsh/ Cockeysville/ Reistertown) TV Mounting

Hey all. I just want to give a shout out to my favorite baltimore tv (flat screen television) mounting group. Baltimore tv mounting.

This is a great group. Only costs $45 for most TV and the installer- Teris is an experienced pro.

One of my TV's was able to be hung in 15 minutes. I had him come from a 2nd one which required some work- but he was intuititve and got the job done even though there were some hard wiring runs to be made.

I had a 75" TV and a 42" LED tv mounted to the wall. 

Good guy- would certainly recommend him.

Maryland, Washington D.C. Northern Virginia Roofing and home improvment app: EFynch Review

Baltimore Startup proves a “win- win” when performing home improvement and roofing replacement jobs around the home.

Timoniun, MD: Whether you need a small task, odd job, daily chore or whatever around the home- local startup app https://www.efynch.com has proven to be the Baltimore startup that can reshape the way you get it done. With low fees and a 100% transparent system, EFynch provides a way for any homeowner to find the local handyman, plumber, electrician, side worker, moonlighter, or even that summer break teacher looking for extra money doing handyman chores.

It started in Towson when the co-founder needed help hanging a tv (general labor or someone to just help assist him lift the tv). From there EFynch blossomed. They grew an app, took an small office space outside Federal Hill in Baltimore City and then their first paying customer came our of Crofton for a roofing job. The projects continued to roll in.

Handyman work in Columbia.
TV mounting in Ellicott City
Gutter cleaning in Glen Burnie/ Pasadena
fence installation in Reistertown

Then. . . EFynch Home Improvement Community expanded into the rest of Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia.

Roofing in Chevy Chase
Drywall in Rockville
Painters in Columbia
Faucet in College Park
Toilet in Laurel

Alexandria, Arlington, Washington D.C, Upper Marlboro, Annapolis, Bethesda, etc. etc.

One area where EFynch really began to excel was Roofing. One of the most competitive industries in the Home Improvement Sector- homeowner know roofs are expensive, and the sales is way too strong.

EFynch allows a homeowner to take pictures of their roof, post it to the “roofing board” anonymously and get roofing bids from local roofers.  The system was developed with contractors and homeowners working together to get this done.
The results- roofs were being installed for as much as 40% below “retail roofing rates”- (think calling the add you see on TV- they are expensive- EFynch can help find a Maryland/ DC/ Virginia Roofer for much lower).

So why shift through the sales when needing a new roof?

We recommend trying EFynch (https://www.efynch.com) Privacy is protected and you can save a good bit of money getting a quality service. Roofers are constantly looking for work to keep crews busy- this is a way to capitalize on your next roofing projects and get a discount!

EFynch “Your Neighborhood Home Improvement App”.

CRAIGSLIST HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS AND HANDYMAN:

MANY ADS ARE FAKE!

As I have been working to build a home improvement service which is honest and true- one thing I have noticed (we work in Baltimore Maryland and Washington D.C.) is that many of the ads are fake.

After some research we actually found these "fake and misleading" ads are run by national handyman and home improvement websites. Not only are they misleading, they are actually illegal!!! To top it off- when I post a local business ad they are so aggressive, I have to make sure they don't "flag" my ads to stifle my chance of competing (kind of like ripping down your opponents posters in a high school SGA race).

Although my research has shown who each of these groups are tied to, I do not want to publish them here because I don't want to risk legal action- these guys have big pockets- you've probably seen their national commercials.

The truth is that many of those national advertisements discuss a list of thousands (millions) of happy customers when in reality, those customers thought they were only contacting a local, neighborhood plumber, electrician, roofer, or general handyman.

They are NOT customers of that site- they just happened to be tricked by the false advertising and called a number- which was then used to collect information and sell to the local contractors.

Above: A screen shot (one add on the left is imposed but that was taken from another screen. These are not "local handyman". This company occupies all the top spaces when you search for "handyman" in craigslist. This is accomplished through a practice called "Black Hat Hacking"- to trick the Craigslist system and devalue competitors. 

(410-231-7155)- BOB

(443-376-8335)- Home Contractor Services

(443-429-5231) Terry's Handyman Service

ALL FAKE- MISLEADING ADS- NOT HANDYMEN OR CONTRACTORS

Above: Not the "referring" listed in the add. This company basically collected your information and sells it to 4 contractors. They are called "Home Contractor Services" and even though it is advertised they are licensed- they are not- this is illegal! Same artwork and phone number as above.

 Same add from Baltimore- this guy also does service in Miami-- must have a lot of frequent flier miles!

Bob (410-231-7155) the 1/2 Off Handyman in Baltimore must have a cousin in Las Vegas. Since Bob's artwork is so great- his cousin Jim must also use the same guy. 

HEY!!! My Baltimore Handyman goes to Florida and Lake Tahoe!!! He must have a nice business and works in all his favorite vacation towns (sarcasm).

Above are two other ads that run constantly. All of these groups advertise being licensed and local- this is untrue. They are "answering services".

It's not that I am trying to cry about competition. What bothers me is there constant misleading ads and the ripping down of my advertisement.

I had my MHIC license for 8 years. I was the little man who had to fight the big guys. I want to give that little guy a chance but these guys simply do what they can to shoe horn themselves into the middle.

FYI- When they sell your information it is based on price. For general repairs it can be $15- when I was in Solar- it was $500-  as a homeowner, you be the judge.



BAD LIST:

(410-231-7155)- BOB

(443-376-8335)- Home Contractor Services

(443-429-5231) Terry's Handyman Service

ALL FAKE- MISLEADING ADS- NOT HANDYMEN OR CONTRACTORS

EFynch bring Columbia Maryland Homeowners Handyman and Contractor deals

How EFynch Weekly Handyman and Contractor Deals Help the Columbia Maryland Homeowner:

Each week EFynch works hard to bring relevant, money saving deals for our Maryland homeowners. These deals typically include normal services like:

Power Washing
Handyman 3 hour packages
Gutter Cleaning
Snow Removal
Mulch Delivery
etc.

We also try to provide some unique services which may go overlooked like:

Mailbox Post Replacement
Flower and Garden Box Install- coming soon :)
Smoke Alarm Battery Replacement
Dryer Vent Cleaning

These are all common things us homeowners need and are things we should consider.

So how do we get these deals?

The truth is we sometimes just “wing it”. For the most part we pay attention to our own homes and speak with our professionals. They recommend services that are starting to trend because of seasonality. These take priority but we also look for unique ideas. What can make your home more enjoyable or something we see on TV that is awesome, but not very common (i.e. the flower box garden).

Pricing is a little harder. Right now we have close to 1,000 members. We use these membership statistics and the success of previous deals as leverage- sometimes guaranteeing a pro a certain amount of work if a deal is offered.

Once we get a deal lined up. EFynch then scours the internet for similar deals to make sure our offering is the best. There is haggling and negotiations involved- it’s a lot of work. This is the reason why our deals are not always open to non-members (if you aren’t part of the group, why should you get the benefits?).

In the end, we work hard to provide the best deals available. Often you will see gimmicks from other sites like “$39 for a waterproofing inspection” (real deal offered by a large national group). To us, that offer is bogus- an inspection should be free, not an opportunity for a service pro to sit at your table with a drawn out sales pitch (which is what those other deals are).

EFynch has it’s benefits. It should always provide a value for our members. Take a look at our deals which can be found here (http://www.fynchnest.com/contact-us2.html). Let us know if you have any questions or if you want to see a specific deal offered?

One thing we would like you to do is present us with ideas. Who knows, maybe you have the next “hit” and with a few of your neighbors we can turn that into a home run!
Thanks,

Teris Pantazes
EFynch Co-Founder

Baltimore Home Improvement- getting house work done in Maryland and Washington D.C.

Why you should call a Handyman first!
News from Baltimore Maryland Home Improvement and our take on EFynch.com (www.efynch.com)

You in your home and all of a sudden something goes wrong! A running toilet, leak in the roof, siding needs work, or drywall painting. Who should you call? For most- the first reaction is to turn to call a plumber, electrician, roofer, or painter.

Chances are, if the repair is small- you should also consider looking for a Handyman. A handyman is typically a person who know the most about your house as a whole. Sometimes they could be classified as a generalist however most handymen have previously worked as plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc. and are now out on their own. You get the professional service but not the price.

In Annapolis last week a homeowner called because they wanted a garage floor painted. The first reaction was to call a painter. But painting the garage floor is a simple job as long as you hire someone reputable. Here a Handyman was found using EFynch.com (www.efynch.com) who actually used to own a painting company but decided to scale down. Now this guy is just himself and a truck!

With low overhead he can do projects for a much lower price and being as it is just him, the owner was comfortable enough (after reading reviews and ratings) to let the contractor do some work while they were away.

Another example occurred in the Columbia/ Ellicott City area (another suburb of Baltimore Maryland). They had a simple cabinet that needed to be fixed. Instead of hiring a cabinet company, the handyman- who had a minimum hourly rate- fixed the cabinet but used the rest of his time to replace smoke alarm batteries, install smoke detectors, adjust the mounted TV and even tighten door locks!

A good handyman can be a great asset for any homeowner. Realtors can use these services often because the helpfulness of having a “go to” guy for regular projects is perfect. That is part of the reason we like EFynch and speak about them often here. The company primarily operates out of Baltimore but also serves everywhere between there and Washington D.C.

Their competitive pricing and strict adherence to privacy is highly regarded and many of the guys on their site are side-workers looking to use their skills and help you fix your house.

So the next time you think about calling that electrician for a TV install, try a Handyman first. Especially if you are around Baltimore- it might just save you some money.

You can also check out more information at www.Fynchnest.com which has a forum, videos, etc.

The app addresses are:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/efynch/id1156838095?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.efynch.app







Want more tips- check out these great blogs.
http://efynch.blogspot.com/

How to hire the right home improvement pro:
My Baltimore trip which involved an electrician, a plumber, and a handyman.

Maryland is a complex place and because of the federal government, many of contractors (or wannabe contractors) can find good work and give off a presence of being better than the are.

Washington D.C. is a big draw and money maker. The home improvement market blends into northern Virginia and Annapolis and Baltimore as well.

Anne Arundel County has some of the wealthiest zip codes in the mid Atlantic. Prince George's county is one of the wealthiest African American counties in the country.

Finding a good pro is hard because initial impressions of success can often be misleading.

Last fall I need a plumber to install a sump pump. The question was that because I needed electricity did I also need an electrician? The two trades (plumbing and electrical) don't usually work together and finding someone here in Timonium is tough (Baltimore County is an affluent suburb of Baltimore).

Using a new home improvement app call (EFynch.com) helped me locate the right pro, see verifiable peer reviews (not filtered like on other sites). I actually found a good handyman who was able to do the work at a lower cost than the hourly rates of an electrician or plumber.

This guy is just a general "fix it" guy so I wouldn't use him for complicated home tasks but painting, drywall, patching, even light landscaping are tasks he said he could do.

I would recommend the efynch service over other sites because it just worked. It was easy, no frill, no sales kind of experience.

Would I give it my glowing recommendation--- YES! because I couldn't give you one complaint about it and in Home Improvement- that actually mean a lot!

If you have any questions about your home please leave them in the comment box. I have been busy lately with work but I am working to answer any homeowner questions. I do my best to help everyone out and provide good info to new and seasoned homeowner alike.

Go RAVENS!!!! GO BALTIMORE!!!

*we forgot to mention Howard County (columbia) and Montgomery County (chevy chase, bethesda, rockville, etc.)-- sorry guys---- we still love you.

The Painter in Towson Maryland who saves a homeowner a Baltimore nightmare through contractor bidding.

I was inn Towson, Maryland and saw a house which had paint chipping on the foundation. This is a common problem in the Baltimore area and I think it should always be addressed.

I spoke with the homeowner and he said that he was thinking of selling and his Baltimore Realtor, Ben McGann recommended the same thing.

When the homeowner noticed the problems he went to his local hardware store.

He did not know what to do so he tried a homeowner bidding service, EFynch for the first time.  While using this new website he was directed to an app on his Iphone. It turns out EFynch is a local, Baltimore (Maryland based) company that promotes the ability of homeowners to post jobs on a board and bid them out to contractors.

The beauty of this is that the homeowner does not need to wait for call backs and arrange awkward meetings to sift through and collect bids.  EFynch simply post the jobs and present bids with reviews to the homeowner for their determination.

The Neighbor was thrilled and said he would use the service again. Construction can be complicated and some other websites simply "sell" your information to contractors who then put you on their sales call list.  This is not the case here.

The new paint job prevented foundation leaks or moisture in the house/ home and throughout his basement. His house is a now a happy house and his home improvement project is complete with the great contractor and painter that he found using Efynch.

Hey guys- what do you think of this copy?

MARYLAND CONTRACTORS WANTED?

Maryland has several bidding processed which differ from both Maryland State, homeowners, and businesses.

Contractors are always looking for ways to bid on project in Maryland to perform services such as landscaping, grass cutting (mowing), painting, electrical, handyman work.

That is why I really like the website EFynch.com. I live in Baltimore County and instead of having to call several contractors and bid the project myself, they do the bidding for me!

I can see reviews and ratings of contractors and choose the one I like the best.

EFYNCH IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR CONTRACTORS AND HAS A SUBMISSION FORM ON THEIR SITE. THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR NETWORK FOR THE BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON CORRIDORS.

Went onto another contracting project in Columbia Maryland as a Handyman.

I never went forward with this specific property and am working on a house (home) in Baltimore County ( Towson, Maryland ) instead.

I found a website called EFynch.com which seems to be very useful for Baltimore and Columbia Maryland home improvement services. This site was started by a local contractor who had down days that he would loose money paying laborers for no work. Apparently it let's contractors compete for your business and seems pretty good.

I spoke with the owner and he is just getting started. Doing all the work by hand instead of an online portal. Interested guy- I wish him the best of luck- I always love seeing a Maryland (Baltimore County) business thrive- especially in the home improvement sector.

Any idea on what may  be good for the work to be done to my house?

I would also like to find someone for landscaping or leaf removal. 

Annapolis, Crofton, Laurel 

Renewable Energy (WIND) is a priority for Amecor International

Amecor International has confirmed plans to develop wind projects in Vietnam.  Based outside Washington D.C. (Baltimore, MD), Amecor works directly with utility companies to develop, finance, and build wind and renewable energy power plants.  

We are working around the world including renewable energy in

North/ South America
Asia
Africa
Europe

Solar leasing in Maryland now

I just learned about a great program for people in Maryland (Baltimore and surrounding areas) to install solar panels on their house through a solar leasing program.  A company 7 Seas Solar, installs and owns the solar panels.  We pay a monthly leasing fee which they tell me is lower than my electric bill.  The solar panels are an auxiliary system so no batteries are required.

I am told that Maryland has good solar exposure from Seven Seas Energy (from Annapolis, Maryland), but we'll have to see what it comes out to when I get the leasing quote.

Anyone have any thoughts or knowledge about solar leasing?

WWw.efynch.com