Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Seattle startup Porch.com keeps hammering away at the home-improvement market. Todayits announcinga new appthat will enable people to order home-improvement services with a few taps ontheir phone.

The app lets people search forhome-improvementservice providers onApple mobile devices, extending the Porch web site. But the apps key feature isaconcierge service that will directly connect homeowners with contractors to arrange projects, with a pledge to geta contractor on the phone in less than 60 seconds.

Porch image of its apps concierge screen.

Matchmaking is coordinated by Porch representatives providing live customer service during each session. The concierge service has been tested in recent months with thecontractor referral service that Porch offersnationally through Lowes stores.

Contractorsget a heads-up about the project request throughCaller ID on their mobile phones, indicating that a Porch referral isavailable, or via text message.

A more advanced version of the Porch app that offers instant contractor booking, all via the app,is also launching in trial mode in the Seattle area.

That is taking the next step to making home improvement easy, really frictionless, for homeowners, said Matt Ehrlichman, Porch chief executive.

Ehrlichman said the general idea is to make Porch like Uber for home.

To enable instant booking, Porch screens a roster of service providers and pre-negotiates prices fora fixed set of smaller home-improvement projects, such as hanging a picture, installing a garbage-disposal or wiring a light fixture. More complicated projects such as building a deck or replacing a roof still require research and an old fashioned conversation.

This aspect is similar to the service provided by cross-town rival Pro.com, a home-improvement venture started by Amazon.com veterans. Pro.coms pitch is that it offers instant estimates tailored for local market conditions, with online scheduling available so far in the Seattle area.

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With new app, Porch.com adds on-demand home improvement | Brier Dudley

BeON Home Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Support Stress-Free Home Security
BeON Home Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Support Stress-Free Home Security Through Proactive Prevention.

By: BusinessWire

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BeON Home Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Support Stress-Free Home Security - Video

Smart Home Security System Trailer
An introductory video to the Smart Home Security System (SHSS) for the University of Michigan ECE Senior Design project. Group members: Jaron Finnson, Nathan...

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Barqain Queen, Sheryl Renee. Low Cost Home Securirty
MAKING A WAY...Out Of No Way! DIY, Self-help, Program, Web Series #003 DEMO Low Cost Home Security Some low cost suggestions on securing your home. 11/16/2013 No Cost to Low Cost Ideas ...

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Caught on Camera: Homeowner Catches Man Steali
A Rossville homeowner says a man stole several things from her home and it was all caught on camera. "Anytime this happens, it #39;s bad but right now at the holiday seasons, it #39;s just, it #39;s...

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Caught on Camera: Homeowner Catches Man Steali - Video

ADT Pulse System #39;s 1 Millionth Customer
http://www.californiasecuritypro.com/blog/?Tag=ADT+Pulse This video highlights the celebration of ADT #39;s one millionth customer for the ADT Pulse system and a major milestone for home security....

By: California Security Pro-ADT Authorized Dealer

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ADT Pulse System's 1 Millionth Customer - Video

Branchburg, NJ (PRWEB) December 09, 2014

Homeowners in Central NJ have been on edge in recent weeks with a rash of home invasions in Middlesex County and the surrounding area. Robbers see the holiday season as an opportunity to target homes during this gift-giving time of year. Cars and homes filled with easy to grab gifts are targets for predators. Somerville Aluminum, one of the largest home remodeling contractors in NJ, is encouraging homeowners to be mindful of home safety during the holidays and offers the following suggestions for securing homes and their families.

Be cautious about locking windows and doors, even when you are home.

According to home security expert ADT, 40% of burglaries are no force entries, meaning robbers gain access to your home through an unlocked door or window. Keep windows and doors locked at all times. Always close your garage door, as thieves will steal lawn equipment and tools. If you keep a garage door opener in your car, always be sure to keep it out of sight in the glove compartment or center console and keep car doors locked.

Do you have the right doors?

Statistics show that most burglars enter a house through the front or back door- by kicking them in. Doors made of insubstantial material, even locked, are too weak to withstand being kicked in. All exterior doors should be solid and made from strong material such as fiberglass, solid wood, and wood- core or metal, with deadbolts for added security.

Somerville Aluminum installs Extra Strength Legacy Steel Entry Doors by Provia. Built with a 20-gauge security plate for extra strength, these entry doors are made with one continuous piece of steel on the edges and face for extra strength and durability, which also prevents doors from being kicked in. The doors have an exclusive tab and lock system of mechanical interlocks to give the door additional structural strength and Provia reinforces the lock and deadbolt area and has a rigid composite lock block for extra strength and to help prevent kick-ins.

Added strength and security is a must for any home entry door. You can never have too much protection against home invasion. We have peace of mind with the Legacy Steel Entry Doors we install by Provia because we know the door will keep our customers safe, states Somerville Aluminum Co-Owner Gary Shiman.

A few simple tips for protecting your home:

Keep quiet on social media. Do not alert friends that you will be out of town or going on vacation over the holidays. Do not post photos of an expensive gift you have just received. This information can be seen by the wrong people and expose you to potential theft.

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Somerville Aluminum Offers Home Security Tips for the Holiday Season

Remote control for virtualized desktops

UK home Wi-Fi security is as bad as PC security was in the 1990s, according to a new study.

Security software firm Avast found that more than half of all routers are poorly protected by default or common, easily hacked password/ID combinations. Easily hacked password combinations such as admin/admin or admin/password, or even admin/ are commonplace.

The survey of 2,000 UK households also found that an additional 23 per cent of consumers use their address, name, phone number, street name, or other easily guessed terms as their passwords.

Unsecured routers create an easy entry point for hackers, opening the door to all kinds of attacks ranging from stealing personal information to hijacking browser sessions.

One of the biggest risks on any Wi-Fi network is DNS hijacking. Malware can be used to screw with DNS settings in order to surreptitiously redirects prospective victims from a known site, such as a bank website, to a counterfeit site controlled by cybercriminals.

A big majority (88 per cent) of wired households in the UK have six or more devices connected to a Wi-Fi network. In addition to PCs and laptops, users have mobile devices (28 per cent), printers and scanners (17 per cent), smart TVs (12 per cent), and DVD or Blu-ray players (4 per cent) connected to their Wi-Fi networks.

The Avast poll found that nearly three in four (74 per cent) respondents would be extremely uncomfortable if they found out a neighbour or uninvited guest were secretly logging onto their personal home Wi-Fi network. A minority (8 per cent) admitted they had used a neighbours Wi-Fi network without the neighbours knowledge or permission.

Todays router security situation is very reminiscent of PCs in the 1990s, with lax attitudes towards security combined with new vulnerabilities being discovered every day creating an easily exploitable environment," said Vince Steckler, chief executive officer of Avast. "The main difference is people have much more personal information stored on their devices today than they did back then."

Internet Security Threat Report 2014

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Home Wi-Fi security's just as good as '90s PC security! Wait, what?

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) December 09, 2014

Vitt Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. is pleased to announce the start of a new sale, aimed at helping homeowners keep their homes comfortable through the winter months. The sale will run from December 1 through December 31, and will give homeowners the chance to save $50 on Vitt Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc.'s whole home humidifiers. The veteran heating and cooling company is offering the deal through its storefront and through a Facebook ad that will go live at the start of the sale.

Jeffrey Vitt, Vice President of Vitt Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc., says that he and everyone else with the family owned company are pleased to be offering a deal on such an essential piece of equipment to families.

"Were going into the colder part of the year. As the furnaces are running more, they tend to dry the air out more in the home, which leads to breathing issues, dry skin, static shock when you're walking on your carpet, and a host of other issues," Vitt says.

Whole home humidifiers can help solve each of these issues by putting as much as 26 gallons of moisture into the air each day. "We want to make people aware of the potential health issues that are associated with dry air in their homes," says Vitt. "Most people dont realize the cause of these issues and that they can be so easily taken care of by a single product.

Vitt Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. is offering the $50 discount on all of its most effective whole home humidifiers, including those that can automatically adjust to the humidity sub-point outdoors. Jeffrey Vitt and the entire Vitt Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. team are looking forward to helping homeowners benefit from this holiday deal.

"We're ready to help homeowners take advantage of this great deal from start to finish. They only have to pick up the phone and call us to find out what the best options are for keeping their home comfortable this winter, while taking advantage of one of our best deals to date."

About Vitt Heating and Air Conditioning:

Vitt Heating & Air Conditioning has been in business since 1954, providing the St. Louis community with heating and air services ever since. Its never too early to be thinking about the next season and getting a St. Louis furnace repair done. For more information, visit them online at http://vittheating.com.

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Vitt Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. Holds Holiday Whole Home Humidifier Sale

St Louis Handyman Services st louis Outstanding 5 Star Review by Ryan R.
http://stlouishandymanservices.com 314-359-7177 St Louis Handyman Services st louis reviews Excellent Rating Norman did a great job painting our front porch....

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