Angie’s List has topped 1-million-member mark Angie’s List founder Angie Hicks attributed the continued growth despite the recession to consumers wanting to get the most out of every dollar, as well as to the company’s expansion into health care ratings.
The growth is good news to highly rated businesses on Angie’s List. Companies that maintain an overall grade of at least a “B” are invited to advertise, and with the membership numbers rising, advertising with Angie’s List offers a way to reach a growing market for a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising methods.
Angie’s List, launched prior to the online explosion of consumer review sites, is among few online sites that charges membership fees to consumers, and is further differentiated by prohibiting anonymous reporting. The company has a multi-layered structure designed to maximize accurate and reliable information, including:
- Prohibiting anonymous reporting;
- Limiting members to reporting only once on each, specific hiring experience;
- Alerting service providers (free of charge) to reports so they know what's being said about them
- Encouraging companies to respond (free of charge) to reports so members get both sides of the story;
- Dedicating specialized staff and proprietary technology to screen all reports for adherence to company policies or suspicious trends; and
- Helping members and service providers resolve differences through the Angie’s List Complaint Resolution Service.
New web badges make it easy to link to Angie’s List! New web badges make it easy to link to Angie’s List!
Angie’s List wants to make it easy for service providers to link their website to AngiesList.com.
We just rolled out new web badges that will encourage your customers to check out your reviews on Angie’s List. These web badges will look great on your site and the best part – they’re really easy to add.
Visit the Web Badge page and choose your favorite badge today!
Mom always said you should share Whether it's fishing out a pair of dunked dentures from the toilet, making a service call to the morgue or removing a dead skunk from a sewer (all true stories, by the way), someone has to do the odd and dirty jobs associated with the bathroom and its plumbing — we want to hear all about it.
So what's your best bathroom-related remodeling, repair or service story?
We bet it'd look great in the upcoming Toilet Issue of Angie's List Magazine. Share your funniest, grossest or most intriguing moments at mailbag@angieslist.com.
Most Angie's List Members Still Spending Despite the economic recession, nearly 80 percent of polled Angie's List members are forging ahead with their home improvement projects for 2009, according to the nationwide poll of 1,637 Angie's List members conducted in July.
- 36 percent said the economy has not affected their home improvement plans for 2009;
- 29 percent said they scaled back on their plans;
- 22 percent said they nixed their home improvement plans altogether due to the economy.
- 11 percent said they took advantage of good deals and kept to their original plans; and
- 2 percent said they had taken advantage of good deals and expanded on them.
'Nearly 60 percent of our members reported in the poll that they will spend as much or more this year than they did in 2008, which we hope is an indication of economic recovery,' said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List. 'More than 80 percent of them plan to hire a professional to do the job. We're strongly encouraging them to do their research to find reliable and quality help so their project goes as well as it can.'
There's another piece of good news for service professionals in the mid-year poll, she said. 'More than two-thirds of our members said they will pay for their home improvement project in cash.'
The phone book? It's 2009! A recent article in Wired magazine counts 100 things your kids may never know about. Number 41: Phone books.
Increasingly, people are putting down the phone book and opting for the ease and speed of local searches online. It's important to put your advertising dollars towards places your potential clients are looking, so that giant ad in the phone book probably isn't the best bang for your buck any more. It is, after all, on a list with rotary phones, typewriters and 8-tracks.
Entrepreneur magazine featured local online advertising on Angie's List and similar sites in their August issue as a way to reach a growing market for a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising methods.
If you're interested in gaining exposure for your company through advertising with Angie's List, please contact us at SalesSupport@AngiesList.com for more details. Don't forget to ask about our special offers and promotions!
Price changes: Increase or decrease? A recent poll on Angie's List CompanyConnect revealed that two-thirds of respondents have adjusted their prices within the last year.
Of those that have adjusted their prices, 41 percent decreased them, while 59 percent increased.
The economy was the most frequently cited reason for decreases in prices, with 63 percent of respondents who've decreased prices saying they chose to do so because of lower-priced competition during the recession. Another 45 percent of respondents cut prices to attract a wider range of customers.
'We felt a slight decrease in the hourly rate would provide the best possible value to our customers while still maintaining our high standards,' said one poll respondent. Other respondents have opted to remove overtime charges to help out customers.
Respondents who have increased their prices also cited the economy as a large contributing factor in their decision-making process. Eighty-five percent of respondents who have increased their prices chose to do so because of increasing expenses including materials and gas.
One poll respondent said that despite efforts to keep prices as low as possible, fuel costs have increased so much he had to increase with them to stay in business.
Air duct cleaning controversy Despite anecdotal experiences, there's no scientific evidence that regular duct cleaning improves air quality, according to a 1997 brochure published by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Laureen Burton, senior scientist in the EPA Indoor Environments Division, says that while the document is more than a decade old, the science hasn't changed and the agency stands by its recommendations.
Read more on the Angie's List Magazine page.
Pets on the job Do you bring your animal with you on service runs, or do you have a trusty office pet? Does your pet perform a service also?
The Angie's List Magazine team is working on the second annual Pets Issue and would love to feature highly rated businesses and their furry mascots.
Please send photos, your contact information and a brief description to mailbag@angieslist.com.
Mutual agreement to maintain privacy Mutual agreement to maintain privacy
Angie's List members have been submitting more than 13,000 medical reviews each month. The reviews keep doctors on their toes, according to patients. But some doctors are asking: Are the reports fair?
Doctors who find the reviews unfair are fighting back by requiring patients to sign contracts that bar them from commenting on their care. Patients say these contracts – usually known as 'Mutual Privacy Agreements' – violate free-speech rights.
This hot-button issue has stirred an overwhelming response from Angie's List members. Just 3 percent of Angie's List members say they support contracts that would prohibit them from discussing their care by doctors and other medical professionals, but comments to Angie's List reflect support for both sides of the issue.
Watch the Podcast to hear what members and doctors had to say.
Pets on the job Do you bring your animal with you on service runs, or do you have a trusty office pet? Does your pet perform a service also?
The Angie's List Magazine team is working on the second annual Pets Issue and would love to feature highly rated businesses and their furry mascots.
Please send photos, your contact information and a brief description to mailbag@angieslist.com.
Mutual agreement to maintain privacy Mutual agreement to maintain privacy
Angie's List members have been submitting more than 13,000 medical reviews each month. The reviews keep doctors on their toes, according to patients. But some doctors are asking: Are the reports fair?
Doctors who find the reviews unfair are fighting back by requiring patients to sign contracts that bar them from commenting on their care. Patients say these contracts – usually known as 'Mutual Privacy Agreements' – violate free-speech rights.
This hot-button issue has stirred an overwhelming response from Angie's List members. Just 3 percent of Angie's List members say they support contracts that would prohibit them from discussing their care by doctors and other medical professionals, but comments to Angie's List reflect support for both sides of the issue.
Watch the Podcast to hear what members and doctors had to say.
Can you conquer clutter? Organization experts: Are you willing to donate your services to a worthy pack rat? Angie's List is featuring a Clutter Contest in an upcoming edition of the Angie's List Magazine and we need your help!
We're asking Angie's List members to submit photos of clutter catastrophes—either theirs or another worthy candidate's—and a brief explanation.
The 'best' mess will be featured in our magazine to show the 'before' and explain how it got that bad, as well as the 'after' and the 'in-between,' where the clutter cleanout expert explains, step-by-step, how they dug our winner out from the seemingly unconquerable chaos.
If you'd like to see your company featured in the magazine and help out a desperate clutter bug, e-mail us at mailbag@angieslist.com today!
Angie's List Merchant Services In 2009, nearly 70 billion credit and debit card transactions will be made. Don't let your business miss out on customers who prefer to pay with plastic—Angie's List and Chase Paymentech can help.
Accepting credit and debit cards lends credibility to your business, and with the Angie's List Merchant Services program, you can accept cards at a special, low, group rate.
If you don't want to deal with processing equipment or software, don't worry—take advantage of the 'touch tone' option, which has no setup fee, and allows you to process credit and debit cards from your cell phone.
If you currently have credit and debit card processing equipment or software in place, there is no cost to convert your tools to the Chase Paymentech platform.
Read more on Angie's List Merchant Services.
Angie's List process certified (again) The processes Angie's List relies on to provide reliable, fair and accurate consumer ratings have been certified by BPA Worldwide, an international, independent auditing firm.
Angie's List, the nation's leading provider of consumer ratings, was last reviewed by BPA in 2007, earning high marks for fairness. The current audit covered the company's activities through February 23, 2009.
"In our opinion, the Angieslist.com service follows a consistent, documented set of techniques and processes to present fairly, in all material respects, the ratings and input of the site's members," BPA said in its letter apprising Angie's List of its findings.
"Our audit included examination of member feedback for service providers that advertise with Angie's List and service providers that do not advertise with Angie's List. We found no variation in processing member feedback for all service providers," the auditor said.
BPA's auditing process reviewed the company's processes for gathering and posting information on local service providers as reported by more than one million members.
Septic work a family affair For Frank Powers III and IV, septic work is a family affair. The father and son team started Powers Septic & Sewer in Noblesville, Indiana, eight years ago when they couldn't find reliable help to maintain the septic system at their family-owned Suburban Estates Mobile Home Park.
Neither complains about the unavoidable smell. 'You get used to it,' Frank IV says. 'The septic tank itself doesn't smell very much — the smell is back by the truck where the exhaust is.' He says dropping loads of sewage at the treatment plant in Indianapolis is a different matter. 'If you're down at the dump in Indianapolis next to a portable toilet truck and they're dumping, that is a smell you'll never forget.'
Read more of 'Septic work a family affair.'
Angie's List Wishmakers Wishmakers is an ongoing Angie's List program that helps families in need. Since its beginning in 2004, dozens of service companies have donated their time and materials to give families a helping hand.
The first Wishmakers project came out of a story request from WISH-TV in Indianapolis, after a girl had written for help for her parents.
'Just from the outcome of that project we had such a strong response from the service companies that it really seemed like a project we wanted to carry on,' says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.
Wishmakers is now a nationwide, year-round program, and we have coordinated and completed about 30 projects in the last four years.
Watch our Podcast on the Angie's List Wishmakers program. Contact us for more information on Wishmakers projects in your area.
Most- and least-complained-about For the fourth year in a row, home warranty companies earned the worst grades in 2008 from Angie's List members according to an analysis of consumer reports collected.
Angie's List Top 10 worst grade earners:
1. Home Warranty Companies
2. Home Builders
3. Landline Phone Service
4. Cable TV Service
5. Satellite TV Service
6. Internet Service
7. Cellular Phone Service
8. Furniture Sales
9. Computer Sales
10. Bridal Shops
Angie's List Top 10 best grade earners:
1. Piano Tuning
2. Music Instruction
3. Lamp Repair
4. Dryer Vent Cleaning
5. Mailbox Repair
6. Home & Garage Organization
7. Party Rentals
8. Roof Cleaning
9. Upholstery Cleaning
10. Animal & House Sitting
Also joining the dubious Top 10 List of the worst grade earners is virtually every form of personal communication service. Landline phone service providers, cable TV, satellite TV, Internet service providers and cellular phone providers all made the company's 'Most Complained about Categories.' The Internet service category made the list for the second year in a row. Also making repeat appearances were home builders and furniture sales categories.
'It's disappointing to see home warranties remaining at the top of this heap with nearly 55 percent of our reports in this area showing overall 'F' and 'D' grades,' said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List. 'Most of the complaints about home warranty companies in particular, stemmed from misunderstandings over what the warranty covered, poor customer service, or unhappiness with the contractor sent out to diagnose or fix the problem.'
Many of the categories with the top grades represent more personalized or individual services. Piano tuners attracted the greatest percentage of 'A' and 'B' grades. 'These contractors are accustomed to taking on a one-of-a-kind project or a personalized service and are very good about meeting individual customer's desires,' Hicks said.
Liens protect contractors Though particulars vary by state, mechanics' liens give a supplier, subcontractor or contractor a partial legal claim to the property for unpaid work or materials. They're a powerful tool that can wreak havoc on a project by tying up bank loans, clouding title ownership and scaring away potential contractors. A lien can even force the property's sale.
Hal Emalfarb, general counsel for National Lien and Bond Claim Systems in Chicago, which practices lien law nationwide, says it tends to be a rare tool used only in cases of last resort. However, he's seen sharp
rises in lien use ever since the economy began to sag.
Spring break services A quarter of Angie's List members who responded to a recent poll said they're getting ready for spring break travel.
Of those respondents, 40 percent are planning to hit the road to their destination, so if you're in the auto-related industry, consider offering some spring deals.
John Bures, of Northern Auto Repairs Inc. in Berkley, Michigan, says he's in the process of putting together his spring deals. 'The roads up here start to look like roads in a Third World country after winter,' he says. 'Cars get a lot of damage, so we have a promotion coming out.'
For the 60 percent of Angie's List poll respondents who are flying to their destinations, travel agents should consider promoting the deals they know about, especially to groups that have guaranteed time off, such as college students and teachers.
And even if your business isn't directly linked to travel, consider promoting some valuable services they can use while they're gone, such as house cleaning, pet sitting, lawn services and painting.
Going on a vacation, too? Check out our tips for
business vacationing.
Medical gag orders: Small but scary trend Angie's List is encouraging consumers to challenge what appears to be a small but growing attempt by some health care providers, who are now requiring patients to sign, prior to treatment, a confidentiality notice – essentially a gag order – in which the patient agrees not to comment publicly about the level of care they received.
"Eighty-nine percent of our members consider these waivers an attempt to stifle their free speech," said Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks, citing results of a nationwide, member survey conducted this week. "I couldn't agree with them more."
'I encourage anyone who is enrolling as a new patient to carefully review each of the documents they're offered to be sure a public commentary waiver isn't among them," Hicks said.
A survey of medical providers already rated on Angie's List showed about 21 percent of respondents said they would consider offering their patients such a waiver.
Sound off:
Visit Angie's Blog and tell us what you think.
Shut-eye: Why sleep is essential for business Snooze button jockeys and those in need of a nap: You're not alone. A recent Angie's List poll of service providers showed that 63 percent of respondents experience tiredness throughout the work week.
While feeling a little sluggish every once in a while is normal, feeling tired a few days a week can be an ominous warning of things to come.
Dan Eyre, of Dan's Landscaping & Maintenance in Cypress, California, once fell asleep while hanging 30 feet off the ground in a tree.
'That's why I always tie in while climbing,' he says. 'Because of all the vibration from the saw, fatigue and heat exhaustion, I get very tired.'
According to Jeremy Riley, project lead for the sleep study labs at Clarian and Methodist hospitals in Indianapolis, lack of sleep can lead to high blood pressure, fatigue, memory loss anxiety, headaches, depression, sore throats and dry mouth. And that's just in the short-term.
'Long-term effects of sleep deprivation can be extremely serious,' Riley says. 'Congestive heart failure, strokes and diabetes, to start. The list goes on and on.'
Making sleep a priority can be especially important for business owners who need to stay sharp. One poll respondent, Steve Wilson of Custom Hardwood Floors in Matthews, North Carolina, reported that after falling into bed exhausted at 2 am, he slept right through an 8 o'clock appointment. He lost the job and the client.
Ginger Fuchs of Case Remodeling in Minnesota finally sought the help of a doctor because of the effect lack of sleep was having on business.
'I would make lists because I would always forget things—including the lists I would make to help remember,' she said. 'I found myself rushing to meet deadlines because I would get side tracked on things less important.' After her doctor prescribed an as-needed sleep aid, things have noticeably improved.
The majority of poll respondents (82 percent) get less than 8 hours of sleep each night, and 78 percent work more than 40 hours per week. In order to maximize the Z's achieved each night, Riley suggests working on sleep hygiene.
'Your body has a circadian rhythm,' he says. 'If you've been in front of the TV or computer at night and feel drowsy, it's your rhythm telling you to go to bed.'
The National Sleep Foundation has five tips for improving your sleep hygiene:
1. Try to have a relaxing bedtime routine and keep regular sleep times. Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool and quiet and that your pillows, sleep surface and coverings are comfortable.
2. Exercise regularly, but finish your workout at least three hours before bedtime.
3. Avoid foods and drinks high in caffeine for at least eight hours prior to bedtime, and avoid alcohol for a few hours before bedtime. Caffeine and alcohol disturb sleep.
4. Remove work materials, computers and televisions from the sleep environment to strengthen the association between bed and sleep.
5. If you experience trouble sleeping on a regular basis, speak to your healthcare professional.
What's your Sleep IQ? Take the National Sleep Foundation's poll to find out.
The upside to the down economy A recent Harvard University report found that while the home improvement industry is experiencing a downturn, owners are likely to focus spending on projects that improve the energy efficiency of homes, generate cost savings, and maintain structural integrity.
The consumer shift towards 'green' products and systems are paving the way for eco-friendly remodels.
Read the full report from the
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
Ready for DTV transition? About 10 percent of Angie's List members responding to a recent poll said their televisions weren't equipped for the DTV transition, set to begin on February 17.
Analog TVs lacking the necessary digital-to-analog converter, and TVs without a built-in digital tuner, will fail to function as stations quit broadcasting analog sometime between March 14 and June 12. June 12 is the final deadline for the transition. What this means for those owners is that they will be unable to view any programming, including their local network affiliates, with the exception of low-powered stations. Almost every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional analog.
If you're in the business of repairing or installing electronics, remind your customers (and family members) to make sure they're ready for the switch. And, if you've got a pre-1998 TV in your break room or office waiting room, you can still take advantage of the
government-issued coupons for a converter box until March.
Valentine's Day business traffic A recent Angie's List poll showed that despite the recession, most members are still celebrating—and spending money—for Valentine's Day.
More than half of poll respondents said they will spend the same amount of money on their sweeties as last year, so if you're in a business that typically sees an increase in customers around the holiday, you're in luck, but be sure to get your name and ideas out to your customers now.
If you're not in a 'typical' Valentine's Day industry, don't despair! Find a way to offer creative gift ideas. Members responding to the poll have received their fare share of roses, cards and romantic dinners, but other memorable gifts included cameras, treadmills and singing telegrams.
To get a head start on Valentine's Day traffic: - Narrow down a list of potential gift ideas by having well-thought options (both traditional and nontraditional) available in several price ranges.
- Have a sale or promotion. Cakes for Occasions in Danvers, Mass., has a special Valentine's Day gift giveaway to a lucky patron. Just make sure you're not selling yourself short. Both you and your customer should feel happy with the deal.
- Ensure timely delivery for the holiday. Make sure you're adequately staffed and ready to go, so no customer is left waiting and unhappy.
How to organize your office If you're feeling a little cramped in your office, free up some valuable space by reducing clutter. Angie's List contacted its highly rated organizing professionals for advice and came up with tips for cleaning up:
- Make a list: Not sure where to begin? Make a list of the tasks you want to accomplish and prioritize by putting the tasks most important to you at the top of the list. Then, as you accomplish those tasks, mark them off to track your progress. Melanie Arzt, of Wits End Organizing, suggests sorting through things, creating piles and attacking one pile at a time.
- Start with one area: If you try to reorganize everything in a single day, you'll likely find yourself frustrated and spinning your wheels. Instead, start small and allot an hour or two before or after work to one area to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
- Avoid buying duplicates: Return those scissors, files and other items easily misplaced to their designated spot. Rally up all the pens floating around and give them a proper home. Not only are you spending more money each time you have to purchase a new one because you can't find the old one, but you end up with more stuff than you actually need. 'It's so easy to amass things,' Arzt says. 'Remember: You're not just buying something. You're bringing more stuff into (your) life.'
- Ask for help: If you're not interested in using a professional organizer, or you hired one to get you started and now you're ready to take over on your own, consider asking an employee or coworker to help you organize. Remember: They use the space, too.
- Cut the ties: If you haven't used a certain item in months, you probably don't need it. Keep only what is necessary to accommodate your office's needs.
- Box, label and stack: If you're organizing a storage area, purchase several large plastic storage bins with lids. Organize items according to their use and label the bins accordingly, for example: 'Receipts 2007'; 'Brochures'; 'Spare uniforms', etc.
'You don't have to throw away and create additional waste when you purge,' says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List. 'An environmentally-savvy organizer will look to recycle whenever possible and remember, those donations to authorized charities can be used as a tax deduction.'
Angie's List Members Plan to "Work" Economy
The majority of Angie's List members plan to take advantage of deals made possible by the economic downturn by investing more in their homes this year compared to last, according to a nationwide, commissioned poll of members.
More than 50 percent of the members polled say now is a good time to make these investments, whereas only 19 percent say it is a bad time to spend on home improvements.
More than 60 percent of Angie's List members indicated in the poll that they're planning a home improvement project in 2009, and most of them say they will hire professionals to get the job done. Most also plan to pay for the work outright rather than to finance it.
'The downturn in the economy has created a good situation for consumers who are positioned to spend," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List. Stay open to the idea of negotiations and make sure to outline what your estimate includes.
Members who reported investing on home improvement projects last year said they spent an average of $15,020, with a median amount spent of $7,500. This year, they plan to spend more - $23,450 on average, with a median amount of $8,000.
Of those planning projects in 2009, 61 percent say they will pay cash, while 20 percent say they will pay cash for part and finance part of it. Just 14 percent plan to get a loan or pay on credit for the entire project.
Planned projects include home additions or remodeling, painting or other aesthetic improvements, repairs and landscaping.
How to get repeat customers
A recent CompanyConnect poll showed many service providers resolving to advertise and market more in 2009. Instead of a catchy slogan or jingle, Angie's List suggests giving your potential customers something they need—education.
We recently polled Angie's List members about their winter weather preparations they do around their home or with their automobile. Of the members in cold weather areas, one third don't do anything to prepare. Why? The majority of them simply didn't know what to check or when.
This provides you with a great opportunity to educate them. Instead of working on your slogan, work on a way to convey your expertise and authority to your client base—tell them what they need, why they need it, and when they should have it done.
If you're not in a cold weather area, don't fret! Regular repairs and maintenance aren't location-specific—remind your customers to get their 'annual checkups,' too.
Of the members responding to our poll, nationally 40 percent don't have their heating system/furnace inspected regularly, 70 percent don't check doors or windows for drafts and 82 percent don't inspect their water heater. Routine work will save Angie's List members money in the long run—and generate yearly business for you.
Getting financially fit
The economic challenges of 2008 may have given your business a rocky start to 2009. Take a close look at how you're planning on managing your finances in the upcoming year: Are you in the red?
Angie's List went to its highly rated financial experts for some advice.
Save while you pay: Put savings at the top of your priority list, rather than the bottom and make certain you set aside additional money each month in savings to prepare for any unexpected business expenses.
Prioritize your debt: Examine your debt and develop a plan to pay it off. Look closely at the interest rates you are paying, rather than the balances due. It might be tempting and emotionally gratifying to pay off the lowest debt first, but it makes better fiscal sense to first pay off the debt with the highest rate.
Pay more than the minimum: If you continue to pay only the minimum balances, you'll be spinning your wheels for a while. Instead, establish a monthly budget that allows you to put extra money towards your highest-interest debt first. Once that debt is paid in full, take the money you were paying monthly towards that bill and apply it to the debt next in line and so on. Remember, this plan will not work if you continue to add debt to your existing lines of credit.
Avoid bad habits: Attach a note to your credit cards asking yourself if that purchase is really necessary. If you don't absolutely need something to conduct business, you shouldn't buy it. You can do without a new coffee maker in the break room or a better work cell phone. Make small changes to stretch your budget.
Getting out of financial stress will take time, says Angie's List founder Angie Hicks. 'If you're in need of better managing of your finances, consult with a financial planner.'
Boost your business
Installed in an estimated 6 million homes between January 1978 and July 1995, polybutylene piping — its resin manufactured by Shell Oil Co. — is joined by plastic or metal fittings and was deemed defective as a result of the Cox vs. Shell class-action suit in 1995.
Stockpiles of the pipe, which has been sold under various names such as Qest, Bow, Safeguard and Flex-temp, were still known to be available up to 1999. However, new installations for the most part had stopped by 1995.
Read more.
Savvy up: Granite countertops and radon
Recent news stories have fueled debate about radon in granite, and so we asked highly rated countertop installers to talk about it.
Radon occurs naturally in many materials, including granite. At levels exceeding 4 picocuries per liter, radon can be deadly and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.
The Environmental Protection Agency believes all homes should be tested for radon, although they don't believe sufficient data exists to conclude granite countertops pose a health risk.
Read more.
Shopping for health insurance
James Jackman has been in the mold remediation business for nearly four years and with the company growing to 10 employees, he thought it was time to offer health insurance. To get a handle on his options and save time, Jackman met with an independent insurance broker. 'I explained our limits and what we wanted to do for our employees, and they found out who could give us what we wanted affordably,' says Jackman, who owns Acme Clean Air in Redondo Beach Calif.
For Jackman, it's all about controlling costs so he went with a group policy and, for now, is limiting the coverage to employees only, but they can choose to pay for dependents out of pocket.
For small business owners, offering health care benefits to lure and retain quality employees is the cost of doing business. But for many mom and pop companies, the cost associated is hard to accept.
Angie's List conducted a nationwide survey of more than 400 highly rated service providers and they weren't shy about voicing their displeasure with the constant rising costs of health benefits.
Currently, 65 percent of respondents offer health insurance benefits to their employees, and each has used a variety of techniques to keep costs down. Fifty six percent switched to a higher deductible; 43 percent changed insurance companies and 41 percent altered the type of plan they offer. More money-saving tips.
Virginia roofer gives back to deserving families
Twenty years ago Steve Gotschi was down on his luck and afraid of heights.
Looking to make some changes in his life, he stepped up—into an unexpected career as a roofer.
From there, Gotschi took off. He slowly got over his fear of heights and now owns his own business, Dry Home Roofing & Siding in northern Virginia.
His early struggles made a lasting impression, prompting him to use his good fortune to help others in need. This year marks the sixth anniversary for his Free Roof for the Holidays project, which provides a new roof to a deserving organization or individual.
The project receives so many nominations that Gotschi and his team also help out with free roofing repairs on roofs that aren't quite in need of a full overhaul.
'It's been a nice gesture to help out the people in the community,' he says. 'We've turned it into a campaign, because it's hard to pick just one.'
If you know of a deserving Free Roof for the Holidays recipient in the northern Virginia area, let us know. Nominate them by sending an e-mail explaining why they'd be a great candidate to AngelaB@angieslist.com.
Fire hazard in new homes?
CSST is thin — about .2 mm, or the thickness of two sheets of paper — com pared with 4 mm for black pipe. Lightning surging through improperly grounded and bonded CSST can arc, puncture a hole in the line, ignite the gas inside and cause a fire.
Seventeen percent of contractors surveyed by Angie's List say they do not ground and bond all CSST; 22 percent say no one is educating them about the product. Manufacturers require training before a contractor can buy CSST, but Tim Scanlan, general counsel with one of the largest CSST makers, Omega Flex, said the certificate doesn't prove the person is qualified to install CSST. It only indicates they've been trained. 'The jurisdictions, the local municipalities and the states are going to require that people have certain credentials to perform that work,' he says. 'It's not the manufacturer's job to make sure the person buying the product and putting it in knows what he's doing. Ultimately, someone has to enforce those rules and the states have those rules. We can't do it. The state does because they look at every installation.'
But the installation guidelines can vary by state and city. For example, the 2009 National Fuel Gas Code includes more rigorous guidelines for grounding CSST. It will take most local governments a year or more to adopt the 2009 code. Missouri and the District of Columbia are still following the 2000 code and eight other states are still following the 2003 code. Cities in each state can adopt stricter guidelines without state approval.
Compounding matters is that CSST involves aspects of both plumbing and electrical work. The two trades follow different guidelines. Electricians comply with the National Electrical Code, which hasn't updated its grounding guidelines for CSST. 'We do what we can to put that [bonding and grounding] requirement out there,' Scanlan says. 'But it's really a code issue that's the impediment to full compliance with best practices.'
That's all the more reason to hire a third-party inspector, Luttrall says. 'The municipal guys can't call out anything that is not written down in their building codes. It may not be legally wrong, but it's just poor construction techniques. A good third-party inspector, that's what we do. If it's unsafe, it doesn't make any difference if there's a law. It's unsafe. A fire never read a rule book.'
Properly installed CSST, in his view, is no more dangerous than any other building material. 'Wood would neve