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Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best $500 You Can Spend for a More Organized Life
Getting truly organized is about more than buying cute bins for storage or downloading apps that never get opened. It's about cutting friction, the time lost looking for things, the stress of clutter, the tasks that pile up and fall through the cracks. All things that add up fast. A smart $500 investment can fix what's actually broken. For You: Read Next: And whether the chaos lives in the closet, the garage or the calendar, these six upgrades can offer relief that lasts longer than another temporary coffee-fueled clean-out. A budget of $500 can transform a closet from a black hole into an organized space. Adjustable shelves, pull-out drawers and hanging bars replace wasted space and broken hangers. A full, custom remodel can run into thousands, but brands like Ikea offer customizable kits that deliver order without the custom price tag. Check Out: Decluttering and home organization can often seem a monumental task, but working with a pro can make a huge difference. The average cost of a professional organizer is $526, according to HomeAdvisor, enough for a focused session to tackle problem zones — pantries, bedrooms, home offices. It's more than just tidying; professional organizers build systems that keep working after they leave. For garages that are more like dumping grounds than useable spaces, $500 can get a variety of wall organization solutions, including pegboards, tracks, shelving and stackable bins. is known for its garage wall kits at the $200 to $500 price range. Hang bikes, store tools and (finally) clear the floor, so no more weekend scavenger hunts for a missing drill or extension cord. With so much daily life now reliant on the digital, scattered apps, overflowing inboxes and lost passwords soon add up to making life more chaotic. Pair a family organizer like Life360 (between $149.99 and $249.99 per year) with premium storage such as Google One or iCloud and a password manager like Password1. The result, for around $500 or less, is a stack that builds a single system for schedules, files and shared tasks. A smarter kitchen doesn't necessarily need renovation, sometimes all that's needed is a rethink. Cabinet organization systems, wall storage, drawer inserts, fridge organizers and even labels can turn chaos into flow. With $500, the whole space can be streamlined and dinnertimes will be less stressful. Ikea is a great starting point for a good kitchen revamp. Depending on location, professional hourly cleaning costs between $300 and $700 for a month of weekly cleans, according to HomeAdvisor. That's enough for a solid reset, because clean surfaces make it easier to get into a better routine, with no more trying to organize around dirt, dust or grime. More From GOBankingRates 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 This article originally appeared on Best $500 You Can Spend for a More Organized Life
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Property damage creates the perfect storm for scammers; here's how to protect yourself
ST. LOUIS – Storm cleanup continues in the Central West End and north St. Louis. 'We have 215 local first responder and veteran-owned businesses that can help out when disaster strikes like this,' said Charlie Metzner, founder of the St. Louis Hero Network, a nonprofit that supports local first responders and military families by promoting their businesses. Metzner is encouraging storm damage victims to look local when hiring clean up and repair crews. 'Do you randomly want to pick somebody off Home Advisor or Angie's List, people canvassing neighborhoods? Or do you want to pick somebody with some built in integrity and character that's been serving your community and protecting your community for years?' he said. Josh McDaniels, owner of Code 3 Contracting, said the damage in the hardest hit neighborhoods is unparalleled. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Make sure you're hiring a local company that is not going to be a fly by night company that's just going to come here, set up an LLC and be gone here in a few months,' he said. Insurance agent Ed Fogelbach, a St. Louis Hero Network member, shared advice about the claims process. 'Just because the settlement comes through from the adjuster doesn't mean it's final. Everything is, you know, something you can discuss. Just get your agent involved,' Fogelbach said. The Better Business Bureau instructs consumers to resist high-pressure sales and not sign any documents that give the contractor rights to your insurance claims. They advise claimants to read any documents or contracts carefully before signing them. 'If you go to our directory and go under exteriors or construction, you'll find a wealth of resources of trusted, first responder and veteran-owned companies that you can choose from,' Metzner said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BlueCollarGenie Launches Job Flow Flywheel(TM) to Support Consistent Growth for Home Service Contractors
WASHINGTON, DC / / May 14, 2025 / BlueCollarGenie, a high-performance marketing partner for blue-collar businesses, has officially launched the Job Flow Flywheel™ - a fully managed client acquisition system designed to help contractors book 10-20 exclusive jobs per month without knocking doors, chasing leads, or competing on crowded platforms like Angi or HomeAdvisor. The system delivers a clear alternative to outdated marketing tactics that can drain time, energy, and profit. With a sharp focus on predictability, profitability, and automation, the Job Flow Flywheel™ is already helping contractors across the U.S. scale their operations while reclaiming control of their time. A Strategic Shift for the Trades For decades, contractors have relied on referrals, door knocking, and shared lead platforms to grow. But in today's digital-first environment, those strategies no longer scale effectively. Door knocking consumes valuable hours with inconsistent results. Referrals can be unpredictable and passive. And lead marketplaces sell the same prospect to five or more competitors, often leading to price competition. The Job Flow Flywheel™ was created to address these issues. It combines territory-exclusive campaigns, automated lead nurturing, and in-house appointment setting to deliver pre-qualified, ready-to-close jobs directly to a contractor's calendar. No more chasing leads. No more low-quality calls. Instead, contractors can focus on building a more predictable and sustainable growth model. "We developed this system for the contractor who's great at their trade but is looking for a more reliable and efficient marketing solution," said a BlueCollarGenie spokesperson. "They don't need more leads. They need a smarter, automated pipeline that helps fill their calendar with real, qualified jobs." How the Job Flow Flywheel™ Works The system follows a simple, powerful framework: Attract: Exclusive local ad campaigns bring in high-intent homeowners. Nurture: Smart, automated email and SMS sequences engage prospects 24/7. Schedule: An in-house concierge team qualifies and books appointments straight into the contractor's calendar. The result: contractors close more jobs, increase revenue, and spend less time managing sales or marketing efforts. Built by Industry Veterans The team behind BlueCollarGenie brings together over 15 years of combined experience across performance marketing, home services, and operations. With more than $50 million in ad spend managed, they've helped scale hundreds of contractors, agencies, and local service brands across North America. Unlike traditional agencies that spread their focus across many industries, the BlueCollarGenie team has spent years specializing exclusively in the blue-collar space. Their expertise spans everything from paid traffic and conversion copywriting to CRM optimization and sales enablement, making them uniquely positioned to build systems that not only attract leads but also support contractors in converting those leads into actual jobs. Their in-house concierge team, client success managers, and media buyers are all trained specifically in the unique buying psychology of homeowners and the operational reality of contractors. This means every appointment booked, every campaign launched, and every automation triggered is designed with one goal: to help contractors secure more qualified jobs and streamline their processes. "We're not marketers working out of mom's basement," said CEO Josh McQuaig. "We're a team of advanced performance marketers with a deep understanding of the home service space. We created this system because we saw too many great contractors stuck in the daily struggle - chasing leads, wasting money, and running on empty. Our mission is to give them a better way to grow - one that's more predictable, efficient, and designed to reduce the stress of marketing and sales." Designed for Scale, Built for Results With more than 15 years of combined industry experience and over $50 million in managed ad spend, BlueCollarGenie has tailored this solution to meet the unique needs of service-based trades. Industries served include: Roofing HVAC Installation & Repair Plumbing Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Concrete & Hardscaping Solar & Electrical Systems Every client receives exclusive rights to their service area, ensuring no overlap with competitors using the same system. BlueCollarGenie also emphasizes its focus on long-term results - if the system does not meet the expected performance standards, clients have the opportunity to review and discuss their next steps with the team. A Mission to Empower the Trades More than just a marketing solution, BlueCollarGenie is on a mission to help blue-collar entrepreneurs take control of their time, their income, and their legacy. "Contractors shouldn't be stuck chasing leads or knocking on doors. They deserve a system that works for them, so they can focus on serving their clients and scaling their businesses," said Anton Hrenic, Director of Client Success at BlueCollarGenie. From high-touch client support to end-to-end fulfillment, BlueCollarGenie offers a true partnership built on trust, transparency, and tangible results. About BlueCollarGenie BlueCollarGenie is a performance-based growth partner for contractors in roofing, HVAC, plumbing, remodeling, and other home service industries. Their flagship Job Flow Flywheel™ system helps clients close 10-20 exclusive jobs per month by managing the entire client acquisition process - from campaign to calendar. To check availability in your area, visit: Media Contact: Country: United States Media Contact: Josh McQuaig Company: BlueCollarGenie Email: admin@ Phone number: +1 (888) 270-9978 Website: SOURCE: BlueCollarGenie View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BlueCollarGenie Launches Job Flow Flywheel(TM) to Support Consistent Growth for Home Service Contractors
WASHINGTON, DC / / May 14, 2025 / BlueCollarGenie, a high-performance marketing partner for blue-collar businesses, has officially launched the Job Flow Flywheel™ - a fully managed client acquisition system designed to help contractors book 10-20 exclusive jobs per month without knocking doors, chasing leads, or competing on crowded platforms like Angi or HomeAdvisor. The system delivers a clear alternative to outdated marketing tactics that can drain time, energy, and profit. With a sharp focus on predictability, profitability, and automation, the Job Flow Flywheel™ is already helping contractors across the U.S. scale their operations while reclaiming control of their time. A Strategic Shift for the Trades For decades, contractors have relied on referrals, door knocking, and shared lead platforms to grow. But in today's digital-first environment, those strategies no longer scale effectively. Door knocking consumes valuable hours with inconsistent results. Referrals can be unpredictable and passive. And lead marketplaces sell the same prospect to five or more competitors, often leading to price competition. The Job Flow Flywheel™ was created to address these issues. It combines territory-exclusive campaigns, automated lead nurturing, and in-house appointment setting to deliver pre-qualified, ready-to-close jobs directly to a contractor's calendar. No more chasing leads. No more low-quality calls. Instead, contractors can focus on building a more predictable and sustainable growth model. "We developed this system for the contractor who's great at their trade but is looking for a more reliable and efficient marketing solution," said a BlueCollarGenie spokesperson. "They don't need more leads. They need a smarter, automated pipeline that helps fill their calendar with real, qualified jobs." How the Job Flow Flywheel™ Works The system follows a simple, powerful framework: Attract: Exclusive local ad campaigns bring in high-intent homeowners. Nurture: Smart, automated email and SMS sequences engage prospects 24/7. Schedule: An in-house concierge team qualifies and books appointments straight into the contractor's calendar. The result: contractors close more jobs, increase revenue, and spend less time managing sales or marketing efforts. Built by Industry Veterans The team behind BlueCollarGenie brings together over 15 years of combined experience across performance marketing, home services, and operations. With more than $50 million in ad spend managed, they've helped scale hundreds of contractors, agencies, and local service brands across North America. Unlike traditional agencies that spread their focus across many industries, the BlueCollarGenie team has spent years specializing exclusively in the blue-collar space. Their expertise spans everything from paid traffic and conversion copywriting to CRM optimization and sales enablement, making them uniquely positioned to build systems that not only attract leads but also support contractors in converting those leads into actual jobs. Their in-house concierge team, client success managers, and media buyers are all trained specifically in the unique buying psychology of homeowners and the operational reality of contractors. This means every appointment booked, every campaign launched, and every automation triggered is designed with one goal: to help contractors secure more qualified jobs and streamline their processes. "We're not marketers working out of mom's basement," said CEO Josh McQuaig. "We're a team of advanced performance marketers with a deep understanding of the home service space. We created this system because we saw too many great contractors stuck in the daily struggle - chasing leads, wasting money, and running on empty. Our mission is to give them a better way to grow - one that's more predictable, efficient, and designed to reduce the stress of marketing and sales." Designed for Scale, Built for Results With more than 15 years of combined industry experience and over $50 million in managed ad spend, BlueCollarGenie has tailored this solution to meet the unique needs of service-based trades. Industries served include: Roofing HVAC Installation & Repair Plumbing Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Concrete & Hardscaping Solar & Electrical Systems Every client receives exclusive rights to their service area, ensuring no overlap with competitors using the same system. BlueCollarGenie also emphasizes its focus on long-term results - if the system does not meet the expected performance standards, clients have the opportunity to review and discuss their next steps with the team. A Mission to Empower the Trades More than just a marketing solution, BlueCollarGenie is on a mission to help blue-collar entrepreneurs take control of their time, their income, and their legacy. "Contractors shouldn't be stuck chasing leads or knocking on doors. They deserve a system that works for them, so they can focus on serving their clients and scaling their businesses," said Anton Hrenic, Director of Client Success at BlueCollarGenie. From high-touch client support to end-to-end fulfillment, BlueCollarGenie offers a true partnership built on trust, transparency, and tangible results. About BlueCollarGenie BlueCollarGenie is a performance-based growth partner for contractors in roofing, HVAC, plumbing, remodeling, and other home service industries. Their flagship Job Flow Flywheel™ system helps clients close 10-20 exclusive jobs per month by managing the entire client acquisition process - from campaign to calendar. To check availability in your area, visit: Media Contact: Country: United States Media Contact: Josh McQuaig Company: BlueCollarGenie Email: admin@ Phone number: +1 (888) 270-9978 Website: SOURCE: BlueCollarGenie View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Old Homes Like These Are Childproofing Nightmares. Here's How These Parents Keep Their Kids Safe
By Erica Palan Philadelphia Inquirer PHILADELPHIA—No one wants to think of their home as a potential death trap. Sometimes parents just can't help it. You can't look at those once-charming house features without picturing all the ways your kid could get hurt. There are 'things that I used to look at [in] my house and say, wow, these are such beautiful details. Now I look at them, and I don't have that same warm feeling,' said Caitlin Martin, mom to 20-month-old Gates in Philadelphia. 'I still love the details to my stairs, but I just think he's going to trip and fall.' Childproofing any home can be costly and stressful. According HomeAdvisor, a website where homeowners can connect with local service professionals, U.S. households spend an average of nearly $400 on childproofing. In Philly, the average is closer to $700. That higher cost is at least partially tied to the fact that many Philly homes have unique quirks that make childproofing tricky. Related Stories 11/10/2023 6/22/2023 According to the National Trust's Preservation Green Lab, the average age of houses in Philadelphia is 93, almost 30 years older than nationwide. In short: The houses were built before childproofing was really a thing. That means molded staircases or exposed radiators might not easily adapt to out-of-the-box baby gates or other products. 'Philly rowhouses present certainly a different challenge. I don't know if it's harder, but it's different from my friends who live in the suburbs,' said Anne Maija, who lives in a South Philly rowhouse and is mom to 1-year-old Claire. 'These types of homes … they're older and the layouts are different.' Even in older homes that have been gutted and rebuilt, some of the newer features common in rowhouse renos can be hazardous. Here are five unique challenges Philly parents face when childproofing—plus a few solutions from experts and creative parents. Stairs The challenge: Curious kiddos are at risk of tumbling down the steps in any house, but 'it's hard to find a house in Philly without stairs,' said Sarah Laroia, mom to 13-month-old Sushil. They live in a four-story Cedar Park home, so stairs are a big worry. Anasztazia Di Leonardo lived in the Graduate Hospital area when she had her son Elio, who will turn 3 later this month. When he started crawling, 'I thought, oh my goodness, I can't live in a house … where his bedroom door is so close to the stairs,' she said. They moved to Roxborough when Elio was 14 months old. How to childproof it:The simple answer is stair gates, which are available in lots of sizes. But finding one that fits might require a lot of trial and error. In Philly homes, 'there's rounded spindles and some of them are historic … also some of them are really big. They might be like 6 or 8 inches across,' said Joe Metzger, the co-owner of Safer Babies, a Media-based childproofing company. 'There are some like premade kits, but in a lot of cases, it's not gonna fit an antique post,' he said. 'Sometimes we can avoid that and go into the next spindle up.' Railings The challenge: Many houses in Philly, especially new construction or recent renovations, have ladder-style railings that are perfect for new little climbers to scale. 'Our stairs have a railing that has levels so you could climb the railing and jump over it if you're insane,' said Laroia. She hired Metzger to come troubleshoot. How to childproof it: mesh nets or acrylic slabs. 'The horizontal steel railing systems, they're good some ways, but we like to put [up a] clear acrylic sheet, and that reduces climbing,' Metzger said. 'And then we'll tell folks to keep anything away from the railing system that a child could climb on to get to the top of the railing, like a laundry basket.' Acrylic sheets can be expensive, so some parents prefer mesh nets. 'I got this netting that you attach via zip ties to the tops and the bottoms and various posts,' said Maija of South Philadelphia. 'It seems to be working for deterring [climbing]. She can just press herself against the netting and use the poles of the banister as an assist to stand.' Joe Metzger, co-owner of Safer Babies, childproofs a basement staircase with a safety gate at the home of Philadelphia residents Sara and Asheesh Laroia and son Sushil, 13 months. Alejandro A Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS Cords and Outlets The challenge:'I call it spaghetti,' said Metzger, talking about the tangle of cords that hang from desks and behind tables because we've all got so many electronics plugged in these days—even more since remote work became the norm. Tangled cords are especially common in Philly homes with limited outlets. No matter what your living situation, cords can be an irritation, but for families with small kids, the solution isn't as simple as an outlet strip. 'Reducing a child's access to cords and not just for electrocution, I really focus on reducing strangulation,' Metzger said. 'Any cord that's longer than even seven inches can get wrapped around a small child's neck.' How to childproof it:Metzger's solutions include shortening cords, moving lamps or humidifiers on top of a dresser or bookcase, or putting outlet strips in special boxes to contain the cords and the plugs. He takes 'whatever steps are needed to reduce a small child's access to those cords, so nobody's getting wrapped up, nobody's touching the prongs, or getting juiced,' he said. Unpredictable Wall Materials The challenge:Sharing walls with neighbors is the hallmark of Philly rowhouses and twins. Metzger says he hasn't run into issues with party walls because they're often quite thick, but he points out that because of years of renovations, it's hard to know what's behind Philly walls—and that can present issues when anchoring heavy furniture to the wall to prevent it from tipping over when a toddler pulls or climbs on it. 'A lot of cases, wall surfaces are plaster over brick or plaster over stone. And these are tricky for fastening anything,' he said. How to childproof it:'You gotta evaluate the surface and then use the proper tools and fasteners,' Metzger said. He comes prepared with a variety of brackets and anchors. Hardwood Floors The challenge:A prominent feature in many older homes, polished hardwood floors can give a cohesive look to a South Philly rowhouse with an open floor plan or elevate the classic elegance of a West Philly Victorian. They can also be extremely slippery, especially for unsteady feet. How to childproof it:After her new-to-walking toddler crashed on her hardwood a few times, Martin added area rugs and runners with padding underneath throughout her home. They got 'rug pads so at least when he trips and falls, he's tripping and falling on a rug instead of the hardwood floor,' she said. These also help when other disasters strike: Martin recalls when the stomach bug tore through her home. My son 'vomited, and it got in the cracks of the hardwood floors, and I found myself with a Q-tip trying to get it out.' Area rugs can get thrown in the washer. Copyright 2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to
