Many consumers who purchase new homes or update their current homes with new appliances, systems or other home products are warned to be careful to fill out and send in warranty cards and paperwork in order to have these shiny new items back up by their manufacturers. The misplacement of these important documents or the failure to fill them out and forward them to the manufacturer can result in an unsympathetic ear by product customer service divisions when a problem occurs, leaving consumers high and dry. These and other bothersome details of home management can now be handled online from the convenience of a home or office computer.

A new Internet-based company, myHomeKey.com, claims to be the first to offer comprehensive home management services through a single Web portal, giving busy consumers the advantage of convenient, round-the-clock access to more than 15,000 local service providers and more than 1,000 major brand appliances. San Francisco-based myHomeKey.com, Inc. has stepped forward to lend online access in six home products categories, with special management from experts in energy, retail, technology and home products. Founded in 1999, the company helps busy homeowners handle their maintenance, repair, and service needs giving them the ability to schedule repairs and maintenance service, purchase major appliances and warranties, monitor home security systems, and even take advantage of home relocation assistance using its Web portal.

The categories encompassed in their service include home repair and upkeep, home monitoring and control, neighborhood and community notification, utility/energy services, purchased appliances and home products and move management.

According to a company press release, MyHomeKey.com can reduce tasks that used to take hours into minutes. It keeps track of important warranties, reminds homeowners of service and maintenance schedules, and notes events in the homeowner's life on a fully interactive e-calendar. As an example, myHomekey.com can, through a contractual relationship with authorized representatives, permit the consumer to add a warranty while buying a refrigerator online and even arrange for an installation service. The appointments for set-up automatically appear on the user's e-calendar. The new dot-com also provides consumers quality ratings on service providers, and will keep service preferences securely filed to expedite future appointments.

"Eighty-three percent of homeowners are busy working professionals. We can make the home management process simple and fast, leveraging the power of the Internet and our relationships with top brands in various household industries," said Eric Zausner, myHomeKey.com president.

Within the same site, SecurityVillage.com has partnered with myHomeKey to offer consumers the ability to design, buy, and schedule installation of a new home security system online. It offers 24/7 availability for real-time updates and status of home or commercial systems, and operates through a network of more than 6,500 local agents serving more than 800,000 customers. SecurityVillage.com can remotely monitor heating, cooling, and lights in addition to their security services.

Alliances with regional utility and energy services companies gives myHomeKey.com's clientele the ability to check the energy efficiency of their homes, access home energy conservation tips, and purchase energy-saving products and services, according to company sources. Local community information is also posted on their sites so that homeowners can stay connected to neighborhood groups.

As a service to their users, the company also eases the pain and stress of relocation by arranging hook-ups for up to twelve household utilities, including postal and newspaper services in addition to electricity, water, telephone service and gas connections. MyHomeKey has already partnered with utility companies such as KeySpan and TXU Energy Services to provide seamless disconnects and hook-ups for relocating consumers.

The phrase that comes to mind when considering online services such as these is undoubtedly, "What'll they think of next?" But anyone who has wrestled with 800-number, press-one, press-two customer service lines for products, utilities, and service companies can attest to the chunk of time taken away from family or work activities to handle problems or get questions answered. Our online world can hopefully free us of many of these tedious tasks with companies such as this as pioneers in that effort.

Published: August 23, 2000

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A veteran of the real estate and homebuilding industries since 1986, Dena Kouremetis first joined Realty Times as a new homes writer in 1998. Since then, she has authored four books, written consumer columns on new homes issues for websites and newspapers all across the country, contributed to builder trade magazines, appeared as a guest expert on several radio shows and even created a ten-chapter podcast for LendingTree.com’s homebuilder website, iNest.com, now available on iTunes, entitled Uncharted Waters; Navigating the Purchase of a New Production Home. Kouremetis recently joined her local Folsom, CA Coldwell Banker office as a broker associate while continuing to write for the real estate industry. For the past three years, she has been training real estate agents for both the resale and new homes industries, putting her experience, research expertise and gift of expression to work to help others entering the business.