Press Releases
| ImproveNet and QuickenMortgage Build Relationship to Help Homeowners Finance Home Improvement Projects |
| Redwood City, Calif. - February 22, 1999 - ImproveNet (www.ImproveNet.com) and Intuit's QuickenMortgage (www.QuickenMortgage.com), a leading multi-lender mortgage Web site, have joined forces to provide homeowners with financial resources for their home improvement projects. Customers using ImproveNet can link directly to co-branded elements of QuickenMortgage, while Quicken.com and QuickenMortgage users will have direct access to the extensive home improvement resources at ImproveNet. ImproveNet is the Internet's only, independent online service helping homeowners find reliable contractors, architects and designers. In the last 16 months, it has referred more than 50,000 jobs averaging $48,000, totaling more than $1 billion. "We've had numerous requests from homeowners looking for specialized lending options for remodeling projects-we believe that by working with Intuit that we can expand our services and offer homeowners another trusted solution," said Bob Stevens, CEO of ImproveNet. The new home improvement lending center will permit homeowners to comparison shop among lenders from across the country who are skilled in finding the most affordable loans for home remodeling needs. Consumers will have access to a full range of financial services, including mortgage and loan services, provided by QuickenMortgage. Also under the terms of the agreement, Intuit can include ImproveNet's Find a Contractor service in the Home & Mortgage section of Intuit's Quicken.com and in QuickenMortgage. "Our alliance with ImproveNet gives QuickenMortgage the opportunity to expand into additional home finance areas and to help consumers seeking cash for home improvement projects," stated Alison Berkley, group product manager for QuickenMortgage. "The relationship gives us the opportunity to provide consumers with an expanded home and mortgage experience." |
| About QuickenMortgage™ |
| QuickenMortgage, a leading multi-lender mortgage web site, offers consumers a one-stop home and mortgage shopping experience on the Internet. The site allows consumers to pre-qualify themselves online at no cost, comparison shop multiple loans, and submit an online mortgage application via QuickenMortgage to participating lenders. Consumers can also directly access over 600,000 home listings in the U.S., as well as educate and empower themselves through timely editorial content and interactive tools. |
| About Intuit Inc. |
| Intuit Inc., a financial software and Web-based services company, develops and markets Quicken®, the leading personal finance software; TurboTax, the best-selling tax preparation software; and QuickBooks®, the most popular small business accounting software. Intuit's QuickenStore (www.quickenstore.com) is the online source for consumers to purchase Intuit products via the web. Intuit's Quicken.com Website (www.quicken.com) is the premier financial Website, offering a complete set of financial news, information and tools, including insurance, mortgage, investment and tax preparation services. Intuit's products and services enable individuals, small businesses and financial professionals to better manage their financial lives and businesses. |
| About ImproveNet |
| ImproveNet, Inc. (www.ImproveNet.com) is the Internet's leading independent service helping homeowners find reliable contractors, architects and designers. ImproveNet's database contains information on more than 600,000 contractors, architects and designers nationally. The company matches homeowners with remodeling and design experts in their local area who have passed a rigorous proprietary screening test. The key criteria evaluated by ImproveNet's proprietary screening system are credit history, legal judgements, license status (if required by local or state laws) and insurance. ImproveNet's web site also features a visual gallery of design ideas created by leading architects and designers as well as practical advice from home improvement experts. For more information, contact Hunter Madsen, ImproveNet (www.ImproveNet.com), 1286 Oddstad Drive, Redwood City, CA., 94063, 650-261-0661 x236, hunter@improvenet.com, or John Starkweather, Rolling Thunder Marketing, 425-889-0528 x108, johns@rolling-thunder.com. |