Disrupting the $500B Home Project Crisis: Julie Kheyfets Uses AI to Restore Control
Julie Kheyfets, CEO of Block Renovation, reveals how AI is transforming the $500 billion home renovation industry by bridging the gap between homeowners and contractors with transparent, milestone-based project management and vetted contractor networks.
TAMPA BAY, Fla., Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The home remodeling market reached $498.3 billion in 2024, yet most homeowners still endure miserable renovation experiences despite this massive industry investment. (1) With 726,026 remodeling businesses across the U.S.—an 18.3% increase since 2020—the industry remains fragmented and plagued by opacity. (2) In this episode of Disruption Interruption, Julie Kheyfets, CEO of Block Renovation, joins host Karla Jo Helms (KJ) to discuss how her AI-powered platform is revolutionizing this traditionally offline industry. "I would encourage more people to explore what would it mean to bring AI to industries like this," says Kheyfets, whose company has created a comprehensive solution that combines architect-grade design tools with vetted contractor networks and milestone-based payment protection.
The Construction Crisis: A $500 Billion Problem
The renovation industry's challenges run deeper than simple logistics—they stem from fundamental structural problems that have persisted for decades. Despite representing a half-trillion-dollar market, the industry operates with shocking inefficiency and lack of transparency.
"One of the hardest things in renovation and construction is just how opaque the industry is," explains Kheyfets. "As a homeowner, if you're looking to hire a contractor or hire a professional, it's very hard to figure out who to trust and who to engage with." This opacity creates a cascade of problems: homeowners struggle to make informed decisions, contractors operate without standardized processes, and projects frequently exceed budgets and timelines.
The fragmentation extends to technology adoption, where over half of contractors don't use any software beyond basic tools. "Over half of contractors don't use any software, not even Google Sheets or Google Docs," Kheyfets reveals. "They are using paper and pen for tracking materials, tracking projects—it's a lot of mom and pops who are juggling so many things without setting up perfect processes."
AI-Powered Solutions: Building Trust Through Technology
Block Renovation addresses these systemic issues through a comprehensive AI platform that serves both sides of the renovation equation. The company's approach begins with empowering homeowners to make informed design decisions before connecting them with vetted professionals.
"We decided to tackle two things," Kheyfets explains. "One is helping homeowners figure out how to navigate all of these hundreds of decisions about what to do with their space—what's the scope of work, what's the design, what's my budget? And then, how do I find a great contractor to get the job done?" The platform's AI capabilities analyze homeowner preferences, existing spaces, and design inspirations to create detailed project specifications and cost estimates.
The contractor marketplace operates on stringent quality standards, accepting only 7% of applicants. "We vet the contractors who come onto our platform," says Kheyfets. "They each do a high volume of work on the platform because we can give them a steady stream of highly qualified projects—homeowners who know what they want, how much they can pay, and who have designs and plans." This selective approach ensures quality while providing contractors with the business tools and AI assistance they typically lack access to.
Links
Disrupting the $500 billion Renovation Industry by Enabling Trust with AI-powered Platform, with Julie Kheyfets
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekheyfets
Company Website: blockrenovation.com
Disruption Interruption is the podcast where you will hear from today's biggest Industry Disruptors. Learn what motivated them to bring about innovation and how they overcame opposition to adoption.
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About Disruption Interruption™
Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries— MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping, logistics, and more—and COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors and when did they say, "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD IT!"? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo "KJ" Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews badasses who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traits—and not-so-common—that are changing our economic markets… and lives. Visit the world's key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at www.disruption-interruption.com.
About Julie Kheyfets
Julie Kheyfets is a visionary leader redefining the $500 billion home renovation industry through the power of AI. As CEO of Block Renovation, she is driving innovation in one of the most fragmented and stressful markets, empowering homeowners with a platform that combines architect-grade design tools, real-time cost estimates, and a vetted contractor network. Block's proprietary AI technology eliminates guesswork, protects projects with milestone-based payments, and ensures transparency and trust at every stage of renovation.
Julie stepped into the CEO role in January 2025 after serving seven years as Block's Chief Operating Officer, where she helped scale the company into a category-defining marketplace. Prior to Block, she led North American growth for Tractable, an AI unicorn focused on accident and disaster recovery, contributing to its valuation surpassing $1 billion. Her career reflects a consistent track record of using data, technology, and strategic execution to disrupt legacy industries and create transformative solutions.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Julie is an accomplished ultramarathon runner, celebrated for her endurance and tenacity. In 2021, she secured first place in the women's category at the Habanero Hundred, a grueling 100-mile race through the Texas heat—an achievement that mirrors her relentless drive in business and in life.
About Karla Jo Helms
Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR® Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™. Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line — and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill into the good graces of public opinion — Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way, and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.
References
Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4629
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