Finding the right professionals to bring into your home can be quite a challenge depending on what your needs are and who you can trust. So maybe Home Advisor can help with this.
Overview
Home Advisor is a platform that is comprised of many different types of businesses that offer services like home improvements and repairs. You get to choose from a selection of those businesses in these industries that have registered with Home Advisor.
The Claim
The claim that Home Advisor is making is that what they offer on their site is convenience. It can be a real hassle trying to research and find the resources you need to do those repairs or updates on your home. Home Advisor is stating that they have made this easy for you. They also claim that they have a very comprehensive screening process so you can feel comfortable about the caliber of services you will be receiving if you make your choice from those businesses listed on Home Advisor.
The Hype
The hype really focuses around a few aspects about Home Advisor. One of course is the convenience of having a few professionals to choose from instead of taking your chances with the first one you come across during your search on the internet. There is also the peace of mind knowing that some vetting has been done through the screen process that Home Advisor claims that they do.
The Cost
If you are using Home Advisor as a customer who needs a service performed then their service is free. However, if you are listing your services then you will need to take out a membership with them at the cost of $28.99 per month. Then in addition to this you will also pay a lead fee that is based on the type of service you are offering and location.
The Commitment
The commitment for using Home Advisor is going to be different depending on the way in which you are using the service. If you are looking for contractors then you are going to have to commit time to looking over the profiles of those professionals that the site platform will provide for you. If you are using Home Advisor as a platform to garner business then you will have to think carefully as to whether the costs are going to justify your participation here.
Evaluation
It would seem that there are many that are happy with Home Advisor but also some that are not and this pertains to both those listing their services as well as those that are using them. Several of the complaints that pertain to those listed with the BBB revolve around disgruntled service providers. They are complaining that they are not getting viable leads or enough of them.
Final Home Advisor Review
Overall for either service users or service providers of Home Advisor we are going to give this entity a try/buy rating. They have received a 3.84 star rating out of five based on 569 reviews and are classed as a A+ rating. So it really comes down to individual circumstances. You will want to do your homework when it comes to determining whether your business would do well here. For those using the services how satisfied you will be will probably depend on a lot of factors like the type of work you need performed and the providers in your area. The risk factors are no different than what they would be if you were to do your own resource digging.
Our Recommendation
If you like the type of convenience that Home Advisor has to offer and you want to compare them to some similar type platforms then check out Angie’s List.
We purchased a home which needs numerous updates. I contacted Home Advisor and found many quality contractors who came out and bid the job. The prices ranged from ridiculously-high to questionably-low, with many right in the range I expected.
Mostly, it depends where you live whether there is a small number or a large number of available contractors, but I will say this, when your legal name is Mrs. Claus, it is difficult to get return calls. I ended up needing to call them directly as many thought someone was pulling their leg (yes, my husband’s legal name is Santa Claus). It took hours of my time meeting with contractors, going over bids and making final decisions on which ones to use. .
I ended up hiring Home Advisor contractors for my electrical, plumbing, siding, flooring, kitchen remodel, painting, bathroom remodel and more. I would give them a 5-star rating in my area and found everyone I hired to be reputable. HOWEVER< it is important to get at least 5 references and check everyone for work done in the last 12 months. I found a few who had 2-3 references that, in conversation, with them, turned out to be less than reputable. I was able to weed them out and am 100% satisfied with the final results of every single project. The General Contractor I hired was referred to me by one of the Home Advisor contractors and he even helped with determining which were the best and which were less than reputable. I am so happy with the work they did that I can't say enough good about it. Sure, I spent hours checking references to make sure I was getting good contractors, but when you are spending your hard-earned money on renovations, you need to do that!