How to Find Licensed, Trustworthy Experts for Your Next Home Projects
2020-2021 brought with-it record-breaking home improvement projects. The pandemic, of course, is a prime driving factor, but so are the desires to increase property space and value, as well as the popularity of real estate and home decor programs and influencers. Dreaming up your next home project is often the easy part though, while finding the right contractor or expert to lead and execute the project can often be more difficult and nerve wracking.
Below we explore websites and services for finding experts for your next home project. Note, however, Selene does not endorse or support any of these entities and it is providing this information for educational purposes only. The choice of a contractor or service provider is important and should be based on your own personal research and due diligence.
Angi - Angi began as Angie’s List, then became a subscription only service, but is now back to its roots as a free service. It is easy to use - heck, its motto is “Home care, simplified” - as you simply input or select your desired service and your zip code. You are then provided with information on the experts near you. The site includes reviews from verified users. Moreover, Angi boasts the pros are “Angi Certified” and includes a “happiness guarantee” when you book through the website. According to the site, this guarantee covers your project plus “limited damage.” Finally, Angi has been in business for over 25 years.
Homeadvisor - Homeadvisor is owned by Angi and is a website as well as an app. It makes it very easy to communicate with professionals. Operating in a similar manner to Angi, Homeadvisor instructs you to enter details about your project and location and then provides the user with a list of providers. On Homeadvisor, you can also craft your search in other ways, such as going through the directory yourself or searching fixed price options. The professionals / companies receive ratings that are visible to you, the user, as well as pictures and verified customer reviews. Additionally, professionals and companies can earn different badges. For instance, “Seal of Approval” means the professional has been screened by Homeadvisor and passed a background check. “Elite Service Pro” highlights providers that have a 5-star rating and no complaints. “Years with HA” is another badge that lets users know the number of years the professional has been on Homeadvisor. We should also note at times Homeadvisor offers discount codes for first time users. From a handyman’s/provider’s point of view, there have been some complaints about the Homeadvisor platform.
Porch - Porch touts itself as the concierge service for homeowners. It has over 3.5 million professionals and national coverage. Some users appreciate the fact that they can call Porch directly and work with them via phone versus via the internet. Handymen seem to have positive things to say about Porch and garnering business via this platform.
Home Depot’s Pro-Referral - In Home Depot’s own words: “Pro Referral uses the latest technology to match our customers, both online and in-store, with local pros. Pro Referral is the ultimate marketplace for our customer’s home improvement needs.” It is a free referral service for the customer and covers a wide variety of projects, both large and small. They also offer reviews, and pros can be reviewed even if a customer used them not via Pro-Referral. Finally, Home Depot’s Pro-Referral cannot guarantee the quality of the work or the materials used in your project; they do say, however, they will refund you up to $500 for an “unsatisfactory referral.”
Additional Best Practices When Selecting a Contractor/Home Improvement Expert:
Ask friends and family and neighbors who they used
Aim to get 3 estimates
Make note of the response time from each provider
Ask to see finished products or to visit a current worksite
Understand the payment schedule/process
Put everything in writing before the work begins
Cross check references by using Yelp and a traditional Google search
Final Thoughts:
Undertaking a home improvement project, whether a “simple” updating of space and decor or a major renovation of existing space and/or a new addition, can be simultaneously fun and exciting and extremely stressful. Doing your homework upfront on identifying the most appropriate contractor for your project will go a long way to achieving your final project vision on time, on budget, and in a quality manner.
