HomeAdvisor Versus Amazon Home Services
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- The Good
- More than 24 home improvement categories
- Cost guide offers comparison pricing
- Quick matching guide
- The Bad
- Must provide contact information to get provider list
Home Advisor is a solid matching service that will put you in touch with highly rated home improvement professionals. It’s free for property owners, but service providers pay for leads, so their marketing budget pays a role in the service providers matched to your job.
- The Good
- Residential, business and commercial services available
- Easy and intuitive search functions
- One-click payments
- The Bad
- Contractors may not be available in all areas
Amazon Home Services is a new entry into this relatively crowded market of home repair. Because it is so new (it was founded in 2015), it may take a while for more service providers to show up in all areas. Amazon uses a stringent application approval process that helps guarantee quality service but can slow down approvals and access to service.
- Price
- Free
There’s no cost to consumer users for Home Advisor. All of the cost is paid by the professional contractors using the listing service to generate business. Cost to businesses is unpublished and only available during account setup.
- Price
- Free
Amazon is free for users and strictly controls service pricing. When you book a service through Home Services, Amazon offers a price estimate. According to the Internet giant, nine out of 10 customers only pay that estimated price. At Amazon, you don’t need a fair price guarantee; it’s built right into the service model.
- Top Services
- Architects and engineering
- Central vacuum installation and service
- Disaster recovery
- Moving
- Sign making services
- Solar installment
- Water treatment systems
These are just a few of the options available through Home Advisor. This listing service covers just about everything you could imagine for both residential and business customers, including organizational services and cleaning. It really is a one-stop shop for all your home improvement needs.
- Top Services
- Smart home services
- Home theater installation
- Computer repair
- Smartphone repair
- Cleaning
- Assembly
- Business and commercial services
- Automotive repair
With the addition of Home Services, Amazon has added entirely new categories to their one-stop-shopping model. Now, you can get all of your retail therapy, grocery shopping and to-do list items through the same site. Home Services offers an eclectic mix of services that range from virus removal for your computer to smart home assessments and installations.
- Screening Process
- Licensing check
- State business filings review
- Identity verification for business principles
- Search for civil judgments
- Criminal records search
- Sex offender search
Home Advisor does fairly extensive background checks on their service professionals. Keep in mind that some of the checks are limited in scope. For example, the search for civil judgments that may wave a red flag only go back a year. Older issues may not show up on such a limited search. You should still perform your own verification to ensure that nothing has changed since the business signed up for Home Advisor.
- Screening Process
- Comprehensive background check
- Online reputation assessment
The Amazon Home Services screening process is one of the most stringent. Not only do they do a criminal background check, they also look at financial records and court history. That means a bankruptcy or pending lawsuit could leave them denied from the Amazon marketplace as a service provider. Even if all of that checks out, there is also the review screening. Looking at other sites and checking reviews, Amazon can and does deny applications based on negative reviews posted on other sites. This tight approval process means that only the highest rated providers make it onto the Amazon Home Services Marketplace.
- Guarantee
- No guarantee offered
HomeAdvisor does not provide any direct home improvement services. Instead, they offer a completely free matching service to help you find a local service provider to handle your project. Since they are not responsible for the service, they do not guarantee it. You can discuss service guarantees with individual professionals.
- Guarantee
- Yes
The Amazon Happiness Guarantee gives you the opportunity to file a claim if the work wasn’t up to snuff or anything was damaged during your job. Now, if the scope of work changes or you missed the 90-day window to file a claim, the Happiness Guarantee may not apply, but Amazon has a well-deserved reputation for customer service.
- Support
- Email, phone or live chat
HomeAdvisor offers two different support streams: one for business users offering services and one for consumers looking for a service provider. For businesses, support includes options like budget and lead management. This is also the avenue you would use to report bad leads and ask for a refund. For consumers, you can get in touch to get contact information for a local service provider, ask questions or offer feedback.
- Support
- Email, chat, and phone
Amazon has one of the most responsive customer service departments around. You can start a chat, send an email or even call if you have a problem with any Amazon product, including Home Services. Their online help information center is also comprehensive and automates many routine requests, so you may not need to spend much time talking to customer service after all.
HomeAdvisor: User Reviews
Amazon Home Services: User Reviews
HomeAdvisor: Comments
Amazon Home Services: Comments
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Home Advisor is one of the top sites in the home repair services marketplace.
How Does HomeAdvisor Work?
HomeAdvisor is a home services marketplace that helps you find local professionals for all of your home construction and maintenance needs. Using HomeAdvisor is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is:
- Find the category that matches the work you need.
- Answer a few simple questions.
- Wait to see which service providers can fit you in.
- Work directly with one of up to four local service providers to get a quote.
Once you have a list of potential service providers, you do all the negotiating directly with the professional. HomeAdvisor simply streamlines the process of finding qualified professionals to work around your home or office.
When selecting a professional, you should still do all of the normal checks you would perform on any contractor. That includes a reference check, confirming that their license is current, and verifying that the company is insured and bonded. Then, you’ll want to make sure the entire scope of work is spelled out in writing. A work order that only covers half the job might leave you very disappointed. Make sure all the terms are spelled out completely and signed off on by both parties.
If you have a home warranty company like Select Home Warranty, make sure you check with them before you hire a home improvement professional, since they may have rules around picking an option.
What Makes HomeAdvisor Stand Out?
There are many home service marketplaces out there, but what really makes HomeAdvisor a solid choice is the extensive screening process and price tag. As a free service, you still get all the vetting you might expect from a paid service. Plus, you get the peace of mind knowing that 30 million other users have successfully found and worked with a contractor through HomeAdvisor. That’s a lot of satisfied customers.
The easy access to reviews is another big plus. Before you start vetting candidates for work, you can see their online reviews. That means you can find a company that has already built up a solid reputation with multiple five-star reviews. You can avoid companies with no reviews or some questionable reviews. The more you know about a contractor, the more likely you are to find and be satisfied with the work at the end of the contract. HomeAdvisor is:
- Free for you to use
- Easy to navigate
- Under your control and allows you to select contractors directly
- Transparent and makes reviews available without collecting contact information
HomeAdvisor Reviews
While it is true that dissatisfied customers are more likely to leave a review than happy customers, you might be a little nervous if you just look at the total scores for HomeAdvisor. At the Better Business Bureau site, while it has an A+ rating, its composite score is only 3.9 stars. Why does HomeAdvisor have so many negative reviews? Remember, while HomeAdvisor is free for consumers, contractors and professionals that use the service pay for leads. When those leads don’t turn into paying work, negative reviews are a common side effect.
In order to generate the best service for consumers, HomeAdvisor always has multiple contractors respond on a single quote request. That ensures healthy competition for every job. It also means that contractors are often looking at a lower conversion rate. So, the reviews from consumers are often five-stars, but business users may have a different opinion. It takes time and expertise to make a lead generation service pay, and some small business users don’t have that expertise in-house.
Many consumers will use these marketplaces as a starting point but never finalize a contract. Unfortunately, this can result in lead charges for the business. A bad lead costs just as much as a good one, but that doesn’t mean HomeAdvisor doesn’t provide a valuable service that works for thousands of local contractors.
Is HomeAdvisor for Me?
If you are a consumer and need help with a home improvement project, HomeAdvisor could be a great place to get started. Not only will you be able to use their calculator to estimate costs, you can also start looking at the different local service providers and their customer ratings. Plus, since HomeAdvisor does a fairly comprehensive background check when listing professionals, you can start contacting pros before you do your own due diligence and reference checks.
If you’re a business, the price might be a big factor in your decision-making. HomeAdvisor does not publish the rates for their lead generation services. That means you have to contact the company and go through the process of setting up a profile to see what the charges would be for your business. Ultimately, small businesses that find it difficult to maintain a steady workflow might benefit from a service like HomeAdvisor, but you’ll want to set careful limits on the marketing budget for the account.
What Are Amazon Home Services?
Looking for someone to help you mount your TV or assemble a complicated furniture set? Amazon has moved into the home repair service marketplace with its Amazon Home Services, which pairs you with local home repair professionals, ensuring customers have help with tasks around the house.
How Does Amazon Home Services Work?
Amazon Home Services works a lot like other service marketplaces. Professionals apply for a listing and start working with Amazon customers. For you, this can help streamline your purchasing history. There are two categories for the services offered: pre-defined services and custom requests.
Pre-Defined Services
Pre-defined services are the more run of the mill home maintenance requests. Expect to see services like appliance repair, moving, plumbing, furniture assembling, house cleaning, and other odd jobs on this list.
For example, you buy a brand new TV and need help with installation. Amazon Home Services can offer that installation at a (usually) standardized rate.
If you’re looking to put in a garden this year and don’t have time to handle the original planting, you can work with a landscaper through Amazon Home Services. All you do is use your existing account, find the service you need, answer a few quick questions and schedule the service. You don’t have to worry about selecting a contractor–Amazon does that for you. They also handle customer service complaints if something goes wrong.
Custom Requests
If you have a service that doesn’t fit into the presets already offered, you can also submit a custom request. Nearby contractors will then contact you with estimates for how much the service will cost.
How to Handle Cancellations or Poor Services
A late arrival, last-minute cancellation or poor quality service can all leave you with a partial or full refund after reporting the issue. Plus, Amazon only charges you after the service is complete, so if a professional misses their appointment, you don’t have to worry about asking for a refund–you haven’t paid yet.
Services like Select Home Warranty can actually cover a lot of home fixes and can help you pick a good professional to do the job. Check out our Select Home Warranty review to learn more.
What Makes Amazon Home Services Stand Out?
Customer Service
Amazon has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation for excellent customer service. When you order something through Home Services, you get access to that same incredible customer service experience, even if the professional you work with isn’t perfect. Plus, Amazon goes the extra mile to vet and screen all of their professional applicants.
Professional Background Checks
Many marketplaces use self-reporting from their pros, but not Amazon. At Home Services, every professional offering services is vetted individually using comprehensive background checks and a look at reviews from real customers, ensuring you get the right person for home repairs.
Price
Another big difference between Amazon and the competition is pricing. Not pricing to use the service, which is free, but the cost of services. Very few review sites offer any direct information about pricing. After all, they don’t control what a service provider will charge. Amazon does it differently. They set standard rates for standard jobs. Tasks that have routine costs and take a fairly predictable amount of time come with an estimate that is highly accurate. Avoiding a surprise bill is one big benefit to working with Amazon.
Quick and Efficient
Your request is usually handled within twenty-four hours. Afterwards, you will receive contact information for your assigned handyman to set up a date and time. You can expect things to work quickly and if communication slows, feel free to contact Amazon.
Common Amazon Home Services Reviews
Amazon Home Services reviews show a very high approval rating from customers. Even those that weren’t happy with their original service order have a positive experience with customer service. Unlike other home services companies, Amazon is very responsive to all refund requests. They may ask you to provide documentation, particularly for any damage, but if you’re owed a refund for services not rendered, Amazon has a good track record.
Their comprehensive vetting process may mean that you can’t order some services in your area, but it also means you’re less likely to have a bad experience. All Amazon professionals have continuing performance targets. Plus, you’ll only get emails for up to three days after submitting a request. That means pros have a limited window to contact you when you have a custom request.
Is Amazon Home Services for Me?
Do you have an Amazon account? If you do, you’ve probably already experienced the ease of ordering through the site. You may also have dealt with lost packages or returns. In either case, you should have a good idea of what buying on Amazon is like. Home Services is another type of Amazon product, with all of the same standards and commitment to customer satisfaction. If you have a home or a business, it’s likely that there is a service available on Amazon Home Services that you could use.
From leaky faucets to electrical issues, Home Services covers all your handyman needs. The service is typically offered per job, not hourly, so you may want to get a custom quote if you have a few items on your maintenance list. House cleaning can help clear your schedule for other important tasks and family obligations, while assembly services take the intimidation out of buying furniture and other large items online. You can even schedule computer and electronics repair for at home, so the next time your phone screen cracks or you can’t get rid of a computer virus, you can schedule a service visit through Home Services.
Amazon Home Services even has a section for businesses. From data recovery to IT security and even commercial installations, you can find a provider to help your small business. If you’re already an Amazon customer, take a look at the services available to you. Affordable pricing and top-notch professionals make Home Services useful for most people.
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