Porch Review
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- The Good
- Porch Guarantee
- In-store access to Lowe's contractor
- Highly-targeted matching
- The Bad
- Limited screening
- Only for homeowners, not businesses
Combining the listing services that you commonly find with a guarantee, Porch Home Services is one of the best options for finding a home improvement professional. Complete portfolios that include pictures of other completed jobs and information about previous pricing can help you quickly sort through the list of options to find the right service provider.
- Price
- Free
Where some home service list providers charge a subscription fee or one-time fee to match you up with a contractor, at Porch, the only cost is the cost of the service. You don’t pay Porch anything for the introduction to local service providers.
- Top Services
- HVAC services
- Remodeling
- Handyman
- Plumbing
- Painting
- Electric
- Flooring
- Windows
- Roofing
Porch Home Services include all of the basic contracting options you’d expect to find. If you have a lot of small projects, handyman services could be exactly what you need. If you have a larger project in the works, you might need a general contractor. In either case, Porch has a list of options that can help you find the right professional for the job.
- Screening Process
- No mandatory background checks
- Contractors can earn/buy badges that demonstrate their trustworthiness
You should always do your own vetting on any contractor you hire. This includes making sure their licensing is up to date, they have enough insurance, the company is bonded, etc. With that in mind, Porch Home Services does not automatically check credentials. They do offer the option for businesses to obtain a background check and post the badge for it, but they don’t make it mandatory.
- Guarantee
- Yes
While other home services marketplace sites are a lot like a phone book — they just list the options — Porch Homes Services goes an extra step. They won’t guarantee work quality, but they do offer help in recovering deposits for unperformed work, putting in insurance claims, pursuing legal action or unnecessary damage done to your property during the work. There are a some pretty stringent requirements before you can make a claim on the guarantee, so be sure to the check the Terms and Conditions before you choose a contractor through Porch.
- Support
If you have a question or complaint to send to Porch Home Services, prepare to send an email and wait for them to get back to you. This is one area where Porch may not do as well as the competition. Many other home service marketplaces offer a phone number and live chat as options to get in touch with support.
Porch: User Reviews
Porch: Comments
Like many service lists, Porch offers consumers a way to find and vet contractors, while the service providers foot the bill. Porch is free for you, but contractors pay for the service and your contact information. It’s this model that helps keep the service free for users.
How Does Porch Work?
If you have a home improvement project on your list, you need to find a contractor to help you get it finished. That’s where Porch can help. Porch connects consumers with experienced and skilled service providers for all home maintenance needs. This can include services like:
- Snow removal
- Landscaping
- Handyman services
- Window repair/replacement
- General contracting services
By partnering with Lowe’s, a leader in home improvement products and appliances, Porch is able to put you in touch with some of the best local contractors. The process is simple. Go to the Porch website and fill in what type of service you need and where you need it. Then, give a few more details and contact information. Within a few hours, you’ll have several options to choose from.
Different contractors will receive the information about your job. They’ll contact you directly to discuss the scope of the work and arrange a time to give you a quote. After you do your reference checks and other verification to make sure the contractor is legally allowed to complete the work, you can hammer out the final terms and agree on a price. Porch just makes shopping for a contractor a bit easier.
If you want to insure things like appliances, you can look at a home warranty company like Select Home Warranty.
What Makes Porch Stand Out?
Porch stands out in two unique ways. The first is the Porch guarantee, which is one of the few guarantees available through a free marketplace. The second area where Porch really excels is with the in-store partnership. By partnering with Lowe’s, Porch created an instant and expansive network of contractors for you to look through. Also, you can get specific recommendations for local contractors that have done good work for other Lowe’s customers.
Finding contractors using Porch is quick and easy. Their partnership with Lowe’s also means you can shop for materials and only pay for installation with the contractor of your choice. That’s a big part of what makes Porch so accessible to you as you look for quality and affordable home maintenance.
Common Reviews of Porch
Like many list services, Porch has more than its fair share of negative reviews. However, it’s important to remember that a lot of those negative reviews don’t come from consumers after a home improvement project. Instead, the vast majority of poor reviews come from businesses that paid for the lead generation services offered by Porch.
Most consumers give Porch high — four- and five-star — ratings. The easy contact process, ability to contact contractors directly and generally good service provided combine to make this relatively new entry into home service marketplaces one of the top options on many online review sites.
Is Porch for Me?
If you have an upcoming home improvement project or just need a little help with some nagging maintenance issues, Porch might be just what you’re looking for. This service can put you in touch with virtually every standard category of home maintenance out there.
If you’ve got drafty windows or a leaky roof, Porch can help you find contractors that specialize in these areas. Porch doesn’t offer anything for the business or industrial consumer, so remember that it’s homeowners only. But, as long as you own a home and have a growing to-do list of around the house chores, Porch can help. From landscaping, including just a quick mow, to major systems, Porch has a contractor for your job.
When there aren’t enough hours in the day to handle a leaky faucet, a broken light fixture and or cracked tiles, you probably need some help. If you’re ready to start that major kitchen overhaul you’ve been planning since you moved in or want to waterproof your basement, you’ll need to find a reliable and affordable contractor. Porch takes the guesswork out of finding quality workers. You can instantly see their reviews, all on verified jobs performed through the Porch system. That means no fake reviews. You can also see what they charged other users, so you can avoid inflated pricing, too.
Meg Regan • July 3, 2018
Wish I could give zero stars, I never leave reviews but trying to save someone else from making my same mistake. PLEASE NEVER EVER CONTRACT THIS AWFUL COMPANY!!!!!!!! I set up an appointment one month ahead of time. I confirmed with them multiple times for a swingset installation. Talked with them twice the morning of the appointment, was told we were all set with no delays, and they were a NO SHOW!!! They didn’t even call to let us know. ALFONSO the manager wouldn’t call us back. Spent all day trying to get in touch with someone. They repeatedly tried to avoid our calls and didn’t attempt to reschedule. They claimed they couldn’t find anyone to do the job even though they sent me an email confirmation the day before the appointment. I drove to another state for this installation. This company is so unprofessional. Unfortunate for Lowe’s that they are partners. Worst experience ever. Please save yourself the headache.