While this new industry of contractor referral platforms looks like the ideal solution, unfortunately, they're not all the same. Also, some are fantastic for specific categories but ineffective for others. Moreover, the level of due diligence behind the contractors sent your way may differ substantially.
Differences boil down to relative competence in many cases, and you should know the facts. On the other hand, benefits closely connect to the platform model, where it's pretty clear what the stakeholders behind them can and can't do for you. So, while the objective is to make life easier for the homeowner, it doesn't always go like that.
This article gives you brief descriptions of ten online contractor marketplaces to decide which aligns best with your situation as you travel the customer journey to home improvements. At the top of our thinking is locating powerful resources that address the most frustrating pain points in the contractor arena. In other words, experiences that invariably result in:
- Scams
- Jobs left half-finished
- Schedules drifting on forever
- No local offices despite appearances
- Empty warranties
- Guarantees not worth the paper they're written on
HomeAdvisor
Owned by the mammoth holding company IAC, this platform demands consumer attention. Homeowners pay nothing to access HomeAdvisor contractors, who will come flooding through minutes after entering your requirements.When you sign up, the marketplace moves into action by selling your information to their member contractors, of which there are many. Consequently, there's no shortage of viable choices.
The description above may look mercenary, but appreciate that:
- Every contractor applying to your job has the HomeAdvisor stamp of approval:
- Which means criminal background, compliance for local work, and financial standing are not worrisome issues.
- Therefore, the company gives homeowners its "Happiness Guarantee" that covers you for shoddy work and even damages to a limit (read the company's terms and conditions to understand the exclusions and limitations).
- Digital appointment-making and scheduling are seamless without talking to your selected contractor directly
- You can rely on HomeAdvisor for small and big renovation jobs alike
- They are robust in roofing, gutter repairs, kitchen renovations, exterior landscaping, and much more
Angi (Formerly Angie's List)
Angi is another subsidiary under the IAC umbrella. Moreover, the company represents the longest-standing marketplace in the industry. One can say it's the pioneer of meaningful contractor connection.- Interestingly, Angi runs parallel to HomeAdvisor within the group but competes fiercely in all respects
- However, the model is almost the same as its IAC cohort, offering a "Happiness Guarantee" and a stream of verified contractors
- The one thing about Angi is that many contractors entered the platform ten years ago and never left. Consequently, their reviews are fundamentally more accurate and reliable when deciding on the roofer, HVAC specialist, plumber, or electrician to complete your job
- Of course, it's free to use for homeowners as Angie derives all its revenue from contractor membership and lead-generating fees
Directorii
Directorii is a smaller entity than the two described above but is highly competitive in its selected categories. Headed by Dimitry Lipinskiy - originally a successful roofer - its niche position in the latter sector is notable. They are also ahead of the curve in gutter repair, HVAC, and windows.- One massive asset in Directorii's corner is its USD20,000 backup per job for shoddy work or notable defects emerging from their referrals.
- Also, this company - like Angi and HomeAdvisor - goes the extra mile to verify its contract member credentials, so you don't have to.
- Directorii operates online in Canada and the US.
- The company pays extra attention to the health and progress of its contractors, creating a good balance between customer and member interests. The net result is that Directorii channels fewer interviews to homeowners - thus avoiding potential confusion. However, all are worthy of consideration.
Thumbtack
The Thumbtack service is free to you as a homeowner. All you have to do is describe your project on their site, and they'll send you the contractor quotes it thinks fit your needs best. Thumbtack monetizes on a leads-for-pay system the minute you respond to the referrals - billing contractors even if you choose not to go with any of them.Here is where the Thumbtack deviates from the three described above. Contractor referrals arrive with:
- No background check for:
- Criminal activity
- Creditworthiness
- Licenses and compliance
- Local offices
- Zero Thumbtack guarantees that the work quality will ultimately be acceptable
- Which means all the necessary due diligence is over to you
Another advantage of Thumbtack is that it does offer a wide range of miscellaneous services. These include house cleaning, interior painting, local moving, weddings, to mention a few.
Bark.com
Bark, launched in 2014, offers home improvement plus other diversified options to local markets and is free to homeowners. Unfortunately, like Thumbtack, it provides no backup research on the referrals they send your way. So, if things go wrong, don't expect Bark to resolve any disputes!Nonetheless, if you are willing to spend time reviewing and researching candidates, good connections are likely to occur. The compelling features boil down to Bark being best-suited for smaller jobs that:
- Cover a wide range of activities.
- Are uniquely ahead of most in the home digital and IT arena.
- Homeowners can access via a straightforward and seamless app interface.
Porch
Free to homeowners like all the others described above. However, this platform is a middle-roader falling between Angi and Thumbtack from a verification viewpoint. The Porch team background checks contractors in some areas, but not all. Therefore, you need to ascertain if their due diligence applies to your neighborhood or not. Also, note:- There's no money guarantee, but Porch has a strong BBB affiliation. The latter affords customers some peace of mind.
- The company has a valuable partnership arrangement with Lowes, promoting Porch contractors in-store.
Houzz
Again, Hozz is free to homeowners and a compelling referral choice for home renovations and improvements. The platform functions along the same lines as Facebook, inviting contractors to create business profiles with reviews and testimonials. However, the most prominent of the latter are those that advertise with engaging ads.Interactive apps within Houzz allow contractors and homeowners to visualize and develop ideas together. There's no doubt that the marketplace appeals to those looking for contemporary concepts and the latest fashions. Interior decorators and renovators with architectural capabilities tend to gain traction in Houzz. So do roofers specializing in modern metal materials.
Homeowners should appreciate that Houzz is an advertising site with a contractor pay-per-view model. The company does not scrutinize advertisers' history, license compliance, local offices, or financial stability. Therefore, it also doesn't guarantee contractors' work. As a result, take reviews on the site with a grain of salt, and don't spare any effort in doing your own due diligence.
Yelp
One hundred and forty-seven million visitors annually can't be wrong, right? But, of course, they can and often are. Like Houzz, Yelp is an advertising platform for contractors, although the reviews on the site tend to be well balanced and reliable. While homeowners browse the marketplace for free, there's no information you can take as gospel. Yelp has no filter other than honest reviews, which may or may not appear.The marketplace is more general and not uniquely zoned into renovations and fashion upgrades (compared to Houzz). Still, it's a fantastic platform with lots of variety. Take note of contractors with good reviews on Yelp as one of the more reliable guidelines.
GAF Directory
Contracting for roof repairs, replacement, or new construction is a vast arena where lots can go expensively wrong if you hire the wrong people. We see under Directorii above that it's a unique field and a platform for peace of mind when looking for skilled artisans in this crucial vertical. Alongside them, GAF is a mainstream US roofing materials manufacturer that, through its directory, has assembled an "army" of roofers certified to install their product.GAF directory should create significant peace of mind on two counts:
a. Accessing a quality product - GAF shingles.
b. Receiving attention according to the GAF code of conduct. However, the latter carries a waiver that's prominently displayed on the GAF site, as follows:
i. "Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits... for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products."
c. From the above, it's evident that there are extended warranties available. One of the foremost GAF contractors describes two of the principal benefits as follows:
i. A factory inspection of your finished roof after a replacement or new construction.
ii. "A Lifetime Warranty (50 Years) on roof systems with an optional 25 years workmanship warranty. In addition, all roof replacements come with a 2-year work quality warranty."
One can see that GAF and Directorii above have focused on injecting integrity, accountability, and backup in an industry where customer dissatisfaction has been rife.
Atlas Roofing
This is another roofing material manufacturer promoting contractors that use its product. They offer significant warranties on the shingles they supply and recommend independent contractors to install them. However, they underline that there are no guarantees or warranties around the quality of installations. Furthermore, they clarify that they will not participate in any such disputes.Atlas intimates that any contractors they recommend are licensed and approved by them, but it's a far stretch from the Directorii and GAF undertakings. Therefore, we suggest conducting thorough due diligence of any contractor coming to you from under the Atlas umbrella.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, we summarize the descriptions above as follows:i. Four marketplaces offer background checks PLUS substantial guarantees to homeowners for work quality and protection against shoddy results: They are:
- HomeAdvisor
- Angi
- Directorii
- GAF Directory
ii. Conversely, the following platforms offer zero background checks or work guarantees, requiring homeowners to do their own due diligence:
- Bark
- Thumbtack
- Houzz
- Yelp
iii. One contractor offers background checks only (i.e., no guarantees):
- Atlas
iv. A middle-ground company provides background checks in some areas, no guarantees, and BBB recourse
- Porch
v. Platforms with comprehensive resources in the broad home improvement category:
- HomeAdvisor
- Angi
- Houzz
- Porch
- Yelp
vi. Marketplaces with deep resources but a narrow focus in home improvement:
- Directorii - Roofing, Gutters, HVAC, Windows
- GAF - Roofing
- Atlas - Roofing
vii. Entities with reach into miscellaneous categories outside home improvement:
- Thumbtack
- Bark
