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Saturday, January 18th
Angi (formerly known as Angie's List), touts that their mission is to help people love their homes by connecting them with pros who love helping out with the work. They've been around since 1995, so they're not new to the business of contractors.
Well known in the industry
Thanks to all the TV ads they used to run, Angi might be one of the main contractor referral sites you've actually heard of. They provide over 500 different home services and say they have over 250k pros in their network.
Easy-to-browse website
Right off the bat, we know we like the functionality of this website. You can search the type of pro you are looking for, browse by category (handyperson, landscaping, plumbing, electrical), or just browse popular home projects. To get started, you'll need to provide your zip code, type of location, the specific type of project you need accomplished, how often you will need it, and a few other relevant details to narrow down the contractors available for the job. Upfront you'll also have to give your address, name, phone number, and email address, which we don't love. Without this, you can't browse available contractors.
Free for browsing
At no cost to you, Angi allows you to use their site to book home services, request quotes, and research their pros. Service professionals pay to advertise their services, which is the primary way Angi makes money. However, if you want access to discounted home services, you can pay for a silver membership ($24.99 annually) or gold membership ($99 annually), but it's not necessary.
Pros must meet Angi standards
For pros to become "Angi Certified”, they must earn an average of 3 stars or higher from customers. They have to hold a current state and local license and pass a background check every 2 years. It is possible for an individual to have a listing without having passed a background check, so be sure to check the special designation next to their name that says "Angi Certified” or "Approved Business.” The company recommends that you still do your own research to make sure you trust the person you are hiring.
Lots of help articles
If you're wanting to try some home DIY projects or just get information on a related topic, Angi does have an extensive collection of articles on any given topic. Want to know the pros and cons of different types of doorknobs? Need step-by-step guidance on laying sod? How about information on painting your garage door? Whatever the topic, Angi likely has some free informational resources to get you started.
Not your best bet
We were surprised to see that not only is Angi not rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but there is a current alert for the business regarding a pattern of complaints against them. Some of the main issues are outdated or false leads that leave customers at a dead end with trying to contact a contractor, unclear contractual terms and details of service, hard-to-reach customer service representatives, and poor quality from contractors that are hired through Angi. Need we mention that they also have 1.99/5 stars from over 2,700 reviewers on the BBB?
A service to avoid
This is not the type of company we recommend taking a gamble on when you're needing an important project done. There are things we like about Angi, but customer feedback speaks for itself, so we have not given this company a high rating. Fortunately, you've got several other reliable ways to connect with contractors: just look at the higher-rated services on our list.
Every homeowner knows that as the years go by, house repairs and projects never end. Not everyone knows how to fix or build everything required to keep a home beautiful and fully functioning. And even if they do, does anyone really have time for all that? Whether it's patching a roof, pouring cement, fixing the plumbing, or bringing a remodel to life, you'll probably "need a guy” to help you out.
Contractors are a great option for home repair and upkeep solutions because you can find one who's an expert in their field and work with them directly to get the job done. You can sidestep big companies that often take longer and charge higher fees. Contractors make their own schedules, have their own equipment, and can work with you on pricing rather than having to charge what a big company might.
Looking online to find a contractor has become very popular in recent years. Scouring the newspapers or looking for yard signs is long a thing of the past. Today there are companies whose sole purpose is to connect homeowners with handymen skilled at all types of crafts. But among these companies there is still a wide variety of features, checks, and services that you should be aware of.
It's important that you're able to build a relationship with your contractor enough that you feel comfortable having them in and around your home. Finding a contractor online allows you to vet your prospective handyman (or woman) by checking their business license, reviews, pricing, previous projects, and more. Using the right platform to find a contractor will give you peace of mind that you're in good hands and will get your job done professionally and efficiently.
There are quite a few companies to help connect you with contractors, so we have provided important information for you to consider when deciding who to go through:
Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best sites to find contractors for hire. We hope this information helps you find the right person to take care of your home projects!
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