Home repairs never come around when you expect them to. You’ll typically find that your appliances work well one day and are suddenly out of service the next. You don’t want to wait long when you’re stuck without a major convenience like a dishwasher or washer and dryer. Other appliances, like a refrigerator or HVAC system, are more than just an inconvenience when they’re broken. They can leave your family without essentials like safe food or a warm home.
If you’re in need of home or appliance repairs, it’s important to find a reliable professional as quickly as possible. You don’t want to waste time in the effort, but you don’t want to give your hard-earned money to a disreputable provider, either. Try these sources for valuable connections to quality home repair services in your area.
Your Home Warranty Provider
When you have a home warranty, the complex process of finding a reliable home repair service is handled for you. Customers who are covered by a home warranty have carefully vetted repair services at their fingertips.
The technicians that work with us at Choice Home Warranty are highly trusted. We screen local service providers to connect customers with top-quality service professionals who are knowledgeable and affordable. The obvious benefit of working with a service technician through a home warranty is the ease of access. There’s no research or comparison shopping involved, which is perfect for those with a busy schedule. You simply call your home warranty provider and a service provider will contact you shortly after to make an appointment.
Though you’ll sacrifice a small measure of control in the selection process, the ease of use is well worth it for most customers. Keep in mind that your home warranty not only helps you find a service provider, it also helps pay for their services, so your out-of-pocket expenses are minimal.
Friends and Neighbors
Recommendations from friends and neighbors are the most popular source of information for today’s consumers. If you’re in need of home repair services, consider asking your neighbor who they used for their admirable tree-trimming service, or see if your sister was satisfied with the plumber she had to call last month.
Personal recommendations can clue you in not only to good providers, but to those that you need to watch out for as well. A warning to stay away from a particular company is just as valuable as a recommendation about who you should use.
Be careful about who you ask for recommendations so you don’t end up with a personal referral to a disreputable friend of a friend. Not only that but if you have to fire your neighbor’s cousin, it could cause bad feelings in the neighborhood. Choose friends and neighbors who are known to be smart, honest, and reputable.
Social Media
The social media landscape offers an open forum for customers to share their service experiences with one another. If you have a few top choices that you’re considering for service professionals, check out their mentions on social media or even post a request for recommendations. Just like with personal referrals, recommendations from friends and neighbors on social media can lead to disputes if the recommendation doesn’t work out so take care to check neutral sources as well.
Some popular social media sites that are particularly valuable for home service technician references are:
- Next Door – private network for neighborhoods
- Facebook – friends network but can include larger community
- Twitter – social network generally including a wider audience than Facebook
- Yelp – social network of reviewers
- Foursquare – local directory site that makes a game of sharing activities and reviews with friends
If you see a slew of negative reports on a home repair service that follows a common trend, you should probably steer clear of them. Keep in mind that people are more likely to post about a company when they’re upset, and upset customers may exaggerate their experiences. Satisfied customers who find the service perfectly adequate often neglect to post a review at all so even bad reviews can tell you a lot about a service.
Consumer Review Sites
Consumer review sites like Angie’s List are another popular source of recommendations, with 66 percent of consumers in the Nielsen survey saying they trust online consumer opinions. Like social media posts, these reviews give you an idea of what others are saying. Though they’re not as reliable as people that you know personally, these reviewers will give you a larger sampling of opinions than what you’re likely to get with family and friends. Some popular consumer review sites include:
- Angie’s List – members-only business directory with reviews and recommendations
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) – national business directory gives trust scores to businesses based on complaints
- Home Advisor – contractor search engine connects you with contractors and provides reviews
- Porch – contractor search engine connects you with contractors and provides reviews
One benefit of consumer review sites over social posts is that they vet their reviewers more strictly so you’re more likely to get authentic information. This service comes at a cost. You may need to sign up for a membership and pay a fee to read the posts. Free sites exist but since contractors pay to be listed, your choices may be limited.
Home Appliance and Supply Stores
Home appliance and home supply stores often have working relationships with local service providers. If you drop by the customer service desk, you might get a handy list of local professionals who can help you out. Major stores that offer referrals include:
- Lowes
- Home Depot
- Sears
- Amazon
- Support Departments of most Appliance Brands such as
The problem with this type of list is that the companies often buy their inclusion. The home appliance store may recommend them not because they provide top-notch service, but rather because they refer business back to the store or pay an advertising fee to get business through this marketing relationship. This doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with the company – just that you should look for reviews or ask friends before hiring them.
Another good way to get recommendations while you’re in a home appliance store is to ask an assistant who’s working on the floor. Strike up a friendly conversation and ask the individual for their personal recommendations.
If you want to minimize the complexities and hassle of finding a good home service provider, sign up for a home warranty so your repairs are easy to handle as soon as they pop up. With a comprehensive home warranty plan, you can rest easy knowing the expense and challenge of arranging home repairs is already taken care of.
