servicemagic.com Review

Hiring a contractor to do work around your home can be fraught with peril. It seems like there are so many shoddy operations out there who not only have poor business skills, but they also do a poor job at installing, building, or repairing something. One option to finding a reputable contractor is to use ServiceMagic.com.

ServiceMagic.com is an internet-based service that matches contractors to people who need a particular project completed. The contractors who sign-up with ServiceMagic.com must pass a 10-point inspection screening process for things like verifying licenses, confirming the business' operations, insurance, and lack of lawsuits against them. People who have used the contractor in the past through ServiceMagic.com will submit ratings (e.g. Did they do the job right, did they arrive on time, etc...)

The first time I tried using this service I searched for someone to install a microwave oven over a stove, which also required removing an old vent hood. There were no contractors listed for this specific service, so I ended up hiring a handyman a friend recommended.

A few months later I needed a plumber to fix a few minor drips, install a new sink, and install some upgraded fixtures in a bathroom.  After submitting the request through ServiceMagic.com I got 3 quick phone calls from contractors wanting to do the job. I glanced at their service ratings and picked the one who seemed the most friendly and who also had a good rating, and didn't charge too much (one hung up when I told him these were just small plumbing jobs).

In this case the plumber arrived on time, was friendly, and seemingly did everything right. He asked me if I would quickly submit my rating for the job since it would help him with his business, so I did, giving him pretty good ratings across the board. Unfortunately some of the work he did turned out to be substandard and I had to call him back to fix a persistent leak and reapply plumbers putty to the sink drainpipes. He had also left some dirty fingerprints on the wall (which I had not seen right away).

Overall I didn't think I found contractors through ServiceMagic.com that were any better than getting via a friend's recommendation. I felt hoodwinked on the issue of submitting my rating (which you cannot go back and update and actually cannot even see once entered, unless you were to submit a new request). Also, one of the plumbers that contacted me had a high price and the other was not interested in a small-potatoes job. I would not say your should avoid ServiceMagic.com altogether, but just realize that the whole service may be used by contractors who are not getting a sufficient amount of business by other means.