Was thinking of a year subscription for about 7$. Is it even worth this trivial amount?
I have, and it’s been worth it I think. It’s probably better in a large metro area than a really rural one, and it was definitely helpful when we moved to a new state and needed big things like a new roof and plumbing repair.
It’s one of those things that just about the time I start to think “why am I paying for this again?” something blows up or craps out and I need specialist help fast.
I just signed up, because we just bought a house that needs some work here and there that I’m not comfortable doing (plumbing gas, for one). I haven’t used it yet, though. Just figured for basically free, I get reviews and can choose service providers that other people have rated highly instead of trying to do the research myself or taking a shot in the dark.
I signed up after a tree hit my house. It had some use, but the people I went with did an excellent job and were only rated B+. Ultimately, I chose them not for the Angie’s list rating, but from picking them out from the phone book and meeting with the owner, who clearly knew what he was doing and wanted to do the job right.
Another company was rated A+, but would have charged as much for replacing the windows as the company I went with charged for replacing the windows, siding, and roof.
It’s probably worth it to avoid someone who’s rated D or lower, but a lot of this depends on factors impossible to quantify, and difficult to weight. Would you go with a higher rated company that cost twice as much? Remember, too, that the ratings are subjective, so a good contractor can get rated lower for not doing it the way the customer wanted – even if that way was half-assed.
Ultimately, it’s certainly useful, but it can’t be the only source to determine who to choose.
If you have a home that needs work (and eventually they all do) and you don’t have a friend or relative that can fix things or knows who to call for different repairs… yes, it is helpful.
But understand what it is and act accordingly.
The reviews are mostly written by people w/o knowledge of the trade, so they’re seldom reviews of the actual work - ‘nice’ is mentioned alot.
Money magazine did an article on them. They lost a lawsuit for auto-re-enrolling customers at higher rates.
They quoted a Consumers Report article that said “Almost 70 percent of the company’s revenues come from advertising purchased by the service providers being rated… the practice of allowing advertisers with B or better ratings to be pushed to the top of search results as questionable at best. We think the ability of A- and B-rated companies to buy their way to the top of the default search results skews the results."
They also mention their competition; Yelp, Google+ Local, TripAdvisor and Porch.
I’ve had Angies List for a number of years. I’m a pretty handy guy (I replaced the garage door opener and the water heater by myself) but there are things I can’t (or won’t) do.
I have it on an otherwise unused credit card. It keeps that card active and therefor available for emergencies and helps my credit rating.
After I have my roof done, I’ll cancel, at least until another major project comes up.
FYI: those Angie’s List Deals that say they’re going to expire in X days? IME that’s meaningless; in almost all cases, after X days, the deal reappears with a new expiration.
Angie’s List needs your subscription. Stock price is at an all time low. Company has lost money the last 3 years. They are currently looking for a buyer to take them private, but there is little interest. They may not be long for this world.
I subscribed and didn’t find it particularly useful. Be aware (as I wasn’t) that they will automatically renew your subscription at the end of the year unless you contact them to request otherwise.
I’ve used it a few times, all good experiences except for one. A highly-rated plumber installed my kitchen faucet sideways, and with the hot & cold reversed. But aside from him, I’ve gotten great contacts from Angie’s.
I’ve used them to find deals on HVAC maintenance, which has more than paid for the subscription price. As a matter of common sense, I also check online for reviews before committing to hiring someone.
I subscribed in 2005 when I bought my house (single person with no friends in trades, dad who is getting too old to help) and use the service 1-3 times a year. Often I let my friends and relatives use my account to find service.
I recently signed up for like 8 years because the yearly price was ridiculously low compared to 1 year at a time. I was considering cancelling because the yearly price wasn’t worth it but with the extended sign-up price it was.
They arbitrate for you if something goes wrong, so that’s nice. They also have medical provider reviews if you need that sort of thing.
For $7 a year, or at least for $7 for one year, it’s well worth it. Then again, $7 might mean that there’s not much going on in your area and there’s not enough providers on the list to justify more than $7 a year.
But that’s a pretty low price, I’d go for it. I think in my area it was up to like $45/year or something.
I use Yelp instead. It’s free and more entertaining.
Thanks guys! I didn’t even think of Yelp for home repair…I live in Westchester , just north of NYC and we suffer from a plethora of contractors and services and it’s really difficult to weed them out. Anything that’s greater than a shot in the dark is worth a try.
I got a FANTASTIC floor refinisher from there, and also my OB-GYN.
Wow, that a pretty multitalented person!
I’ve both used Angie’s List and Yelp. I don’t bother with the Angie’s List “deals.” Mostly I just want to find people who will show up and do a good job. I’m not a homeowner, but I had some landscaping done at the house I’m renting and found the guy through Angie’s List. He had about 15 reviews and ALL of them were A+. After he did the work, I added my A+ to that. To me that sort of thing is worth a lot more then the minimal cost of AL.
Like I said, Yelp is good, too. Hell, I’ll use any referral system I can to locate someone who will actually 1) show up, 2) give me a decent estimate, 3) do a good job in a timely fashion. Those three things are getting to be rare.
I totally ignore the Angie’s List deals. Prior to using AL, we had two or three really bad experiences with contractors that we pulled from the yellow pages and ended up losing hundreds of dollars trying to fix their mistakes after they disappeared. I’ve never had the tiniest complaint about anyone we found through AL. I’m a huge fan.
I’ve used Angie’s List and Yelp, both to good effect. Angie’s seems more professional, but I’ve had just as good luck with either.
Come to think of it, I’ve had tradesmen give me a “Yelp discount” when I mention I found them there, but never gotten an “Angie’s List discount.”
Be aware that when you leave a review, the contractor who you are reviewing will know its you.
There is a nice old lady across the street who got taken advantage of by a roof contractor from Angie’s. The guy didn’t even pull a permit for the job (a must in California), left debris in her yard and charged her for things she didn’t ask for or need.
She left an unflattering review about his crappy job on Angie’s and the next thing she knows is that this guy is knocking on her door. He starts saying that she is damaging his reputation and interfering with his right to make a living. The guy finally left, but I told her that she should have called the police.
Company has lost money every single year it’s been in business. 15+ years.
I’m a contractor with an A rating, and I hate Angie"s list. The final straw was when they asked me for my customer list.
Not sure how happy people would be if that was common knowledge.
If you’re got stock in it, sell. Us contractors are 70% of revenue, and there has been talk at the national level of boycotting.
That being said, if you haven"t a clue, it’s not a bad resource.