Choosing the Right Company is Important
I have run a home service company in Hudsonville, Michigan for the last seven years, and I have constantly heard comments like: “Oh, you actually answer the phone.” “Wow, you guys show up on time.” “You guys do what you say you are going to do.” Here’s an honest take at what it takes to find a reliable home service company.
I was always super surprised by these comments until last spring, when it became my turn to have a service done at my home. I always felt like answering the phone, showing up on time, and completing the services you were hired to do was a basic standard. It felt like I was begging companies just to give me a quote or try to have them come out to my house. I filled out forms on websites, left voicemails – and never received a response. I was absolutely baffled.
Hiring the wrong company can often lead to a lot of stress, and sometimes end up with unexpected costs. Hiring a company that does not end up showing up to do the job can leave you scrambling to find a company who will show up in order to meet potential deadlines. Hiring a company who does not have insurance may leave you with damage that you need to repair out of pocket.
It can feel like a daunting task to hire a home service company. The options feel endless – but do not stress. As someone who has run a home service company that services Hudsonville, Jenison, Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas for the last seven years, I believe I know exactly what to look for. Let me show you a few tricks to hiring a good home service company wherever you may live!
5 Tricks to Help You Choose the Right Company
Trick 1: Google Reviews
The place that I start when looking for a good home service company in Ottawa County is on Google. Every good company that I know has a Google Business Profile that you can easily read their reviews.
Do not just look at the rating, 4.5 stars can look good on the surface but you need to dig deeper. The true story is hidden in the details.
- First, filter the reviews by “most recent.” This will tell you exactly what kind of service they have been providing to their customers in the recent months. See what their customers are saying right now!
- Next, filter the reviews by “lowest.”
Ask yourself a few questions as you look through these reviews:
- Were any of these reviews recent?
- Was the customer confused?
- How did the business respond to the review?
- Did the business try to make things right?
Every company is bound to receive a bad review eventually. How the business handles the review can really tell you a lot. If the business genuinely displays that they were willing to make things right with the customer, this shows true integrity. You can usually tell pretty quickly whether the situation was a difficult customer or a business that dropped the ball. The tone of the interaction tells you all that you need to know.
Trick 2: Communication is Key
The cliche saying “communication is key” could not be any more true. Communication is everything when it comes to good service.
Ask yourself these questions to evaluate the communication that has taken place:
- Did they answer the phone when you called?
- If you filled out a form on their website, did they respond to the form within 1 business day?
- Is the quote clearly written?
- Did they answer all of your questions?
- Did they talk to you about what to expect?
The way that a company communicates with you tells you a lot about that company. From the moment that you contact them, pay attention to the way that they communicate. If they are able to give a well written quote, explain what to expect, and answer a few questions – sign me up!
Trick 3: Verify Insurance
This one is very simple – verify insurance. All you need to do is ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) and the business can have their insurance agent email you over a copy.
Did you know that if a company does not have insurance, you are liable if one of their employees gets hurt while working on your property?
Insurance protects you, your property, and the business in case anything goes wrong. 99% of the time it will never come into play but save yourself the stress. Verify insurance and have peace of mind that you are protected.
Trick 4: Find What Makes Them Unique
If you have received multiple quotes, what makes each company different? Start comparing and looking for what could make a company stand out over another company. Have you heard the saying “You get what you pay for?” You cannot be the cheapest and do the best work. However, this does not mean that the most expensive is automatically the best option. Look for the value that the home service company is providing that may be different from other quotes that you have received.
Check out your quote. Is it a professional system that they are using or is it on a Word Doc? Does it contain a warranty or guarantee? We provide a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and a 48-hour Rain Guarantee because we know clients will be satisfied with our work! If a company is willing to put a guarantee behind their work, it means they stand behind it.
Do they appear to have professional equipment? You can likely see this on their website or you may have to explore social media to find out. The equipment that they have can greatly impact the job that they are able to do.
Trick 5: Watch out!
Here are eight red flags to avoid at all costs:
- No Insurance
- No Google Page
- Bad Reviews with Bad Responses
- No Written Estimate
- Wants Cash
- Cheapest
- Unmarked Vehicles
- Can “Start Tomorrow” During Peak Season
Time to Make Your Decision
It is officially time to make your decision. If you have followed these tricks, it’s time to trust your gut! Did they do the simple things right? How did their reviews look? Were they respectful when you called to get a quote? Were they able to answer your questions clearly? Do they have insurance? Did they give you a guarantee? What kind of value are they providing?
If you follow these tricks, I am confident that you will greatly increase your odds of having an awesome experience with the company that you trust to service your home. I really hope this helps you!
If you made it this far and you live in Hudsonville, Jenison, Grandville, Grand Rapids, Holland, or the surrounding areas and you own a home, I would love to have our team wash your windows, siding or gutters! We will answer. We will show up. We will guarantee our work with more guarantees than any other company in our area!
No matter how you reach out, we will provide you with a free quote:
Form: https://pureprocleaning.co/
Phone: 616-201-8282
Email: office@pureprogr.com