Handy Review – Fast and Competitive Prices for Local Professionals

As I age, it feels like life keeps getting busier.

Between soccer games, kids events, work, church, and whatever else our family of five has going on, there never seems to be enough time to do many things on our projects list.

Having someone come in to help with specific “around the house” tasks can make it easier to accomplish my honey-do list or to spend more time with my wife and kids.  But how do I find someone that will do a good job?

That is where Handy.com makes it much easier than calling every name that pops up in your Google search.

How does Handy.com Work?

Handy.com connects you to contractors and professionals in your area.  The interface is straightforward and easy to use.  With any service they have, all you have to do is:

• Select your service
• Enter your zip code
• Select the size of the job (number of hours)
• Date and time
• Click the “Get a Price” button

You will then be connected with a professional in less than one minute.

All professionals are vetted with background checks, and Handy.com handles the pricing on their end.

Book a professional with Handy>>

Services Offered

Handy offers you access to professionals in a wide variety of services.  Each of the categories below can break down into more detailed service.

Home Cleaning

Handy got its start helping people to connect to home cleaning professionals.  It is no surprise, then, that they have more home cleaning service professionals than any other vertical on their site.

Cleaning Services include:

• Whole home
• Same Day
• Vacation rental
• Maid service
• Kitchen
• Deep Cleaning
• Assembly

Many of these professionals can also do more specific jobs like focusing only on windows or a particular room.

Get 30% off your first cleaning booking at Handy>>

Electronics Setup

If you are one of those people who like electronics but doesn’t have a clue as to how to set them up for the first time, then Handy.com has you covered. Their listed professionals can help you with setting up:

• Wire organization
• Home theater installation
• Wall mounting
• Soundbar setup

You may also be able to get help with computers, but those are not listed on the site.

Plumbing

Plumbing is one aspect of home ownership that people hate. Handy.com professionals are ready to help with:

• Repair/replace faucets
• Fix drains
• Toilet repair

If you are looking to fix a significant plumbing issue, then you may have to go to a licensed plumber, but most people will be more than pleased with the professionals at Handy.

Electrical

I do all my basic electrical work, even rewiring all the lights in my kitchen. If you aren’t comfortable with a little shock every once in a while, you can use Handy to find someone to help with:

• Bath/Ceiling fan installation
• Light fixtures
• Garbage disposals
• Outlet installation
• Security and smart home installation

Once again, you can get someone who is licensed and can help with more significant projects.

Painting

I hate painting. When we have done it, my wife usually handles the more detail work.  Handy has a great lineup of painting help including:

• Accent Walls
• Baseboards
• Doors
• Exterior painting
• Interior painting
• Molding

Moving

Moving is super stressful.  You can relieve some of that stress by using Handy for these moving services:

• Moving help
• Move in cleaning
• Move out cleaning

Yard Work

I know a bunch of people who have terrible allergies, and as soon as they could hire out some of these services:

• Lawn care
• Yard cleanup
• Assemble outdoor furniture

Shopping

Handy is not as well known for this part of their site, but they offer an entire shopping section for home goods. This includes discounted prices on:

• Furniture for all rooms
• Office furniture
• Lighting
• Wall Decor
• Window unit A/C
• Smart Home equipment

These offerings put them in direct competition for other home improvement websites like Houzz and Wayfair

Shop or sign up for services at Handy.com>>

How Handy.com can Save You Money

How to save money is always the baseline question when using an aggregator of services.  Handy gives you a marketplace of professionals that have been screened and have a satisfaction guarantee.

They also check to make sure that prices they are offering those professionals are competitive.  Also, when you get a price, as long as the job you described is correct, you are locked in for that job.  So, now up-charging for “unforeseen” problems.

Finally, Handy has a 30% discount for anyone booking their first cleaning service.

Company History

Handy.com was founded in 2012 under the brand name Handybook.  This makes them a veteran company by Internet standards.

Both of the founders are originally from Europe and came to the United States to attend Harvard Business school. While there they realized there was a gap in the market to help people find competent and trustworthy professionals to help with home and investment property repairs.

Over the years they have refined the process and gotten it all down to a 60-second process. Today Handy is one of the top platforms for connecting property owners to tradespeople.

Scholarship

Handy offers a $1,000 scholarship to anyone that wants to apply as long as they are in high school, university, college, or a trade school to apply.

You have to shoot a short video and submit it to YoutTube. The submission deadline for 2018 ended in August, and we will be keeping a lookout to see if they continue the same scholarship for 2019.

Alternatives

Handy.com does have some competitors in the online home hiring

HomeAdvisor

HomeAdvisor is the largest of all the sites as far as traffic. They have a long history and an extensive network of professionals.

The one downside of HomeAdvisor is they do sell your personal information.

Angie’s list

While Angie’s List is the oldest of all the Handy Alternatives, they were purchased by the parent company of HomeAdvisor, IAC.

This means that Angie’s List may end up with the same policy of selling your info.

Porch

Porch differs itself from others in this section by allowing homeowners to post their jobs and having contractors bid on the projects.

With that in mind, they are more of a free for all site with a little less oversight of the contractors and homeowners on their platform.

Bark.com

Bark is the newest service in the home services arena. They started service in 2014 and focused mainly on web services. The site has expanded and has a viable home improvement section.

Since contractors are given your name, you have little control over the contractors who contact you.

Pros

The main advantages of Handy include:

• Super simple interface
• Lightning fast booking
• Booking on your schedule
• All professionals are vetted
• Happiness Guarantee

Cons

• Don’t have professionals in all areas
• A little light on services that are not cleaning oriented
• No price comparison process to check the best rates

Handy.com Review Bottom Line

If you are someone who needs a reasonable price on a competent professional to work on your home, but do not want to deal with contacting multiple contractors to do your own vetting, then Handy is a great option.

The interface is easy to use and SUPER fast at connecting you with one of their contractors.

The only real drawbacks are that the service is still growing and don’t give you the option to compare service providers in your area.

Other than that, Handy.com is a solid option and will work great for anyone.

Sign up for Handy.com>>