Comments on: Angie’s List: Any Good?

By: M. D. Vaden of Oregon

M. D. Vaden of Oregon — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:12:53 +0000

My opinion is not etched in stone yet.

I’ve moved from neutral, to thinking it may be a farce. But one advantage I can see with a fee, is that it adds a commitment hurdle, which may be good. I’d wager that people who are willing to pay a bit of money each month are probably more reliable than average.

So far, I’ve been reviewed once there, and the review is accurate. Not because the review is good and I like it, but because the review matches the references listed at my own website’s background page – many of which are from professionals. And referrals from similar professionals hold a lot of weight.

I think the greater value in Angie’s list will build as reviews multiply. That will show trends, and trends tend to erase the ambiguity of mere opinion.

Cheers,

MDV
Oregon

By: FSBO ads

FSBO ads — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:55:47 +0000

nice… but i don’t know about it. i have never used Angie’s list. At least you know if someone has been a member for a decade, they may not be the absolute cheapest, but they will do what they say.

By: John Small

John Small — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:28:56 +0000

I have found Angie’s List to be the most unreliable company there is. It’s NOT TRUE that they refund your money. Once you join it’s almost impossible to cancel — look at their website: there is NO WAY to cancel online. It has been reported that when you call to cancel, you are kept on HOLD for a very long time. I guess they hope you get tired of waiting.

ONE MORE THING: THEY DO GET PAID BY CONTRACTORS AS WELL AS THEY CHARGE THEM TO STAY ON TOP OF THE LIST. THEY DO NOT VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THE PEOPLE WHO RATE A COMPANY OR WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE WITH THAT COMPANY. THE NEW YORK TIME HAS CALLED THEM “NOTHING MORE THAN A GLORIFIED YELLOW PAGES”…..

Sorry for writing in all caps……I hope that this simply tells you how passionately negative
I feel about this outfit. I hate to see people getting blatantly and arrogantly ripped off because, in my opinion and experience, Angie’s List sucks.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:13:43 +0000

I’ve used Angie’s List for just over a year now, and with the coupons that a lot of repair companies offer, I end up breaking even.
I’ve also found that a lot of the mediocre people I’ve had work on my house have generally mediocre reviews on the site, so it really helps me pin down people who will do exceptional work at a reasonable price.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:09:26 +0000

I’ve had very good luck with Angie’s List. I’ve used them to find handymen to fix some wood rot on my house and install if vinyl flooring in my basement. I’ve used them to find a tree trimmer, chimney cleaner and a PC tech to fix a computer problem. Worth the subscription price, especially to avoid the potential hassle of a botched job by a shady company. Plus if a company does screw up, you can leave a negative review for them to warn others.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:55:50 +0000

The cost of our repairs (at this point) has been really minimal, so there’s a chance that we end up sending more on Angie’s List than actual contractors in a year.

By: Jimmy @ MoneyRemix

Jimmy @ MoneyRemix — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:28:12 +0000

In the grand scheme of things, $25 is a drop in the bucket – especially if you’re getting a significant amount of work done. By skimping and hiring a less proven contractor, you’re sort of rolling the dice…twenty-sided ones.

I hired a contractor that I found on Angie’s List last year to do my kitchen backsplash, and he did an absolutely phenomenal job and came in under his initial quote.

Ordinarily, I’m 100% against registration and setup fees, but in this case, when you’re in a pinch and can’t get a recommendation from a friend or coworker, I’d definitely recommend Angie’s List.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:25:57 +0000

We have that option in US as well. That price makes the property not so profitable any more.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:59:17 +0000

Here in the UK, the easiest way to be an absent landlord is to go to a local estate agent and ask them to rent out the property for you. They then take care of all the problems from handymen to finding new tenants when your current ones leave.
There is, of course, a price to be payed for this service, but for a lot of people it’s worth it for the peace of mind they get.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:41:50 +0000

Sweet! I didn’t know that.

By: CVOS the man

CVOS the man — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:36:52 +0000

Craigslist may be cheaper alternative than angieslist, but angie has an affiliate program that pays out $50.

By: ryan

ryan — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:25:08 +0000

i have never used angies list. i always use the better business bureau, you may want to at least cross reference that. i start with registered members, then get a couple of quotes.

at least you know if someone has been a member for a decade, they may not be the absolute cheapest, but they will do what they say.

By: L.A. Daddy

L.A. Daddy — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:55:00 +0000

I’ve always had good success with ConstructionDeal.com. It’s free and you can choose how many calls you want.

By: Chief Family Officer

Chief Family Officer — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:32:01 +0000

I’m glad to see that comment from Tom. I’ve looked at Angie’s List in the past as well but never used it because of the fee.

By: tom

tom — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:20:34 +0000

I use Angie’s List and I’ll swear by it. It’s completely worth the money you’ll save, and the hassle of finding a reliable service provider. It has a very loyal following and a very detailed rating process. I found my home inspector, my termite inspector, and my hardwood installers all through Angie’s List. It’s the first place I start looking before calling for estimates. Of course you still want to get references, etc.

By: Lev

Lev — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:54:38 +0000

I am in a similar situation – rented out my house when I moved in with my soon to be wife. Although we don’t live far and I don’t mind doing small things like replacing a toilet lever I don’t have time for anything major. I use servicemagic.com – no fees, you describe the job, get 3 matches right away, can check out their ratings, etc.
Regards,
Lev