Asking for a Contractor Recommendation via Social Media? What you need to know first and how to avoid pitfalls



Baltimore, MD: We've all encountered it. You open Facebook or another social platform and see someone asking for a recommendation for a service. Typically a handyman, plumber,  etc (we will keep it to Home Improvement for this article).

Over the next few hours your timeline will fill with the posting person's friends and neighbors posting then, passively arguing whose contractor is better. Want to start a real debate? Forget politics, ask for a plumber instead. See below:

Recommendation #1: "Call Tom, his number is 410-555-5555"
Recommendation #2: "Try Jim, his number is 443-555-5555, he did our work last year, he is great"
Recommendation #3: "Hey, last year I used Frank, he did a great job. He was prompt, fair priced, honest, sincere, etc. etc. etc."

Notice a pattern? The first person usually throws the minimum info out, then it progresses with more detail.

*Side note- I once saw a women recommend her roofer with a 5 paragraph dossier. When I had my contracting company I received praises from customers. Something that long may have raised the eyebrow of my wife and I suspect this was not an honest recommendation.


Here is why:
There is a psychology behind online recommendations and more often than not- you're getting what you paid for (which is nothing).

Studies have shown that as much as 85% of online service recommendation are NOT actually made because the recommended person received a great service. The truth is a majority of responses are for "Self Affirmation".  (We've all done, I admit doing it myself).

Why? 33% of American homeowners replied that finding the right handyman or professional is the toughest part of any home improvement projects.  The reason is the conflicting nature and uncertainty of information that can be found in various places.

Once we make a choice, we want to think we found the best deal and since you asked, we are asking you to affirm this by hiring my handyman.

*(let's face it- your local handyman is good- "the best"? probably a stretch because that title goes to Bob Villa and you didn't hire Bob Villa).

They aren't saying "hire my guy because he is (literally) the best". They are figuratively saying "hire my guy. If you do it will prove that I made the right decision before". (Don't believe me, make a recommendation and then see how you feel when your reply is ignored or not chosen- I've done this and it feels like rejection).

Then, what happens when 4 friends make a recommendation and you can only choose one? Because of this Self-Affirmation rule, you've basically just told 3 other people that you found a better option-how is that for sour grapes!

Our Advice: Asking for a recommendation is better left for direct contact with someone you know and trust. Blindly turning online to your "nextdoor" community is only an avenue for a sales pitch and in our opinion, this is NOT proper research. Most of that information is unverified.

Online reviews can be valuable but make sure to find out how they were collected (i.e.- we only allow VERIFIED transactions to be rated on EFynch. Many sites  blindly asks  to rate their "trusted pros", they never check if the work was completed and opens the door for fake reviews).

In the end- remember that your neighbor probably did not hire "THE BEST HANDYMAN EVER" so finding an acceptable candidate who meets your expectations (pricing, experience, efficiency, schedule, etc.) is the most important goal.


POST YOUR NEXT HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR FREE AT EFYNCH.COM. Privacy Protected- we never sell your information or give it to 3rd parties and you can save up to 40% on each project plus find the local/ independent pro already working in your neighborhood.  Click here.




This article is being shared by EFynch.com- a Baltimore Based Handyman and Homeowner community. It is meant to provide advice for conversational purposes and is not a solicitation to do physical work to your property. EFynch is your handyman and contractor resource in the Maryland, Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia regions. EFynch is a software platform that shares information and we advise you to speak with a licensed contractor or handyman prior to doing any work on your home.

Popular posts from this blog

The Big Fuzzy Bumble Bee- What are they? Do they Hurt? How to Kill them.

Image
 EFynch is a handyman and homeowner community board based in Baltimore, Maryland. We provide advice, guidance, and help facilitate communications so, as a homeowner, you can manage any project like a pro! (Baltimore, MD ) Every spring my home is flooded with big, bumbling, furry, clumsy bees. It literally looks like the early stages of some biblical catastrophe. When I first saw them, I didn't know what to do. They'd swarm, swoop, dive, and worst of all- they were living behind my gutters and in my deck digging holes in the wood! I immediately turned to social media where, just as expected, I received a host of conflicting information in which each respondent was more sure than the previous one. So, I rolled up my sleeves, put on my reading glasses and after intense research I compiled the information below and I hope this helps. Grab your tennis rackets and a can of WD-40, because we're in for a wild safari! 1. What are they? They are commonly known as wood ...
Read more

Shovel your driveway for convenience. Shovel the sidewalk or be FINED!

Image
By: Teris Pantazes of EFynch.com Timonium, MD: After every snowstorm you will ultimately hear the scrape of distant shovels and snowblowers. These are your good neighbors who are out clearing their driveways in order to avoid busting their Phisteris' or just taking a terrible slip.  But I have to tell you, it doesn't end there. As a dog owner (actually, 2 mutts in my household!), I take them out for an stroll every evening. I constantly encounter a lack of sidewalk clearing and because I don't want to be a nosy neighbor, I politely trudge through the snow risking my own demise. Therein lies a problem because without resolution, you are opening yourself to fines and even worse, HOMEOWNER LIABILITY. I live in Baltimore County. But, I have also managed properties in Prince George's, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, and Washington D.C.  I can tell you without any hesitation of doubt that within each and these jurisdictions- THE SIDEWALK IS THE HOMEOWNERS ...
Read more

Why you should hire a licensed tv installer to mount your flatscreen

Image
 There are many reasons why you should hire a licensed professional to perform any home improvement work in your home and mounting your tv’s are not exception. Here is a video from Baltimore TV Mount and Maryland TV mount going over the reason why.  Hope this helps all those homeowners and tenants looking to prepare for the big game on Sunday with a new big screen tv!  Remember, we are also starting to help those in Salt Lake City and Denver .
Read more