HouseFix – The Homeowner’s Helper

HouseFix is a tool that homeowners can use to keep track of virtually everything going on under their roofs. From remodeling projects to mortgage payments, HouseFix gives people a central space online where they can store records about the contractors they’ve worked with, the payments they’ve made, and the repairs they plan on making in the future.

Creating an account with HouseFix requires a number of steps, but you can expedite the process by signing in through an external provider like Facebook, Twitter, or Google and then entering your home address and contact information by hand. Since you just signed up for an account, your dashboard page will probably be fairly empty the first time you view it. Get started adding information and bulking up your profile by clicking “My Home” and “+ Start new project” or “+ Add new fact.” The facts you’ll want to add about your home include things like past remodeling projects, deeds, mortgage records, and receipts for any expensive appliances you’ve bought since moving in. Click the “+ Start new project” icon to add new projects that you’re thinking about tackling – like painting, finishing the basement, or re-roofing the house. Once you’ve uploaded a few basic details about your plans, HouseFix will encourage you to select a contractor from its list to bid on the project. If you decide to make your project “public,” then any interested contractor can contact you with a bid or a proposal. Otherwise, you’ll only be contacted by the contractors you select.

For contractors, HouseFix is an excellent way to gain new clients. Rather than spending thousands on marketing costs with a low return on investment, contractors who use HouseFix can sit back and wait for homeowners to come to them. HouseFix is an excellent way to bring homeowners and contractors together in a secure environment where they can discuss and negotiate projects on their own terms and their own schedules.

Practical Uses:

• Find a roofing contractor with experience working on homes in your area
• Get in touch with the contractor who worked on your last remodeling project
• Download the warranty if a new appliance starts malfunctioning
• See how much more you owe on your mortgage

Insider Tips:

• Users can share information about contractors they’ve used with people in their networks
• Each contractor is given a HouseFix Score based on his trustworthiness
• Add photos of a potential project to get a more accurate bid from contractors
• See what projects other people in your neighborhood are working on

What we liked:

• Homeowners can keep all their important documentation in one place
• Sellers can pass on the information they’ve stored on HouseFix to the future owners of their homes
• Homeowners can sit back and as let contractors come to them
• Contractors get access to potential leads from people in their cities

What we didn’t like:

• The number of participating contractors varies by area, and some cities have very little participation at the current time

Alternatives:

• Angie’s List – http://www.angieslist.com
• RedBeacon – http://www.redbeacon.com
• ServiceMagic – http://www.servicemagic.com

Company Info:

• Launched: September 2011
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
• Founded by: Tiberius Pircalabu, Adrian Talapan, and Cristian Sulea
• Web site: http://www.housefix.com

Costs:

• Free