Whether it’s discovering the city’s best tacos or reading a product review before typing in your credit card information, reviews empower us to make informed decisions. We all know the importance of opening up our computers and doing a little research beforehand. And, since every review site has ‘their own niche market’ it makes it easy to find what we’re looking for.
We read Yelp reviews to discover good eats, TripAdvisor reviews to travel the world, and Glassdoor reviews to understand what it’s like to work for a company. You may even use Google reviews to see if the local grocery store is open on holidays. It’s a proven fact that the majority of consumers read reviews before making a purchase, dining out, or trying a new establishment.
When it comes to hiring for your next home improvement project, it’s just as important. When we asked homeowners if they read reviews before a hire or purchase, 99% said, “Yes!” Reviews not only guide you to the best service professionals in your area, but they help local businesses grow, and better understand their client’s needs.
How Reviews Will Help You Find Your Go-To Pro
We’ve all been there. You’ve got your next home improvement project in mind, but don’t know the best person to do it. Whether it’s hiring a general contractor to revamp a recently purchased fixer upper or finding a pro to rescue a DIY project gone wrong, there are thousands of reviewed pros on HomeStars you can read about.
Reviews are a great opportunity to understand who your neighbours are hiring, how much they’re paying for projects, and what their overall experiences have been. You’ll also find that each review comes with it’s own story. For example, one homeowner was without heat during the initial 2020 pandemic lockdown. When reading reviews on Natural Choice Heating and Cooling’s HomeStars profile, they felt confident they were hiring safely, during uncertain times. Reviews provide homeowners with a current snapshot of what it’s like to work with a variety of different companies.
Support Local Businesses with your Reviews
When a service professional starts a business, their reputation means the world to them. And, since they’re just starting out, their client list may still be small. One of the best ways to attract new business is to get the word out about the quality services their business can offer.
One of the best ways to support local businesses is to write a review, sharing their services. Not only do reviews help build a local business’ online reputation, but it also puts their name on the map so other homeowners can become potential clients. Even if you didn’t find the service professional on HomeStars, you can still write your local business a review and help grow their business!
Write a Review for a Local Business on HomeStars
If you hired a service professional and haven’t written them a review yet, here’s your opportunity! It’s quick to do and, as mentioned already, it’s a great way to grow a pro’s local business. Read on to get started!
Why Create a HomeStars Profile?
By creating a free account on HomeStars, you’ll be joining a network of service professionals and homeowners across Canada! You can read and write reviews, view job prices, request quotes, and find the best pro for your next project.
To create a free profile, visit HomeStars.com and click Sign Up. You can sign up using:
- Your Email Address
- Your Facebook account
- Your Google account
If you sign up with your email address, you will need to create a password associated with your HomeStars account.
How to Write a Review on HomeStars
Now that you have a HomeStars account, you can easily write a review. Start by visiting HomeStars.com:
- Log In and with your email address, Facebook, or Google account
- Click Write a Review
- Search the Company Name and click on their profile
- Click Write a Review
From here you will:
- Give a Star Rating out of 10
- Title your review
- Add your Postal Code (don’t worry, this won’t be published)
- Provide an Approximate Cost (if uncomfortable, please use a $1 value)
- Check the “I paid for this service” box
- Write Your Story in 30 words or more
- Add a Photo (optional)
- Post Review Anonymously (optional)
Now What?
You’ve created a HomeStars account and written a review for the local business you hired so now what? Every review submitted on HomeStars goes through a rigorous moderation process. Not only is every review run through a complex screening process with numerous fraud detection algorithms, but our Content Integrity Team reads each review to ensure they pass our Review Guidelines. This process usually takes 1-2 business days and you will be updated via email on your review’s status. So, the next time you’re reading a review on HomeStars, just remember that we’ve read it, too!
