Service Magic Referral, Good?

Parent Cafe
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<p>[ServiceMagic.com</a> | Get Matched to Top-Rated Remodelers, Plumbers & More](<a href=“http://www.servicemagic.com/]ServiceMagic.com”>http://www.servicemagic.com/)</p>

<p>When I went throught the yellow pages, I came upon many ads were placed by Service Magic. Anyone had experiences with their referrals?</p>

<p>I’ve learned that for each of their referrals they charge like $50-75, so when the sales person came to do the estimate they are a bit pushy. One of their referral bid a small paint job way to high, so I think they are over priced.</p>

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<p>My girlfriend swears by “Angie’s List” [Doctor</a> Reviews & Contractors Ratings - Find a Doctor or General Contractor | Angie’s List](<a href=“http://www.angieslist.com/]Doctor”>http://www.angieslist.com/) but I’ve not had reason to try them yet. If you own your home and are still in touch with your realtor or home inspector, that person may have a list of painters, etc. that do good work and are reasonably priced.</p>

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<p>I swear AT Angie’s List. When I last had a job bid out, the “Angie’s List” contractors were all much higher priced than the non-Angie’s List contractors, and several turned out not to be local at all. Found a much better local firm through talking with friends that had work done – quality work, fair price (not the lowest, but fair). Angie’s List may have started as something good, but it is a sales gimmick at this point. Buyer beware.</p>

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<p>I check YELP’s ratings AND comments. It has been a pretty good reflection.</p>

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<p>artloverplus, we went through Service Magic to find a guy to do the finish work in a large addition project (new office, garage, bedroom and basement). It turns out he was pretty good at tile, but HORRIBLE at drywall finishing. I’m not very picky, but I still cringe when I see the poor quality of workmanship. And he was slow, slow, slow. My husband did call references, and they were OK. Anyway, we won’t use Service Magic again. I think Angie’s List is the way to go.</p>

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<p>I use Yelp with a cup full of salt</p>

<p>

[Is</a> Yelp Fair to Businesses? | PCWorld Business Center](<a href=“http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/243918/is_yelp_fair_to_businesses.html]Is”>http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/243918/is_yelp_fair_to_businesses.html)</p>

<p>We have a local organization that has been very helpful & accurate. ( we saved thousands of dollars on our roof going with a highly rated company we wouldn’t have known about otherwise)
[Puget</a> Sound Consumers’ CHECKBOOK](<a href=“http://www.checkbook.org/sitemap/Seattle/]Puget”>http://www.checkbook.org/sitemap/Seattle/)</p>

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<p>I had good luck with Service Magic, once with rain gutter repairs and another time with electrical. They were both also competitively priced compared to the non-Service Magic allied businesses (which I discovered when they finally returned my phone calls after the Service Magic referred work had already been completed). I have to believe it can be “hit or miss” with using this service, however. I got lucky twice in a row…</p>

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<p>regarding the painting job. I hired a local guy for $300 while the guy from Service Magic Referral bid $900… I could have done it better for $50 myself, if I don’t have to climb 25 feet in the air. I guess he had to earn his $50 referral fee for unsuccessful referrals from the jobs he won. It might be different if the job was $10,000.</p>