Just Ask Angie

People are always asking me for suggestions about contractors to help stop a leaky roof, unplug a stopped drain, or cut down a dead tree. And while I do have the names of many workers who have done well by me and my clients, I am terrified to share their names. In many years of helping sellers get their homes ready for the market, I’ve seen good contractors go bad, sometimes almost overnight. And if I recommended them, it reflects badly on me.

So I was absolutely thrilled to hear that "Angie’s List" has come to Washington. To find them, just go to www.angieslist.com. If you sign up before April 30th, you get a year free! After that, there is a charge of $51 per year.

They describe themselves as a "word of mouth network of consumers" who join up and share information about their contractor experiences. They garner information not only from subscribers, but also using resourses like Consumer Checkbook and the Better Business Bureau. They were started out in Columbus, Ohio in 1995 and have expanded to 37 cities.

It’s not totally clear to me how contractors get on the list in the first place. They don’t pay or advertise, and presumably they have to wait until a happy (or unhappy) customer fills out a report. Once listed, they are graded by each customer who uses them. The grade (between A down to F) and other information are included in a report you can get on line.

So, if you have someone you are thinking of using, you can go the Angie and see if they are already listed. Or, if you are looking for names of contractors to interview for your job, you can get the names and their grades off the list.

I was really blown away by the number of categories they have. Start off with the usual plumbers, roofers, and electricians. Then, you can find pet groomers and pest removers. You can find someone to paint your house – either Benjamin Moore or a mural for your dining room. They will help you find hurricane shutters or hurricane insurance.

Because Angie is relatively new to Washington, some of the grades are based on one or two reports. Even so, the information is much more useful than what you’ll find in the yellow pages.

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