For folks who are interested in having work done to their home, it can oftentimes be difficult to decide which contractor to trust with their most valuable asset. Do they go with local Kansas City remodelers that their friends or family members may have recommended such as HCS Restoration, or do they go to HomeAdvisor as so many people are doing these days?

This is a great question and one which deserves a very in-depth and detailed look. There are so many things to consider when it comes to something as important as having remodeling or renovation work performed on a home.

It isn’t like buying a pair of shoes that don’t fit right or a piece of furniture that isn’t comfortable. If home improvement tasks aren’t performed properly, the client is usually stuck with them. So to get a better idea of what a contractor like HCS Restoration offers in relation to HomeAdvisor, here are a few things to take into consideration:

LACK OF FEES TO THE CONTRACTOR MEANS BETTER PRICES

No matter what type of project the client may be looking for, anything from home siding to custom decks, HomeAdvisor charges a hefty fee to the contractors for the leads and inquiries that are submitted to their site. One contractor who left a review about them online stated that they were taking nearly 40% of his profits!

The biggest problem with this is the fact that these contractors will usually find a way to pass those costs on to the customer in order to make the project profitable enough for the amount of time spent on it. Using a company like HCS Restoration eliminates those extra costs.

MAJOR RED FLAGS AT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Another negative aspect of using HomeAdvisor is the fact that they have a very alarming profile on the BBB’s website. Here are just a few issues that are plaguing the company at the present time:

• Pattern of Complaints
• Pending Litigation
• Misleading Advertising

As far as the pattern of complaints goes, they cover such specifics as customer service issues, billing issues, product issues, and refund issues. The fact that this is happening in such a large volume should be enough to give any potential clients pause.

The pending litigation is a case in California in which the state is looking to hold them accountable for the fact that they have failed on numerous occasions to weed out technicians with a criminal history, as well as not informing customers of the possibility that their contractor could be one of these individuals.

In regard to the misleading advertisement, that deals mainly with contractors who use their site more so than the homeowners directly. It mostly has to do with the fees that they charge and the quality of the leads that they provide to service companies and technicians.

DEAL DIRECTLY WITH KANSAS CITY REMODELERS, NOT MIDDLEMEN

When you choose to do business with a company like HCS Restoration, you are dealing directly with the management and service people who will be handling your work, not middlemen and third-party representatives.

One of the biggest complaints that customers had when going with HomeAdvisor is that they were constantly getting calls and emails from different people in regards to scheduling and finalizing details.

QUESTIONABLE SCREENING PROCESS

As previously mentioned, one of the problems that HomeAdvisor faces with the Better Business Bureau is the fact that they are facing litigation for failing to adequately address contractors with criminal histories who may be using their service. But their inadequate screening process also extends to the qualifications of the contractors as well.

Issues such as licensing, work history, training, and overall ability to perform the task requested have all been commonly reported. The truth is that a client might think they are getting calls from skilled and experienced Kansas City remodelers when in fact they are dealing with general handymen.

THE ONLINE REVIEWS SAY IT ALL

This number may be shocking, and it might even seem unbelievable, but the simple fact is that anyone can look this up for themselves (and they absolutely should be investigating these things if they are serious about finding a quality renovation company). HomeAdvisor’s online reviews from previous customers come in at nearly 95% negative!

That is a stark contrast with HCS Restoration which has an incredible 4.9 rating out of a possible 5 stars. That statistic alone should be enough to stop anyone in their tracks and give serious thought as to whom they are about to trust with the care of their home.

ALL IN ONE VS. INDIVIDUAL SERVICES

Other things to consider when looking for the right company for the job are what exactly the overall project includes and how much different types of work needs to be done.

For example, if a client just wants an individual task performed such as home siding or replacement windows, chances are they only need one service provider.

But if a larger remodeling or renovation is necessary where numerous different specialties are required, a homeowner might find themselves having to deal with several different companies or individuals who are only qualified to do one portion of the project. This can lead to delays, lack of communication, and even worse, multiple aspects of the project done incorrectly.