Watch out Angie's List.
ClubLocal.com, a new web and app-based service, claims to take much of the angst out of everyday home repairs by vetting services, offering set pricing and guaranteeing the work.Unlike Angie's List, there's no membership fee. ClubLocal gets paid a percentage of the eventual bill if you hire the individuals or companies it sends out. And it sets the price, not the service provider.The venture is the brainchild of ReachLocal, a publicly traded Los Angeles corporation that is using North Texas as a test market -- with Plano as the local base -- before moving on to other cities and regions.Jim Smith, 63, saw a ClubLocal TV commercial in mid-July that promoted its free iPhone app. He downloaded the application and used it to find someone to give an estimate on hanging a new door at his home in an unincorporated area of Tarrant County near Kennedale. An appointment was booked for a couple of days later."They started sending me confirming e-mails," he told the Star-Telegram. "One came the day it was scheduled, and the crew sent me another e-mail that they were on the way. And they showed up on time."ClubLocal promises to have the appointment kept within a two-hour window, knowing through research that having to wait three or four hours is a major consumer peeve, said Cynthia Neiman, the vice president of marketing, and a distant relative of the department store family dynasty.Smith said the two-man crew arrived in an unmarked pickup from Terrell, east of Dallas, looked over the exterior door and frame to be installed, and worked out an estimate on an iPad -- $279, which the homeowner said was a good price.A retired oilfield maintenance equipment manufacturer, Smith said he was satisfied with the work and would try ClubLocal again."So far, 95 percent of all our customers have given us a five-star rating," Neiman said. "We had one complaint on a carpet-cleaning job, and we sent out a different service pro to re-do the service for the customer."On the first call, the customer has no choice about who will show up at the door. But the service assures the member that a "a pre-screened, background-checked, licensed and insured" service professional will come calling, Neiman said.ClubLocal says it can help you find skilled staff to do a handyman chores, electrical work, carpet cleaning, window washing, gutter repair and cleaning, appliance repair, pressure washing, heating and air conditioning work, damage restoration, house cleaning, garage door repair, pool and spa servicing, and locksmith issues."Because we track every customer, if they have another job for the same service, we always try to send back out the same service pro -- provided the customer had a positive experience," Neiman said."We've found that one of the biggest pain points for people is finding/screening a reliable service person. We do that work for the customer."Barry Shlachter, 817-390-7718Twitter: @bshlachterHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
