Angie’s List

Some things in life are too important to take a gamble on. Your home, your family’s health, and financial decisions are too big to be left to chance.

When making important decisions, we can’t do it on our own. When looking for a contractor to renovate our house, when we need a new pediatrician, or when we would like to purchase a new car, we don’t just crack open the phone book and find the first service available.

We consult others for advice. We ask other family members, friends and neighbors. The problem with this method is that it only gives a small sample size. One person’s experience may be vastly different from another’s. Angie’s List seeks to solve this problem.

How Does Angie’s List Work?

Angie’s List compiles thousands of reviews of services, contractors, and stores from it’s members, which you can access and explore to find the best option for whatever  you need. Here’s how it works as an Angie’s List member. Let’s say you are looking for a contractor to build a new deck for your home.

• Log into Angie’s List and click onto the “Decks and Porches” category.
• Peruse the list of companies in your area that are displayed.
• Review grades that each company has received from people who live near you and have used their service.
• Find the best company, and give them a call! Be sure to mention that you found them through Angie’s List, as they know that you are likely to write a review about their service.

Sign up for Angie’s List today!

Angie’s List does cost a membership fee, but it pales in comparison to the amount you’ll save by finding lower prices and higher quality work. You can sign up for a monthly fee of $5.95 or pay for a 1-4 year membership. If you choose the 4 year membership it ends up being less than $3.50 a month.

The only flaw in Angie’s List is the possibility that a company posts false reports about it’s business. However, Angie’s List employees read each review to try and weed those out. And really, one review among dozens probably won’t make a big difference. But it is a possibility.

Overall Angie’s List is a great idea, and it is executed well. Try it out!