8 million homeowners visit HomeStars annually looking to hire a pro they can trust. With countless horror stories in the news about home improvement jobs gone wrong, it’s no wonder homeowners turn to HomeStars to help them hire right the first time. While an up-to-date HomeStars profile with recent reviews, a strong Star Score, and a Verified badge can help answer many of their initial questions, there are still important questions homeowners may need to ask to finalize their decisions. We’ve selected the top seven commonly asked questions homeowners ask pros and break down how your HomeStars profile can help answer these questions.
1. Can You Help Me with My Specific Project?
Answered By Your HomeStars Profile:
Your HomeStars profile gives you lots of opportunities to tell potential customers exactly what you do. Have a look at your profile and think to yourself, “Do homeowners know what I specialize in?” If the answer is yes, you’ve done a good job of optimizing it. If not, it’s time to revisit a few items including company description, pictures in your reviews, and photo galleries to help showcase what your business is all about.
Answered By You Directly:
Homeowners will often have more specific questions regarding their desired project which can be answered either by phone or using a virtual conferencing platform like Zoom or Facetime. This is a perfect opportunity for you to talk about times when you’ve helped other customers with this specific reno or repair project. Relevant stories from past customers can be very persuasive to potential customers.
2. How Satisfied Are Your Previous Clients?
Answered By Your HomeStars Profile:
One of the best ways to answer this question is with past customer reviews on your HomeStars profile. Customer reviews are vital to your success on the HomeStars platform and are essential to winning new customers. Having your previous clients provide written testimonials about you on a trusted third-party platform like HomeStars offers a much clearer picture of the kind of quality work you do. Plus, homeowners have that added layer of security knowing that all HomeStars reviews are real and vetted by our Review Moderation Team.
Answered By You Directly:
HomeStars reviews can do a lot of heavy-lifting in terms of showcasing your company’s reputation and performance with past customers. However, many homeowners may still request references from a couple of previous customers for extra validation. Thus, it’s a good idea to have reliable customer references available to share with the homeowner directly.
3. Are You Fully Certified and Licensed?
Answered By Your HomeStars Profile:
The Verified by HomeStars badge is an upgraded profile feature that indicates immediate trust to homeowners. Pros with a Verified badge have been thoroughly vetted by HomeStars, including the passing of a criminal background and soft credit check, proof of HST/GST registration (if applicable) and professional licensing and trade certifications. The Verified badge notifies the millions of homeowners who trust HomeStars that they can trust your business too!
Answered By You Directly:
It’s worth mentioning to homeowners that being Verified by HomeStars means you have all of the necessary certifications to perform your services and have passed a series of critical checks. However, in terms of specific projects, you may also require specific permits to do your work. By going through the proper processes to obtain any necessary permits, and sharing that information with your customers, you are indicating to them that you are both responsible and trustworthy.
4. How Much Will My Project Cost?
Answered By Your HomeStars Profile:
Pricing is something that varies from company to company. Some businesses choose to put their minimum project and standard rate pricing on their HomeStars profile so homeowners can have an idea of what they would be spending. Many companies opt to give pricing only after thoroughly assessing the scope of the homeowner’s project. It’s also worth mentioning that having a completed HomeStars profile with frequent 10/10 reviews, up-to-date photo galleries, and other important details may justify a higher price point.
Answered By You Directly:
It is possible to provide quotes for a project after hearing it described by the homeowner through messages or over the phone. Yet, in many cases and especially with larger projects, you may need to visit the potential job site in person before quoting on the project. There may be factors involved that your customers might not be aware of that will affect their specific price. Don’t be afraid to suggest a consultation meeting where you can provide a clear assessment of everything that needs to be done and the costs associated with it.
5. Are You Available for My Desired Time Frame?
Answered By Your HomeStars Profile:
It’s tough for your HomeStars profile to provide a real-time indicator of your availability, as it may frequently change. Consistently collecting recent reviews could indicate to potential customers that you are busy with current projects and are in high demand. So, if they want to book you for their project they’ll need to act fast. Additionally, if you follow certain business hours you can add these details to your profile for immediate clarity.
Answered By You Directly:
Availability is a key question for homeowners, and almost always something you’ll need to discuss with them directly. Having space in your schedule to work with their desired timeframe shows you’re flexible which significantly increases your chances of being hired, especially if your business meets all their other criteria. If you’re a fully booked pro, reminding them what you bring to the table by mentioning previous reviews and experiences may tip the scales and signal to them you’re worth the wait.
6. Do I Like You Enough Personally to Do Business With You?
Answered By Your HomeStars Profile:
Although homeowners will likely have to reach you directly to answer this question, your HomeStars profile can still provide a pretty good indication of who you are. An excellent way to showcase your personality is by responding to all of your customer reviews in a friendly, professional way (even the negative ones!). Doing this demonstrates your communication style and indicates you hold a high level of respect and appreciation for your customers, which will make them much more likely to reach out to you.
Answered By You Directly:
This is a crucial question for customers. Even if you tick all the boxes, you can lose a job if you don’t connect with that homeowner on a personal level. Many home projects can take days, weeks, or even longer complete, so it’s crucial that homeowners feel you’re the kind of person they’ll be comfortable working with and having in their homes for an extended period. Being polite, professional and friendly improves your chances of being hired by homeowners.
7. How Do You Compare to the Other Companies I’m Considering?
Answered By Your HomeStars Profile:
The home improvement market can be very competitive, so it’s crucial to create an excellent brand reputation on a platform homeowners trust, like HomeStars. Pros with an upgraded HomeStars profile with plenty of recent positive reviews immediately put themselves ahead of competitors who aren’t building a strong online reputation.
Answered By You Directly:
When a potential customer asks what sets you apart, remember you always have your HomeStars profile to use as a selling tool. Our top pros have their HomeStars profiles open on a tablet or smartphone during meetings with customers so that homeowners can scroll through their reviews on the spot. Apart from that, the thing that makes you stand out from your competitors is almost always your personal story. What makes you unique? What is it about your specific skills and experience that serve to benefit this particular customer? Going into a client meeting with a clear idea of what makes you the right choice for them will vastly improve your chances of getting the job!
Keep these answers to common client questions in your back pocket and remember: just because a homeowner isn’t asking you these questions aloud doesn’t mean they’re not thinking them!
