HomeAdvisor

HomeAdvisor, launched as ServiceMagic, was founded in 1998 by Rodney Rice and Michael Beaudoin who were part of the founding management team of Einstein Bros Bagels.{{cite news |title=Waldo Raises $5 Million For A Photo-Finding Platform Targeting Professional Photographers & Events|first=Sarah |last=Perez |publisher=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/21/waldo-raises-5-million-for-a-photo-finding-platform-targeting-professional-photographers-events/ |date=January 21, 2016}} In 2004, InterActive Corp (NASDAQ: IAC) acquired the website for an undisclosed price.{{cite news |title=IAC/InterActiveCorp Acquires ServiceMagic, Inc. |publisher=IAC|url=http://iac.com/media-room/press-releases/iacinteractivecorp-acquires-servicemagic-inc |date=July 22, 2004}}

In January 2008, IAC appointed Craig Smith as CEO of ServiceMagic Inc. He was the Senior Vice President of the company’s Consumer Division. Co-founders Rodney Rice and Michael Beaudoin became co-chairmen and advisors. ServiceMagic remained part of the parent company when IAC split into five publicly traded companies.{{cite news |title=ServiceMagic: Tale of Dot-Com Survivor|publisher=The Kelsey Group|url=https://www.homeadvisor.com/rfs/aboutus/news/TheKelseyGroup.pdf |date=September 23, 2004}}

In October 2008, ServiceMagic acquired the French business 123Devis.com and Travaux.com, as well as UK business 123GetAQuote.co.uk to create ServiceMagic Europe. In March 2009, the UK business was rebranded as ServiceMagic.co.uk.{{cite news |title=IAC's ServiceMagic Buys Market Hardware|publisher=BIA Kelsey|url=http://blog.biakelsey.com/index.php/2009/01/29/iacs-servicemagic-buys-market-hardware/ |date=January 29, 2009}}

In April 2011, Chris Terrill was hired as Chief Executive Officer.{{cite news |title=HomeAdvisor CEO: The Marketplace for Home Services Is 'Operationally Intense'|first=Joao-Pierre|last=Ruth|publisher=StreetFight|url=http://streetfightmag.com/2016/09/13/homeadvisor-ceo-the-marketplace-for-home-services-is-operationally-intense/|date=September 13, 2016}} In October 2012, ServiceMagic rebranded as HomeAdvisor.{{cite news |last=Voung |first=Andy |date=September 28, 2012 |title=Golden's ServiceMagic becomes HomeAdvisor in risky rebranding strategy |publisher=Denver Business Journal |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2012/09/28/goldens-servicemagic-becomes-homeadvisor-in-risky-rebranding-strategy/}}

After rebranding, then-CEO Chris Terrill told StreetFight Magazine, “We’re the only network for this type of on-demand service.” {{cite news |title=HomeAdvisor Acquires Leading Dutch Home Improvement Platform Werkspot.nl|publisher=PRWEB|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10607708.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413185641/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10607708.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2013|date=April 8, 2013}}

In 2013, HomeAdvisor acquired Werkspot.nl, the leading Dutch home improvement platform.

By 2015, HomeAdvisor had achieved more than $300 million in annual revenue, been used by more than 30 million homeowners, had nearly 100,000 pre-screened service professionals in its network and almost 3 million verified reviews.{{cite news |title=lAC's HomeAdvisor Is One To Watch In The Growing "Humans As A Service" (HaaS) Business|first=Patrick|last=Moorhead|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2015/07/15/lacs-homeadvisor-is-one-to-watch-in-the-growing-humans-as-a-service-haas-business-2/#779778a0681f|date=July 15, 2015}}

In 2016, HomeAdvisor acquired the German home services company, MyHammer.{{cite news |title=HomeAdvisor expands to Germany with purchase of MyHammer|first=Tamara|last=Chuang|publisher=Denver Post|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2016/10/10/homeadvisor-myhammer-purchase/|date=October 16, 2016}}

In 2017, HomeAdvisor acquired Canada’s leading home services platform, HomeStars,{{cite news |title=HomeAdvisor buys Canada's big home improvement site|first=Greg|last=Avery|publisher=Denver Business Journal|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2017/02/09/homeadvisor-buys-canadas-big-home-improvement-site.html|date=2017}} and MyBuilder, the UK's leading home services platform connecting homeowners and tradesmen.{{cite news |title=HomeAdvisor buys UK home services marketplace MyBuilder|first=Erin|last=McCaffrey|publisher=Seeking Alpha|url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3253595-homeadvisor-buys-uk-home-services-marketplace-mybuilder|date=March 27, 2017}}

On May 1, 2017, HomeAdvisor parent company IAC announced they entered into a definitive agreement to combine IAC’s HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List into a new publicly traded company, to be called ANGI Homeservices, Inc.{{cite news |title=IAC to Buy Angie's List in Deal Valued at Over $500 Million|first=Jing|last=Cao|publisher=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-01/iac-to-acquire-angie-s-list-in-deal-valued-at-about-500-million|date=May 1, 2017}}

On October 2, 2017, HomeAdvisor merged with Angie’s List to form ANGI Homeservices (NASDAQ: ANGI), the world’s largest digital marketplace for home services.{{cite news |title=HomeAdvisor CEO says Angie's List layoffs are done; now it's time to 'reignite the brand'|first=James|last=Briggs|publisher=IndyStar|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/money/2017/10/02/homeadvisor-ceo-says-angies-list-layoffs-done-now-its-time-reignite-brand/717360001|date=October 2, 2017}}

Instant Booking, launched in 2015 allows homeowners to instantly schedule appointments with service professionals and “eliminate phone tag between the provider and homeowner, which is how the service worked before.”{{cite news |title=HomeAdvisor rolls out new booking feature to eliminate playing phone tag with contractors|first=Tricia|last=Duryee|publisher=GeekWire|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2015/homeadvisor-rolls-out-new-booking-feature-to-eliminate-playing-phone-tag-with-contractors/|date=August 11, 2015}}

Instant Connect, a service where “homeowners are contacted by a HomeAdvisor specialist via phone within one to two minutes.”{{cite news |title=Smart Thermostats: 50% of Consumers Who Think They Can Install DIY … End Up Calling a Pro|first=Julie|last=Jacobson|publisher=CEPro|url=https://www.cepro.com/article/smart_thermostats_diy_consumers_pro_installer_honeywell_homeadvisor|date=May 24, 2017}}

Same Day Service allows homeowners to instantly schedule an appointment to complete their home project the same day.

Homeowners can also make appointments using HomeAdvisor through Facebook.{{cite news |title=Facebook wants you to buy movie tickets and order pizza from its app|first=Kurt|last=Wagner|publisher=ReCode|url=https://www.recode.net/2016/10/19/13325390/facebook-shopping-small-business-commerce|date=October 19, 2016}}

HomeAdvisor also integrates smart devices like Apple Watch and Amazon Echo.{{cite news |title=Alexa, call me a plumber: HomeAdvisor adds Amazon Echo integration|first=James|last=Risley|publisher=GeekWire|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2016/alexa-call-me-a-plumber-homeadvisor-adds-integration-for-amazon-echo/|date=April 14, 2016}}

Several news articles have reported on the screening process of HomeAdvisor, investigating possible loopholes available to contractors that have been used by criminals. Denver investigative reporter Heidi Hemmat wrote one such story about{{cite news|url= http://kdvr.com/2014/11/19/website-that-claims-to-pre-screen-contratctors-may-leave-customers-with-false-sense-of-security/ |title=Website that Claims to Pre-Screen Contractors May Leave Customers with a False Sense of Security|date=November 19, 2014|publisher=Fox31 Denver}} a client that used a contractor recommended by HomeAdvisor to put in a concrete driveway. The recommended "local" company did not complete the work, demanded payment upfront and any work that was performed needed to be redone. The company recommended was from Avon CO and did not have a business license.

Although HomeAdvisor currently has a BBB rating of A−, the rating had been as low as a "B", in 2017. There are over 600 negative reviews of the service on the BBB website.{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbb.org/denver/business-reviews/contractor-referral/homeadvisor-in-lakewood-co-22000608| title=Home Advisor BBB (DP-1) | publisher=BBB| access-date=August 2, 2018}} However, the HomeAdvisor brand has as high as a 4.4 out of 5 on sites like ConsumerAffairs and Trust Pilot but as low as a 2.8 out of 5 on SiteJabber.

HomeAdvisor has also received data security concerns over its use of Home Improvement Industry practices known as Pay Per Lead Services. HomeAdvisor collects users data when a request is made and then sells that data to local contractors in exchange for money. A previous claim that homeowners are unaware that their data is being sold to contractors has been refuted by HomeAdvisor via their own language used on their "contact forms" on their website. A standard CCPA/TCPA disclaimer is included at or above the "submit" button, which states that HomeAdvisor and its affiliates, as well as their networks of Service Professionals, may deliver marketing calls or texts to the user's number.{{Cite web| url=https://www.handymanstartup.com/home-advisor-pro-review-what-you-need-to-know/| title= What you need to know before signing with homeadvisor | date= 17 August 2013 | publisher=Handyman Pro Advisor| access-date=August 2, 2018}}{{Cite web| url=https://www.roofcalc.org/home-advisor-contractors-want-their-money-back/| title= HomeAdvisor Lawsuit, why contractors want their money back | publisher=Roof Calculator| access-date=August 2, 2018}}

In April 2023, the FTC finalized a consent order against HomeAdvisor, requiring HomeAdvisor to pay $7.2 million USD and prohibiting the company from making "any false or misleading claims regarding its leads, including that they concern individuals who are ready to hire a service provider or who submitted a request for home services directly to HomeAdvisor."{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2023 |title=FTC Approves Final Order against HomeAdvisor, Inc. for Deceptively Marketing its Leads for Home Improvement Projects |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/04/ftc-approves-final-order-against-homeadvisor-inc-deceptively-marketing-its-leads-home-improvement |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=Federal Trade Commission}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|www.homeadvisor.com}}

{{IAC}}

Category:Companies based in Golden, Colorado

Category:Home improvement

Category:Online marketplaces of the United States

Category:IAC Inc.

Category:American companies established in 1998

Category:Internet properties established in 1998

Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions