Amazon recently announced its foray into home services with Monday's launch of the Home Services Marketplace. The portal will allow homeowners to search for, schedule, and pay for services from Amazon-approved professionals.
Reuters reports that "700 services such as car maintenance, TV wall-mounting and house cleaning" are now available to customers.
"Third party estimates show that customers spend four times more on services each year than they do on physical products," Peter Faricy, vice-president, Amazon Marketplace told Reuters. "So for us the opportunity is very big."
A quick scan of the Home Improvement section of Amazon's Home Services Marketplace by REMODELING reveals a wide range of services. Here are a few highlights:
- Hire a Handyman
- Hire a Plumber
- Hire a General Contractor
- Hire an Electrician
- Tankless Water Heater Installation
- Faucet Installation
- Ceiling Fan Installation
- Toilet Replacement
- Thermostat Installation
- Deadbolt Installation
- Window Air Conditioner Unit Installation
- Home Surveillance Camera Installation
- Electric Fireplace Installation
- Bed Bug Consultation and Plan
- Carpet Cleaning
- Chimney Cleaning and Inspection
There are too many to list and not all services are available in all zip codes. In fact, Amazon claims to have done all of the local research for you. Faricy spoke with GeekWire and described the process: "...we’ve done the homework on who are the best service providers in your area and we’ve only invited those pros to come on Amazon," Faricy told GeekWire. "We do a five-point business background check for each company. They have to be licensed, insured, and each individual technician has to go through a six-point personal background check. We have a dedicated team that does nothing but reference checks and check the quality of the work for each of these service providers. We’ve done all that homework for you."
Another feature of the Home Services Marketplace is that the work is standardized--meaning the homeowners get the price up front and know exactly what they will be paying.
"...we’ve standardized the work, and we tell you the price right upfront, so you don’t have to worry about how much does this cost really," Faricy explained to GeekWire."
Are you a professional listed in the Home Services Marketplace? Do you plan on getting on board? We would love to hear from you. Sound off in the comments below this article or tweet us at @RemodelingMag to keep the conversation going.
