Need to get some quick fixes done around the house but you don’t have the time for it? We’ve all been there.
Luckily, there are a myriad of platforms that promise ease of hiring and working with service professionals. They make it easy to find service professionals in your area, even up to offering insurance for work.
LaborHack and Handy are two of such platforms worth checking out. They offer similar services but with a different approach. While LaborHack caters to homeowners, businesses, and large organizations including construction companies, Handy focuses on home tasks. But which one should you work with?
Here, we’ll explain everything to know when considering LaborHack vs. Handy.
Let’s go!
What is Handy?
Handy is an online platform connecting individuals in need of household services and repairs with screened independent service professionals. Whether it’s home cleaning services, renovation, or quick repairs, Handy matches clients with vetted professionals.
Unlike other platforms, Handly closely focuses on smaller household tasks like furniture assembly, cleaning, and TV mounting. This allows it to provide top-quality services to Homeowners.
In addition, its streamlined process of booking a pro is highly convenient as it caters to both last-minute clients and those too busy to spend time researching who to hire for a job.
For each task, you’ll need to fill out a form with details of the work you want to be done. Then service professionals with the right skills are alerted, and they send their quotes.
Think of it like booking an Uber ride, your ride request is pinged to Uber drivers in your area and the most available one takes the ride.
How does Handy Work?
As a client;
- Visit handy.com and select the category of professional you need.
- Fill out the form including your ZIP code and details about your home, preferred date and time you want a professional, and click submit.
- You’ll receive quotes from various professionals for the job.
- Select the price/professional that works best for you and communicate with your professional.
As a service professional;
- Sign up on Handy.com
- Upload all relevant documents highlighting your paid experience with your skills.
- Handy runs a background and ID verification check before approving your request to be a pro.
- Once all the above steps have been completed, you will begin to get job alerts.
PS: It is important to know that all of Handy’s pros must have appropriate licensing for their work, demonstrated paid experience with the services they’ll be providing, and authorization to work in the country where they’ll operate.
Benefits for Clients
- An easy and convenient way to hire service professionals for your home
- Friendly and vetted professionals to work with
Benefits for Service Professionals
- Direct customer interaction
- No need to chase clients around for jobs
- Direct and on-time payment for completed jobs
- The Handy Professional Portal app allows pros to manage their bookings, charges, and payments efficiently on the go and between jobs.
What is LaborHack?
LaborHack is an online platform that connects businesses and homeowners with qualified and experienced workers. LaborHack offers a variety of options for you whether you want to manage a big project, execute a simple fix at home, or hire artisans for your business.
The platform has various categories of service providers including; welders, masons, painters, carpenters, solar technicians, AC technicians, plumbers, and more. Hiring an artisan is easy as you only have to share your request; you’ll receive a quote and get matched with the best artisan around you.
One of the reasons LaborHack stands out is its effective strategies that ensure artisans on its platforms are empowered and globally certified to offer premium services. They do this by conducting thorough assessments to gauge artisans’ skill levels, certify them, and connect them to the right projects.
They also provide these artisans with soft skill training so they can efficiently interact with clients. This ensures that you will always receive premium quality service when working with a LaborHack artisan.
How does LaborHack Work?
To use LaborHack as a business:
- Signup on LaborHack
- Submit a request explaining the services you need
- Get matched with vetted artisans
- Enjoy clean and high-quality service.
For homeowners;
- Submit a request explaining the services you need.
- Arrange an inspection to enable LaborHack to assess the services you require.
- Receive a quote for the work to be done.
- After payment, your task will be done within the agreed time, ensuring you receive premium service.
Benefits of LaborHack for Clients
- Working with qualified and experienced artisans allows you to save more resources.
- You can count on receiving premium services.
- With over 4,500 artisans, you can find the ideal match for your project requirements.
- Whatever the nature of your service, LaborHack offers the flexibility needed to ensure that your projects are finished on schedule.
- If you have any disputes with artisans, LaborHack provides an immediate solution.
- You receive an upfront quote based on your request with no hidden costs or charges.
Benefits of LaborHack for Artisans
- Educational loans to study in Canada
- Local and international certification
- Soft skills training
- Tool financing with a repayment period of up to 6 months
- Local and international job opportunities
- No extra charges or fees to pay
- On-time payments
- Health Insurance for you on the job
LaborHack vs Handy: Compared
Both LaborHack and Handy are two prominent platforms for hiring service professionals in various areas. Let’s highlight various features that make them distinct.
1. Quality of service
The quality of service you’ll get on LaborHack or Handy largely depends on the skill level of workers on either of these platforms.
Handy’s professionals range from contractors who fill their schedules through Handy connections to full-time employed professionals who use Handy to pick up a few jobs on the side when they have time.
Professionals on Handy undergo a screening process to validate their skill level and authenticity for the job. They are required to provide evidence of their experience, whether personal or corporate experience and credentials that prove they are qualified to offer the service they provide. This helps Handy to evaluate their skill level.
On LaborHack, artisans are vetted and certified by local and international education bodies, empowering them to provide high-quality services.
They also undergo a thorough vetting process which also includes guarantor, background, and address checks. These processes are aimed at evaluating their skill level and background, ensuring that you only work with highly skilled and well-vetted artisans.
2. Booking process
LaborHack offers a straightforward process for booking an artisan. You’ll have to select the type of artisan you want to hire and the task you need to be done. You’ll also need to specify if it is a one-time or recurring task and its urgency.
In addition, LaborHack requires that you set up an inspection date to enable them to assess the volume of work to be done.
As a business, you’ll have to sign up on LaborHack and submit a request explaining the services you need before your order is processed. You can also check the status of your request so you know when it’s been processed.
Handy, on the other hand, offers two options for clients to book service professionals. The first option allows clients to directly book “pros” from the platform. This allows the customer to select the type of service they need, pick a date and time, and receive a price for the job. Handy will then connect you to a professional fit for the job.
The second option is for returning customers who have a professional they like. They can select an individual contractor, request a quote, and book through Handy as usual. At the end of the booking process, customers will be asked to create a password so they can log into Handy and monitor the status of their request. LaborHack offers a straightforward process for booking an artisan. You’ll have to select the type of artisan you want to hire and the task you need to be done. You’ll also need to specify if it is a one-time or recurring task and its urgency.
In addition, LaborHack requires that you set up an inspection date to enable them to assess the volume of work to be done.
As a business, you’ll have to sign up on LaborHack and submit a request explaining the services you need before your order is processed. You can also check the status of your request so you know when it’s been processed.
Handy, on the other hand, offers two options for clients to book service professionals. The first option allows clients to directly book “pros” from the platform. This allows the customer to select the type of service they need, pick a date and time, and receive a price for the job. Handy will then connect you to a professional fit for the job.
The second option is for returning customers who have a professional they like. They can select an individual contractor, request a quote, and book through Handy as usual. At the end of the booking process, customers will be asked to create a password so they can log into Handy and monitor the status of their request.
3. Pricing
Pricing on LaborHack is pretty straightforward. Prices are set based on the services provided. There are no hidden charges or extra fees to be paid.
Handy’s rate is a bit higher when compared because it charges the customer higher per hour or job than the professional is paid. It also charges a trust and support fee to cover insurance, screening, and customer service. This fee is noted in the cost information before a customer books a service, but the extra charge on top of the contractor’s actual fee is not shown.
While this may make some customers feel uncomfortable, it’s clear, and the professionals are aware of these charges.
To protect the schedule of professionals on its platform, Handy charges a “Customer No-Show Fee.” This is for when a professional shows up at the job location and the client is not home, this fee is used to compensate the pro for transportation, time, and lost work.
Lastly, professionals do not pay to join LaborHack or Handy. Instead, Handy makes money from its customers by charging them slightly higher.
4. Service Area
Handy has a larger service area compared to LaborHack as they operate in different countries. LaborHack, for now, has coverage in Lagos Nigeria. While Handy’s coverage cuts across
488 markets in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. You could also say it has major footprints across North America.
This is good for customers and service professionals because it means that regardless of your location, Africa or North America. You have access to professional service workers.
5. Screening Process
LaborHack recruits artisans both offline and online and offers them international certification allowing them to work from anywhere in the world. The international certificates are benchmarked against the UK Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)
They have a strict vetting process that meticulously evaluates artisans based on their skill level, experience, and portfolio. They also use identity verification software to vet artisans and collect details of their references and guarantors. These certified artisans are then matched to service requests online.
On Handy, professionals must share proof of their expertise and personal background. They must also share credentials that make them qualified to offer a particular service.
Small businesses, franchisees, and individual contractors of larger companies who wish to register as Handy providers must also provide corporate information to verify that they’re a company in good standing, and the owners of the companies must pass a Handy background check.
6. Cancellation policies
When working with artisans or service professionals, cancellation is part of the job. You can have an urgent situation, or a sudden appointment, which is unexpected. Hence, service platforms like Handy and LaborHack must have effective cancellation policies to protect the interests of workers on their platforms.
Fortunately, both Handy and LaborHack clearly outline their cancellation policies. On LaborHack, a notice of cancellation must be given at least 24 hours before the start date of the specific project. Such notice may be given by email or mobile call. However, if the task order has been processed, LaborHack charges 20% of the total fees paid.
Similarly, Handy gives customers a window to cancel their booking without penalty up until 24 hours before the agreed time. If the service is canceled between 2 – 24 hours before the start time, customers will pay a $25 fee. If the appointment is canceled less than 2 hours before the agreed time, Handy charges the client the full cost of the service.
7. Services rendered
Quick home fixes, furniture assembling, cleaning, moving out, etc are all Handy’s strengths. This makes it an excellent choice for homeowners who need lots of services done around the house.
LaborHack, on the other hand, offers a much broader solution, allowing them to cater to homeowners, businesses, and a variety of industries. Some of its key solutions include;
- LaborHack for Construction
- LaborHack for Maintenance
- LaborHack for Facility Managers
- LaborHack for Installations.
Additionally, you can get various service professionals in different categories including;
Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Furniture Making, POP, Painting, Tiling, DSTV, Cleaning, Fumigation, Solar Technicians, Building & Construction, Aluminium Workers, Welders, Carpentry, and Masons.
8. Insurance
Handy provides client insurance for every booking made through its platform. So clients are protected against any damage incurred by handy-booked professionals.
Handy’s Happiness Guarantee ensures that customers who are unhappy with the work done by a Handy professional can receive a credit for future bookings or have the job redone.
However, Happiness Guarantee requires that the work be booked through Handy but it doesn’t apply to bookings made with a Handy professional outside the platform. In addition, Handy requires that complaints be made within 72 hours of the unsatisfactory service.
LaborHack, on the other hand, offers on-the-job insurance to both artisans and clients for jobs made through its platform. It also offers health insurance to its artisans.
In addition, LaborHack Guarantee ensures that clients who experience unsatisfactory service can have their jobs redone at no extra cost.
9. Shop
While both LaborHack and Handy focus on connecting service professionals with individuals and businesses, they also recognize the importance of using high-quality materials for the job.
The Handy Shop offers a wide variety of furniture, lighting, smart-home devices, small appliances, and components for purchase on its e-store. These items are sold in bundles with assembling services from Handy professionals.
LaborHack on the other hand, also has an online marketplace where you can get high-quality building and construction materials. In addition, LaborHack offers a Buy Now Pay Later Tool Financing service where workers can make 20% down payments for their selected tools with a repayment period of 3 to 6 months.
LaborHack vs Handy: Pros and Cons
Pros
LaborHack
- Every artisan is vetted and globally certified.
- You’re only charged after the scope of work has been estimated
- Straightforward booking process
- Educational loan and migration support to Canada for Artisans
- Tool financing up to 80% for artisans
- Easily find artisans in your area on time
- LaborHack Guarantee ensures unsatisfactory tasks are reworked to your satisfaction at no extra cost
- Artists can work both domestically and abroad.
Handy
- Has a one-step booking method that is easy to use and efficient
- Verified and vetted experts
- Offers special deals from well-known stores including Costco, Walmart, Wayfair, and others
Cons
LaborHack
- Most services require a 24-hour notice
- Limited to Lagos, Nigeria alone.
Handy
- Short time frame to make complaints about unsatisfactory work.
- Unavailable insurance information for newly recruited individuals
Should You Use LaborHack or Handy?
Firstly, deciding to use either platform depends on your location. Handyman has coverage in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and major parts of North America. While LaborHack is predominantly in Lagos, Nigeria.
Next, the services you need will also determine the type of platform you use. If you need a house cleaner or handyman with no complications to booking or when the services will be offered, use Handyman. But if you require not just a cleaner but a variety of services from various professionals ranging from masonry to carpentry, electricals, etc, LaborHack is good for you.
LaborHack also offers more diverse solutions to businesses and large organizations, offering various packages that cater to their needs. Additionally, artisans are locally and globally certified, giving them the freedom to work anywhere in the world. Similar to LaborHack, artisans on Handy are vetted and screened to ensure your safety.
In general, the platform you work with largely depends on the scope of work to be done, plans, and location. But to enjoy a more organized approach to working with service professionals whether for businesses or individuals, LaborHack is a better option. Sign up and see for yourself.
