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FAQ

How long has ServiceMagic been in business?

ServiceMagic has been matching customers with contractors since 1998.

What are the benefits of using ServiceMagic services?

Our partner companies, contractors and architects enjoy a range of benefits:

• Major savings in marketing budgets, reduce your advertising costs.
• Receive up to date new work requests in your area.
• No commission is taken on the work done.
• You decide how many work requests you want to receive, we tailor our service to your marketing needs.
• Save time and cut down on your travel costs. Choose how far you want to travel for work.
• Only receive the work requests targeted specifically to your trades and the locations in which you want to work.
• Tailor your advertising to your business.

What type of customers contact you?

The majority are private individuals and homeowners. Architects, storeholders, companies and public sector organisations also use our services to find contractors.

Why do these customers contact you?

In general, our customers contact us because they are struggling on their own to find a contractor or a service provider to do their work.

How is a work request created?

The customer completes a detailed form online that describes all relevant information about the work being requested. For each type of work we request specific details that allow you to know all the relevant information about the nature of the work being requested.

How do work requests come in?

Every day, we collect hundreds of work requests from customers. They are sorted and matched to your profile for your trades and locations you work in. Work requests matching your profile will be sent to you via email or text messages.

Are the customers also given our contact details in order to get in touch?

Yes. When you receive the customer’s contact details, we immediately send an email to the customer to inform them that you will soon be in contact.

Is there a quality control process for the work requests you take?

Yes. We quality control all the work requests that we receive before they are sent out to you. Our aim is to give you the most accurate, valid work requests so you can achieve the best possible results from our service.

How many work requests will I receive each day?

The number of requests will depend on your trade and your geographical area. Register now to start receiving free work requests as that is the best way to see how the service works and the number of work requests you can expect to receive. Once your account is fully active, we can work with you to set up your account so that you receive a volume of requests that works for you.

Once I have registered, will I then pay for all the work requests sent to me?

No, once you’ve registered you will start to receive the work requests for free without the customer contact details. Registration is free without obligation and this will allow you to see how our service works. Should you then wish to subscribe to the full service, we will work with you to set you up as best suits you.

How much work will I get?

Clearly our service cannot ensure that you will end up working on 100% of the work you quote for, since ultimately this decision sits with the customer. Your results will also depend on how well you work with the service too.

How can I get the best out of the service?

The first step is to set up your profile by registering for free on our site and specifying your trades and geographical areas. Once your account is active your success will then depend on how effectively you manage your work requests. There are 3 important rules:

1. Be proactive! Contact the customer as soon as you receive the work request.
2. Be persuasive! Sell yourself and your skills when you contact the customer!
3. Be competitive! Offer your best possible quote, of course!

Am I free to contact the customers myself?

Once you have received the customer contact details, you are free to contact the customer as soon and as often as you want. We take no commission on the work you do.

How much does it cost to order customers contact details?

For each work request, it costs between £5 and £29 to receive the customer contact details. The prices vary for different types of work.

How many companies receive the work requests?

We always limit competition to no more than 5 contractors.

Why do you limit the number of companies that can receive a single request?

There are two reasons for this policy. Firstly, we want to ensure that service professionals get work without having to compete against too many of our other partners. Secondly, we want to prevent the customer being swamped with proposals.

Do you take a commission on my work?

We do not take any commission on the work done.

Is the service flexible, can I pause it when I am busy?

Yes. We fully understand that there will be times when you are busy from your existing work requests. Therefore the service is fully flexible to your needs.