Find help with home chores and small jobs
Dear Savvy Senior:
What’s the best way to find good, trustworthy, qualified people who can help folks with home chores or small jobs?
— Looking for Mom
Dear Looking:
Getting help at home for any number of household tasks is a lot easier than it used to be, thanks to a number of web-based tools that can quickly and easily connect you and your mom to a wide variety of skilled, carefully vetted workers.
Here’s what you should know:
Finding qualified help
One of the best ways to find qualified, reliable, trustworthy people that can help with home chores and other small jobs is through referrals from people you trust.
But if your friends or family don’t have any recommendations, there are a number of online companies you can turn to now, like TaskRabbit.com and Takl.com
.
These are on-demand service companies that can quickly and easily connect you to skilled workers for such things as cleaning and housekeeping, moving and packing, lawn and yard cleanup, handyman tasks, grocery shopping, running errands, furniture assembly, picture hanging, closet organizing, and much more.
TaskRabbit currently has more than 60,000 Taskers (workers) in 47 U.S. cities, while Takl currently serves 75 U.S. cities with around 35,000 workers. Both serve the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas.
All you need to do is download their app, or go to their website, and select the service your mom wants done. Then set a time when she would like the worker to show up.
The software then matches your request and provides you a list of qualified, feedback-rated workers (including their hourly rate) from which to choose. Once the job is complete, payment is done through the company’s app.
You should also know that all TaskRabbit and Takl workers go through a thorough vetting process, including extensive background checks, before they can be recommended.
If, however, you can’t find a skilled worker through TaskRabbit or Takl, or if they don’t serve your area, another option is Amazon Home Services at Amazon.com/services. Like TaskRabbit and Takl, Amazon will connect you to qualified workers that handle dozens of household chores and other small jobs.
Amazon also screens all workers through media searches, online interviews, reference checks and background checks. And all experts need to have appropriate licenses and insurance.
To purchase and book a service, you can either buy a pre-packaged service with a fixed price (for example, two hours of cleaning) or you can submit a custom request and receive estimates.
When booking, you select three different dates and time frames, and the worker responds to confirm an appointment. All payment is done through your Amazon account.
If your mom primarily needs a tradesman like a plumber, electrician, painter, roofer or carpenter for home repairs or remodeling projects, you should also check HomeAdvisor.com and AngiesList.com. Both of these sites can connect you with prescreened, customer-rated service professionals in your area for free.
Help for older adults
Another option you should know about is AskUmbrella.com
, which is a fee-based membership service for those 65-plus. It provides qualified, vetted workers to do small jobs in and around the house for only $16 per hour. Currently available only in New York, they are expanding nationally over the next year.
If your mom is on a tight budget, you should also contact her nearby Area Aging Agency (call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 if you need their number). They will refer you to services in her area, if available.
For example, some communities have volunteer programs that provide chore and handyman services to help seniors in need. And some local nonprofits offer residential repair services that offer seniors minor upgrades and adaptations to their homes. In Baltimore, try Rebuilding Together at rtbaltimore.org.
Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
