As a professional with a Houzz business listing, it’s critical that you understand how Houzz reviews work, and how you can manage them accurately. We’ll cover everything you need to know.
Houzz Overview—What is Houzz and how does it work?
Houzz has grown to become one of the preeminent websites dedicated to all things home decorating, remodeling and improvement. Not only does the site offer guidebooks, articles, product reviews and a great deal more, but homeowners can connect with professionals through the platform. Of course, hiring a professional can be daunting, and Houzz offers reviews from past customers to help users make an informed decision.
The Houzz team comes right out and says that it is important for you to set expectations about reviews from the very beginning. This means that when you work with a client, you should explain the importance of reviews for professionals in your field, and how those reviews help build your reputation. Ask them, if they are happy with your work, to please leave a review for you on your Houzz profile. Let clients know ahead of time that you’ll send them a request for a review upon completion of the project.
One of the most interesting things about Houzz reviews is the fact that the site does not allow anonymous reviews. Everyone who wants to leave a review must first create a Houzz account and profile. That’s a great way to automatically cut down on fake and abusive reviews, but it can also mean that you may not be getting all the reviews you should, as your customers may not want to take the time to create an account.
The good news is that if your customers found you by perusing an idea book, or otherwise connected with you through the platform, then they already have an account. Whether or not your customers already have a Houzz account, take the time to ask them if they would be willing to leave a review.
Review of Houzz
Now, let’s go over some pros and cons.
First, here’s what you’ll love about Houzz. It’s a free way to get your business in front of a lot of eyes. All you need to do is set up your account and Houzz’s milions of monthly visitors will be able to find it.
Now for the cons. It is a very visually site, so if you don’t have a lot of high-quality photos, your business might get overlooked. Some people also complain that Houzz is a pay-to-play game, since they prioritize those who pay for their highest subscription level.
Houzz for professionals
How do I use Houzz for my business?
If you’re a home improvement professional, you can use Houzz to market your business and grow your online presence. Start by optimizing your Houzz profile. Make sure to upload high quality images, use relevant keywords, and tag your images properly. Then, you can start gathering reviews—we’ll get into how to do that later in this article.
Cost & price plans
Now, let’s talk about pricing. As we’ve already mentioned, creating a Houzz directory listing is totally free. That being said, Houzz Pro does have a variety of paid plans that come with advanced features.
- The Starter plan, which allows you to get started, get organized, and start showing off your brand, costs $65 per month.
- The Essential plan (the most popular one) is perfect if you want to stand out and manage every part of your business. This option costs $99 per month.
- Finally, the Ultimate plan, which includes custom advertising programs, will cost you $399 per month.
Houzz alternatives
Looking for Houzz Pro alternatives? You might consider Buildbook, Procore, or Autodesk Construction Cloud.
How to Get More Houzz Reviews
Unlike many other platforms, Houzz actually lets you request reviews from your past clients, and even colleagues. In fact, you can send an email to anyone whose email address you have – they don’t need to be members of Houzz to receive a request.
To send a Houzz review request:
- Go to your Houzz profile
- Click on Reviews
- Click Get Reviews
You’ll be presented with a page containing two form fields. The top one is where you enter the email addresses you want to send a message to, and the bottom one is where you type in the message. You can send the same message to everyone, or you can customize the message per email address.
Respond to Your Reviews
While Houzz differs from other platforms in many ways, one way it’s similar is the need to respond to reviews clients and colleagues leave for you. Whether the review is positive, neutral, or negative, take the time to reply to it. Address any concerns. Apologize for negative experiences and find out what can be done to rectify the situation. Remember that Houzz allows your clients to change their review at any time, so going the extra mile and actually trying to make things right can have a profoundly positive effect on your reputation and success.
From architects to window dealers, Houzz hosts a variety of local professionals. But regardless of your profession, your professional reputation will have a powerful and long-lasting impact on your business. Learning how to clearly set expectations for reviews, how to get more reviews from past clients, and how to handle negative Houzz reviews will help you be more prepared to protect your professional reputation and grow your business.
Houzz FAQs
Is Houzz a legitimate site? Yes. Houzz is a trusted and reputable website for home design companies, contractors, and more.
What is the Houzz review policy? You can view the Houzz review policy here, but the basics are that you must follow their acceptable use policy, they do not tolerate paid reviews, and reviews should not include any external links.
Is Houzz free for contractors? Creating a Houzz directory listing is totally free. If you want to sign up for Houzz Pro, you can find their pricing options here.
How do I cancel Houzz Pro? If you wish to cancel your Houzz Pro subscription, log into your account, click “My Account” go to “Your Account Settings” and click on “Deactivate My Account.”
Is Houzz Pro Worth the Hype? It depends on your specific goals, but many remodeling businesses and contractors find that Houzz Pro is worth the investment. If you’re not sure whether or not Houzz is right for your business, try starting with a free trial.
