Tradespeople offering day-to-day domestic services are being sought for a new smartphone app that that is about to be launched.
Sorted House is a new digital business which aims to take away the headaches for customers who want to source suppliers for a wide range of domestic jobs such as window cleaning, gardening or carpet cleaning.
The app is the brainchild of North East entrepreneur, Iain Dalby, who quit his role as a retail manager to concentrate fully on developing the business.
The 33-year-old says Sorted House will put an end to the frustrations many small to medium sized operations feel when attempting to generate new business through online platforms that charge what can amount to substantial fees, irrespective of whether they’re appointed on jobs they quote for.
Sorted House guarantees that no charges will be made to be listed as a supplier on the app. Dalby vows that Sorted House will only take a small administration fee, which varies depending on the type of trade, from jobs once the customer pays.
The organisation has already secured relationships with a number of trades and suppliers in and around the North East. These include well-established firms like Clean It UK Group, North East Clean and NEPS Gardening Services and they’re now looking for more to add to their supplier listings across all sectors. In addition, it is now working closely with the BNI Networking group to develop stronger links with suppliers.
Dalby, who lives in Gateshead, said he started working on the idea a year ago after growing frustrated with the lengthy processes involved when trying to arrange for jobs to be done around his own home.
He explained: “It was an arduous experience trying to find a trusted supplier whose own schedules would fit with mine. I found myself spending far too much time searching through large lists of potential suppliers until I could find the right match of quality with availability.
“It’s such a slow and frustrating process that needed improvement for the sake of both the supplier and the consumer.”
Another feature Sorted House is trying to tackle are fake reviews, which threaten to blight a range of industry review sites. Iain explained: “Only registered customers will be able to submit reviews on the jobs completed for them. We’re exploring a simple two-photo ‘before and after’ format to this. We want to put an end to ratings that are sabotaged and made artificially high or low.”
The app will work with simple touch-button options for the end user. Variables such as job description, location and timings can be selected with one-touch functionality to provide customers with a shortlist of options relevant to that area and job.
Tony Meah, owner of Rosewood Construction and director of NE BiFolds, said: “It seems like a no-lose option for tradespeople and those who offer services for the home. I get most of my work via referrals and don’t need to pay for job leads but since Sorted House only charge when the work is complete, it appears to be a very fair way of finding work. I have considered using rating sites, but I found that they are very open to abuse and often can’t be trusted to give a true review of your business.”
Sorted House’s app is scheduled for consumer launch in the coming weeks and will be available to download on iOS and Android.
Tradespeople interested in being registered should visit www.sortedhouse.com/trades and can also download the app on iOS and Android.