By Tracey Dowdy
Remember the old iPhone commercial, “There’s an app for that”? Well, we may have finally hit peak “app for that,” as there’s now an app for hiring someone to change a lightbulb, hang your flat screen TV, fold your laundry, or even get rid of the bird’s nest in your dryer vent.
Takl, a home services on demand app that launched in Nashville back in 2016, continues to expand across the country. Available for Android and Apple devices, Takl is aimed at homeowners – or renters – who need someone to take on those jobs around the house we never get around to because of time or talent.
Jack Johnson, vice president of PR for Takl, suggests thinking of Takl as we do other on-demand services. “So just like today we use Uber or Lyft, or Delivery Dudes, or GrubHub to get something on demand, whether it’s to get a ride or food delivered, Takl provides an on-demand platform for people to be able to get their lawn mowed, house cleaned or maybe some garbage hauled away. All kinds of jobs and chores at a pre-set price.”
Jobs range in price from relatively inexpensive – as low as $40 to have someone come over and read to you – up to $400 for bigger, more complex jobs.
The app’s interface is user friendly and straightforward. Once downloaded, users open the app and list the task to be completed. Prices are preset, so there’s no haggling with the service providers.
“We don’t talk price. I go, I agree to do the job. Once it’s done, they pay Takl, Takl pays me. No hidden fees. It gives the customer a sense of security knowing that ‘Hey, this is what it’s going to be, no questions asked,’” Landry said.
The app has over 400 pre-priced jobs and thousands of custom jobs you can select. Users can opt to search for the job they need and schedule the specific time they would like it completed
If you have an unusual request or custom job, providers can bid against one another and consumers can choose who to go with. For example, setting up your home entertainment system may involve drilling a hole in the drywall or ceiling to re-route wiring. That’s more complex than opening a box and plugging cords into the correct ports. If your request doesn’t receive a response within a set period of time, you’ll receive a push notification your project has been submitted for counter-bids by providers. Again, users can then choose their providers based on price, rating, bio and distance.
Users pay and tip the service provider through the app, eliminating the need for cash or checks. All providers undergo a background check, ID verification and Takl service orientation before being listed on the site.
To see if Takl is available in your city, click here.
Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.