Company News
SYDNEY, May 5, 2021 - Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home renovation and design, today launched the Houzz Pro Online Impact Score, to give industry professionals insight into their level of business credibility online. Based on an analysis of nearly one million pros worldwide, including designers, builders and speciality contractors, the score reflects the strength of a pro’s website and Houzz profile. Houzz provides the total score and a breakdown of its components, as well as a benchmark against the top 10 percent of pros in each category.
The Houzz Pro Online Impact Score was born from the results of a March 2021 survey of more than 500 homeowners on Houzz who are planning, in the middle of or who completed a renovation within the past two years.* The survey found that online credibility is a significant factor in homeowners’ hiring decisions, with two-thirds of homeowners reporting that a pro’s online presence, along with the ability to offer remote collaboration tools, are major determinants (66 percent). Even among homeowners who rely on word-of-mouth referrals to find pros, more than two in five report that they conduct additional research, including reviewing their business website and profile, reviews and project portfolio, before deciding to make contact (47 percent).
“The home renovation industry is booming, but our research shows that a majority of pros could attract and close more of the work they really want. Even pros who rely on word-of-mouth referrals may miss out on significant new business opportunities, since those prospects conduct additional research to confirm the recommendation before reaching out. With a more credible online presence, they’ll build a stronger pipeline for the long-term,” said Tony Been, ANZ Managing Director at Houzz. “Houzz is the industry leader when it comes to helping pros build their brands online and making quality connections with homeowners. The Online Impact Score, together with Houzz Pro marketing and business management tools, are a simple and powerful way to help our pro community build stronger businesses now and for the future.”
For pros looking to improve their online presence, Houzz Pro Website Services provide a full-service solution for builders, designers and other pros who want a professional, credible and beautiful custom website built and managed for them. Websites created and hosted by Houzz are optimised for mobile devices, include a custom domain, and support unlimited content, such as video.
The Houzz survey also uncovered the key factors impacting homeowners’ decisions to hire a pro for their project. Top priorities included pricing within my budget, communication and organisation skills and availability (66, 62 and 55 percent, respectively). Houzz Pro offers tools for pros to facilitate communication and streamline and simplify the estimation process.
Pros can learn how to find out their Houzz Pro Online Impact Score here. Learn more about Houzz Pro and sign up at houzz.co.nz/pro.
The Houzz community includes more than 65 million homeowner and home design enthusiasts and over 2.7 million home renovation and design professionals around the world in more than 100 categories, including architects, interior designers, contractors and landscape professionals.
*Data was sourced from an online survey fielded to Australian Houzz users between March 9 and March 16. N=541.
About Houzz
Houzz is the leading platform for home renovation and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish. On Houzz, people can find design inspiration, research and hire home professionals, and shop for products to complete their projects. For home professionals, Houzz Pro (houzz.co.nz/pro) provides an all-in-one software solution that empowers industry pros to stand out, win clients and manage their projects efficiently and profitably. The Houzz community is made up of millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals around the world. Houzz is available on the web and as a top-rated mobile app. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.co.nz.