HomeStars Renovates Its Own Home

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 14, 2015) -

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HomeStars.com, the online community connecting homeowners and contractors, today unveiled a new website that makes searching for a reputable contractor easier than ever before. The website overhaul includes an updated Scorecard for contractors and a new Star Reviewer program for homeowners.

"Our goal has always been to provide the most trustworthy information to homeowners," says Nancy Peterson, Founder and CEO of HomeStars. "Making the site even more trustworthy is key to our continued growth across Canada."

HomeStars has developed a new Scorecard to help homeowners easily find the best home improvement companies in their area. The Scorecard consists of a Customer Review Score and a HomeStars Recommendation Meter.

Customer Review Score is an aggregation of all verified customer reviews on a company's profile. The HomeStars Recommendation Meter indicates the extent to which HomeStars would recommend a company based on all information collected, including client feedback and contractor responsiveness. It also takes into account contractors who are suspected of attempting to post fake reviews or asking or coercing a homeowner to remove a negative review. Initially, not every company's listing will display a HomeStars Recommendation Meter, but as more reviews of the company are collected, the meter will appear on their listing.

Recognizing Star Reviewers is another new feature that provides value to the HomeStars community. Loyal users will now be awarded gold, silver or bronze badges based on several criteria, including number and quality of reviews. More than a recognition program, it will increase reviews from the most trustworthy homeowners. There will also be ongoing monthly prizing to encourage engagement with the site.

In addition to these features that build trust, the homepage has been revamped with a large 'hero' image of real HomeStars users proudly showing off their renovated homes. With 43 per cent of visits to HomeStars.com now on mobile devices, the site was updated using mobile-first design to make viewing and writing reviews on a smartphone easier. Aside from a renewed look, the website offers faster and more intuitive navigation.

For more information on how HomeStars is building trust, visit: http://homestars.com/trust

About HomeStars

HomeStars is a free service helping homeowners find reputable renovators, repairmen and retailers through its database of 2 million companies and hundreds of thousands of reviews. Homeowners write reviews based on their home improvement experiences - good and bad - helping build a collective knowledge base that is invaluable in helping homeowners make better hiring decisions. HomeStars has a dedicated team of analysts who validate every review before it is published. A trusted resource since 2006, HomeStars has grown to be the leading online community of homeowners and home improvement companies in Canada. To learn more, visit HomeStars.com or check them out on Facebook or Twitter.

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