Buddy for home repairs
Tell me what’s broken and send a photo if you can. I’ll find a few local people who do that work and write the message you send them.
A puddle under the water heater in a basement in Peoria, Illinois, found on a lunch break.
Tell me what’s broken and where you are. I’ll find a few people who do that work and draft what you send. You decide who to call.
- Here’s a photo of the crack in the ceiling. Who should I call about it?
- Which of these four roofing quotes is the best deal?
- Remind me in six months to flush the water heater.
- Today 12:30 PM
- You: there’s a puddle under the water heater. it’s from 2011. how bad is this
- Buddy: Could be a loose fitting, could be the tank. A tank that old leaking from the bottom usually means replacing it. Worth a plumber this week.
- You: can you find someone who can come this week? we’re in 61604
- Buddy: On it. I’ll look for plumbers near 61604 who do water heaters and check their reviews.
- 12:41 PM
- Buddy: Three with steady recent reviews: Ridgeline Plumbing, Hartman & Sons, and Prairie Pipe. Hartman’s site says they take same-week visits.
- Buddy: I haven’t contacted anyone. Here’s a message you can send each of them:
- Buddy: “Hi, our water heater is leaking at the base. It’s from 2011, and we’re in 61604. Could you come out this week to look and quote a replacement?”
- You: perfect. can you just send it
- Buddy: I can’t text them from here. Copy it into a text, or connect your email and I’ll send it from there.
Tell me what’s broken and send a photo if you can. I’ll find a few local people who do that work and write the message you send them.
From a leak to a message you can send
Tell me what’s wrong
A sentence and a photo is plenty. Add your town or ZIP so I search the right area.
I find a few people
I look for local pros who do that kind of work and check what their sites and reviews say. A listing isn’t a booked appointment.
You send the message
I draft a short note you can copy into a text. Connect your email if you want me to send it from there.
More you can ask for
- Find a few plumbers near me and draft a message asking who can come this week.
- Here’s a photo of the furnace’s blinking light. What should I tell the repair company?
- What should I ask a roofer before I sign anything?
- Make a spreadsheet of the quotes so far, with what each one includes.
- In October, remind me to blow out the sprinklers before the first freeze.
- Here’s the label on our dishwasher. Find the manual and the part number for the door seal.
What you get back
A short list of local pros
A few people near you who do the work, with what their sites and reviews say and where I found it. I don’t contact anyone unless you ask.
How research worksA message ready to send
Short and plain, with what’s wrong and what you need. You send it, or connect your email and I can send it for you.
How connected apps workQuotes side by side
Send me the quotes as they come in and I’ll line them up: the total price, what’s included, and the questions you still need to ask.
Work with files
Plumbers near 61604
- Ridgeline Plumbing, steady recent reviews
- Hartman & Sons, site says same-week visits
- Prairie Pipe, steady recent reviews
- The message to send each one:
- “Hi, our water heater is leaking at the base. It’s from 2011, and we’re in 61604. Could you come out this week to look and quote a replacement?”
I haven’t contacted anyone.
Questions people ask
Does Buddy book the plumber?
Not on his own. He finds options and drafts the message. If a booking page needs your sign-in or card, he hands you his screen so you can finish it there, never in chat.
Can he tell me whether to fix it myself?
He can explain what a problem usually means and what to ask a pro. Buddy isn’t a plumber or an electrician and can’t see your house, so for gas, wiring, or water you can’t shut off, call someone.
Are the reviews and availability current?
Buddy reads what’s on the public web when he looks. A listing or a price can change, so confirm with the company before you count on it.
What do I need to give Buddy?
Your town or ZIP and a sentence about the problem. Nothing goes to a plumber until you send the message, or ask him to send it from your connected email.