HouseCall, the Uber for all your home services, secures 1.5M in seed funding

By Drew Prindle December 23, 2013

demand household services startup handybook heads 12 new cities toolbox — Image used with permission by copyright holder

On-demand service startups are all the rage right now. And earlier today, news surfaced that yet another is fighting its way to the top.

Founded by a team of ex-Qualcomm engineers, San Diego-based startup HouseCall aims to disrupt the service industry by offering simplified access to professional home services (including cleaning, repairs, electrical work, plumbing, landscaping, auto detailing, appliance installation, and much more) through its mobile app and website.

The company has recently finished up its beta testing round, and just announced $1.5 million in seed financing from venture capital fund e.ventures. This money will be used to expand operations regionally, then nationally if/when business begins to take off.

Despite being relatively similar to other on-demand service platforms, HouseCall’s business model aims to fill a gap in the domestic services industry.

Right now, if you live in the right area of the country (i.e. Silicon Valley or Manhattan), you can use a mobile app to quickly order things like maids and laundry service. Many of these startups, like like Homejoy and Exec for example, have hinted at plans to expand the range of services they offer, eventually breaking into things like home repair, maintenance, etc – but at this point, none have delivered.

On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve got older platforms like RedBeacon and ServiceMax, companies that offer a wide range of domestic services, but require users to fill out numerous forms and wait for bids – not nearly the on-demand style that today’s consumers are after.

HouseCall hopes to take the market by storm by offering the best of both business models. It offers the wide range of in-home services like Redbeacon and ServiceMax, but through an on-demand modern platform similar to that of Homejoy or FlyCleaners.

The company hasn’t formally launched quite yet, but for the time being you can find out more at tryhousecall.com

Topics

Business

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Smart Home

Are robotic pool cleaners worth it?

The Airper Seagull SE robotic pool cleaner at the bottom of a swimming pool.

The worst part of owning a swimming pool is taking care of it From filter maintenance and skimming debris from the surface to managing chemicals and more, you'll likely find yourself hanging out around the water more often than you're actually in the water. Robotic pool cleaners are designed to alleviate this pinch point of pool ownership by giving you back your time and automating most of your tasks.

But are robotic pool cleaners worth it, or are they a gimmick that still require heaps of manual input? Here's a closer look to help you decide if one would be a good addition to your backyard.
Budget-friendly devices are often a hassle

Smart Home

Best Buy cut this air fryer’s price in half, down to just $25

The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer near food.

If you want your food crispy all over without having to deal with draining a ton of oil, your best bet is to use an air fryer. They're never too expensive and there are always great air fryer deals going on, but you'll rarely find one with a price like this. Right now, the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Analog Air Fryer is half off, moving its price from $50 to $25. To pick yours up today all you need to do is tap the button below. If you're interested in our take, however, be sure to keep reading.

Why you should buy the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer
The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer holds up to about 2.5 pounds of food, heats up to 400 degrees, and has easily-removable dishwasher-safe parts. If you notice it is "analog" that is because it has a 60 minute shut off timer to give you peace of mind and an easy way to time your cooking. Of course, this means there aren't a ton of digital options, buttons, and settings. However, this can be a plus for some and possibly you. Not every item in the home needs to be "smart" and less can certainly feel like more.

Smart Home

Revolution Cooking’s high-speed smart toaster is $100 off today

Someone using the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster in the kitchen.

If you're thinking about getting a new toaster for your kitchen, why not go with a high-speed smart toaster? Best Buy is currently selling the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster with a $100 discount, slashing its price to $250 from $350 originally. There's no telling how much time is remaining before this offer expires though, so if you're interested, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase right now in order to secure the savings.

Why you should buy the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster
Are smart kitchen gadgets worth it? The answer is a resounding yes, and the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster will show you why. With this kitchen device, you'll no longer suffer from burnt or uneven toasts as it's powered by the brand's InstaGLO heating system. The technology will start toasting your bread in just two seconds without any need for preheating. You'll get bread that's crunchy outside and moist inside every single time, which is a huge upgrade over the inconsistencies of traditional toasters.