Help comes through an app

Home services company Goodnest has introduced an app which will make booking a range of domestic professionals even easier. 

The Goodnest app, available on iOS and Android, allows users to get a cleaner, gardener, handyman, plumber, or electrician sorted directly from their mobile devices.

According to Goodnest founder and director James MacAvoy, an app is a natural step forward for the company, which already has over 35,000 customers across New Zealand and schedules some 4,000 jobs every month. “These days, our mobile phones provide access to all sorts of information and services which make life that little bit easier. Goodnest was founded on the principle of convenience and ease in managing household services, so adding the app makes perfect sense.”

While Goodnest was initially founded to connect cleaners with householders in a simple process, it has quickly grown, with a range of services available today including plumbers, electrical, house washing, moving, lawn and garden and even tech support. All service providers are qualified and vetted by Goodnest, while customers are encouraged to leave feedback. Payments are automatically processed by the company, using credit or debit cards.

The initial release of the Goodnest app provides all the features available on the website, including categorisation of service providers, their availability and descriptions and ratings of performance. MacAvoy says that the capabilities of smartphones are being taken advantage of, such as through the ability to take and upload pictures immediately. “We’ve started by delivering the core website experience on mobile, but will continue to develop and further use handset capability to drive improved features over time,” he notes.

One new feature which is expected to be a hit for app users is the ability to flexibly schedule when jobs are done, with customers able to indicate their preference for a visit, and service providers able to indicate their availability or suggest alternative times. MacAvoy says the traditional ‘ping-pong’ of agreeing on a suitable time is a hassle for both parties, so the app takes that out of it.

“We’ve really been driven by a commitment to convenience and ease of use. With the app, we’re moving closer to that, making the experience of getting someone in as easy as using your thumb to sort the whole thing out in 30 seconds or less,” he concludes.