Would you use an app to find local gardeners?

[TheTidyTurtle]

Hey guys - would like some honest thoughts/feedback for an idea I’ve been toying with. The idea is to provide easy, secure ways for people to hire gardeners (whether that be one off or a rolling subscription). But also provide a space where gardeners like myself can build a client base!

Would you use it? Cheers

I already use the "Next Door" app to find local people to do work in the home and garden

Probably not. Just check Facebook for recommendations

Nope

There's already The Gardener's Guild and WeWeed

Most people only look for a gardener once, and then stick with that person (unless they're shit). The best recommendations are still word of mouth.

Do you mean like WeCasa (cleaning + other services) for gardeners? Gardening is easier to fuck up than cleaning. Most users tend to book direct after finding a good cleaner, to avoid fees and pay the cleaner more, so you'd have to advertise heavily to keep getting your cut.

I think you'd struggle to differentiate yourself from the multi service apps like WeCasa and TaskRabbit. Maybe with a qualification checker? But this 'guild' (a private company) does that https://www.thegardenersguild.co.uk/MEMBERSHIP/About_Membership.html

From the gardener's perspective would they have to pay you?
I'm a gardener and every gardener I know is busy to capacity with a waiting list of clients. We don't need to advertise, the work comes through word of mouth, local facebook group and just being seen out working on jobs.

Many people looking for help in their garden are doing so because they have reached a time when they can no longer manage it themselves. Those are not the sort of people who are likely to use (or trust) apps, especially if it means paying up front instead of handing cash to the person who cuts their grass and does a bit of weeding every week/fortnight.

Maybe. I don’t trust facebook recommendations after having one bad one, plus seeing recommendations of people who I knew quite well had a terrible reputation. People recommend their friends and relatives, so it’s hardly helpful. I also once saw someone well recommended who was previously sacked for dishonesty.

No. More to the point would gardeners?
I only use FB for finding trades and most small businesses seem to use it. I realise they all get reviews from friends and family so I take them with a pinch of salt but the same is true of all review sites.
It might depend on area - posh trendy places might use it. Where I live it's mostly word of mouth for gardeners.

Yes, if it’s easy to use, has trusted reviews, and fair pricing. Trust and convenience would matter most.