Web/iOS: RedBeacon is a new service that matches your need for a painter, plumber, house cleaner, or other home service with qualified professionals. It does all the legwork of checking licenses and verifying background information to save you time.

The service works very similarly to ServiceMagic, where you put in your job needs and get back up to four quotes or responses from a pool of screened and approved home service providers in your area.

ServiceMagic, being older, is bigger than RedBeacon now, but RedBeacon offers two advantages: twice the service guarantee (up to $1,000 to cover making the job right if you're not satisfied, versus ServiceMagic's $500 limited guarantee) and the ability to upload photos or videos of your project to better describe it (and get a more accurate estimate). You can also upload a video via RedBeacon's iPhone app.

I tested out the service this morning, but haven't had any responses yet to my call for a maid (which is fine since I'm not really looking); it might be worth the wait to find the right help.

