With so many ‘taskers’ on-line, right here’s find out how to discover the suitable one – Orange County Register

In an age of on the spot connectivity and on-demand companies, the gig financial system has revolutionized how we rent folks to assist with our wants.

On-line market platforms like Yelp, Care.com, and Thumbtack, amongst others, have paved the best way for an evolution, shifting our perspective from constructing long-term service relationships to concentrating on particular duties you might not have the time, ability or need to perform.

For instance, Teresa Rhyne’s final column mentioned ideas for hiring a licensed realtor and respected transferring firm. On the finish of her article, exhausted from a profitable transfer, she wished for assist unpack her transferring bins. Teresa might use considered one of these platforms to seek out somebody to place away her belongings rapidly. She might additionally rent a talented particular person to hold her huge display screen TV or to arrange her residence workplace.

It looks as if you may rent “taskers,” as they’re referred to as, to do nearly something.

One buyer employed somebody to go of their place to a celebration they didn’t need to attend. One other buyer employed a tasker to ship soup and medication to a sick pal distant. A household who fought over who needed to chop the greens employed somebody to carry out the duty weekly. There are greater than 200,000 “taskers” on Process Rabbit, so it is best to have the ability to discover somebody to finish your job.

This week, by means of Thumbtack, I employed a closet organizer to assist change my garments from summer season to winter. If I’m sad together with her work, my solely loss is the three hours I paid her to check out her companies. Additionally, there isn’t any awkwardness if you don’t want somebody to proceed. You’re free to maneuver on to the subsequent freelancer.

Completely different know-how

Step one to hiring assistance is clearly defining the duty(s) that you must full. Most platforms, together with Yelp, will permit you to publish your job and have job specialists contact you, and lots of platforms will permit you to seek for freelancers in your space.

I might strive the search characteristic first. You may get used to studying the critiques and profiles and see the general high quality of the expertise pool in your space.

As an illustration, on one app, there weren’t many candidates for deep cleansing in our space, and never very most of the candidates had critiques posted, so I moved on to a different platform.

It is very important observe that some platforms is not going to permit you to seek for explicit people and can assign somebody to the duty as a substitute. They do that for expediency if you need somebody quick or if the duty is straightforward, like operating an errand. I might reasonably know one thing about an individual earlier than they enter my residence.

The appropriate freelancer

When looking for the suitable particular person, I search for freelancers with many constructive critiques over an prolonged interval, even when their hourly charges are barely larger. Take a look at the standard of their profile. Some freelancers publish footage of the roles they’ve completed. This displays satisfaction of their work.

It is very important observe that whenever you learn critiques and see “no suggestions given” many occasions on a profile, avoiding these freelancers is usually a good suggestion. Many individuals don’t need to trigger bother by giving a poor evaluate, and no suggestions might be damaging.

Some apps introduce the shopper and repair supplier, however scheduling and cost are as much as the events to deal with themselves. I favor the platforms that deal with scheduling, cost, and tax reporting.

Scheduling duties on the platform makes the tasker extra accountable, and the funds to pay the freelancer are normally held in an escrow account till the job is full and the shopper is happy with the work. The client then receives a receipt for the tasker’s pay. No money is exchanged. I feel it’s safer and extra handy for the events.

Taxes

In case you rent and pay a tasker immediately, you might be accountable for issuing a 1099 if you happen to pay them greater than $600 a 12 months, or you can be accountable for family worker payroll taxes if you happen to pay them greater than $1,000 in a calendar 12 months.

Nonetheless, if you happen to pay them by means of a platform, they are going to deal with the tax reporting, and also you shouldn’t have to.

Security

Relating to security, many platforms carry out a fundamental background verify on freelancers; some supply extra felony, DMV, and identification checks for a further price. I paid for the additional background verify charges previously however now depend on the expertise and references within the profile. You too can analysis a freelancer on social media if it makes you are feeling extra comfy.

Some taskers, particularly housekeepers, will ask you to rent them outdoors the app by way of textual content messaging. I might not recommend you go together with this. They might ask you to textual content your tackle and by no means present up, leaving you to marvel if you have to be nervous about what occurred to them or in the event that they wished your private info for different causes. In addition they could publish an hourly fee on-line after which request the next fee once they arrive.

Insurance coverage

It is very important observe that many gig staff don’t carry enterprise insurance coverage. Ask your insurance coverage dealer about your protection below your owners, auto and enterprise insurance policies for gig staff. Additionally, verify if the platform offers insurance coverage. Be certain that the tasker has a sound driver’s license and sufficient auto insurance coverage in the event that they run errands.

Quick to long run

Generally, a sequence of accomplished duties can convey you nearer to the perfect long-term collaborator. For instance, the non permanent residence well being particular person I employed on Care.com in 2017 after I was recovering from surgical procedure continues to be with us. I preferred working together with her; she now helps me on the workplace.

As a follow-up, Teresa ended up unpacking the bins herself, however she employed a wallpaper hanger on Thumbtack and can also be in search of a canine walker for her dad.

The closet organizer I employed did a improbable job. So, if you’re simply somebody who can assemble that difficult IKEA furnishings or paint that chipping mailbox, consider using a contract search platform.

Michelle C. Herting is a CPA, an Accredited Enterprise Valuator, and an Accredited Property Planner. She makes a speciality of succession planning, enterprise valuations, and settling trusts.