May 23, 2018 - Technology

Facebook Marketplace now lets you find home service pros

Kim Hart, author of Cities

Roofer fixing tiles onto a new roof. Photo: Education Images/UIG via Getty Images

Facebook Marketplace users in the U.S. can now search for vetted home service professionals like plumbers, handymen, home cleaners and contractors, with the workers populated by partners Handy, HomeAdvisor and Porch, TechCrunch reports.

The bigger picture: This is one of the ways Facebook's Marketplace is trying to become a stronger competitor to Craigslist — by working with partners to bring in new listings for items like cars. Amazon, Walmart and Google are also expanding in this area to connect consumers with nearby services, TechCrunch notes.

Why it matters for users: Facebook says millions of people ask for home service recommendations every year, and a lot of them are asking for them on the social network. The feature on Facebook Marketplace matches a users' needs with professionals offering the services.

Why it matters for the service professionals: The home services pros may be able to start finding customer and job leads more easily via Facebook.

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