Fixable fills post-purchase installation gap
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Q&A with Dan Spinosa and Drew Stanley from Fixable on building a managed marketplace for DIYers
Houzz doesn't complete the offering—they don't take you through the entire journey from purchase to successful install.
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The gap here is not product discovery, it is project completion. Houzz helps a homeowner browse inspiration, buy fixtures, and find pros, but the hard part starts when the box is open and the install does not match the real conditions in the wall, floor, or wiring. Fixable is built around that messy middle, using phone based help from a vetted expert to keep a purchase from turning into a failed project.
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Houzz today combines shopping, a pro directory, and software for contractors, including estimates, invoices, timelines, and project management. That is strong coverage of design and transaction workflow, but it still relies on a separate local pro or contractor to execute the physical work in the home.
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Thumbtack and Angi are built more like lead generation and booking layers. Homeowners enter a job, see pros, request quotes, or book services. The platform helps with matching and trust signals, but the outcome still depends on the hired contractor showing up and solving the problem on site.
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Fixable takes a narrower wedge. Instead of dispatching labor, it sells a virtual consult through text, photos, and video, then adds product recommendations, content, and affiliate commerce. That makes the service cheaper than sending a truck, and useful exactly when a DIY project goes sideways after purchase.
The next step in home improvement commerce is tighter coupling between what gets bought and the help that gets delivered after checkout. The winning model is likely to turn every product page into a service entry point, where installation guidance, troubleshooting, and follow on materials are attached to the purchase from the start.