Porch acquires moving services marketplace startup HireAHelper 

Porch, a leading home repair and improvement marketplace today announced it has acquired HireAHelper, a San Diego-based moving services marketplace startup for an undisclosed amount. Founded in 2006 by Mike Glanz, HireAHelper.com is a moving labor marketplace. The startup helps people find, compare, and book independent moving services providers. Similar to the many comparative travel “.com’s” out there, a customer can get quotes and reviews on dozens of local moving companies serving their zip code.

“With the addition of HireAHelper.com, we are able to serve people at all points in the housing lifecycle, from hiring the best movers for relocation to a new home, to finding the right service professional to install a window,” said Porch chief executive officer Matt Ehrlichman. “Millions of people face the challenge of moving every year and being able to provide them with accurate information and access to reliable movers will be a huge benefit to Porch users.”

HireAHelper assists more than 250,000 people each year with their moving project. The company provides an online moving marketplace where consumers can instantly compare real-time quotes and availability from local movers and book a range of moving services, from full-service movers to hourly moving labor to transport rentals. Since 2007, HireAHelper has spearheaded the Hybrid Moving™ phenomenon, an alternative moving approach that blends the use of full-service labor with do-it-yourself transportation, resulting in dramatic cost savings for consumers.

Porch was launched September 2013. As an online home improvement network connecting homeowners with qualified professionals, Porch has grown into the industry-leading partner for the home. With more than 250,000 active professionals across the U.S., Porch partners with large retailers like eBay, Overstock, and Pottery Barn to provide home services fulfillment for their customers, as well as direct-to-consumer access to more than 160 different home services offerings through Porch.com.

“It’s exciting to be joining Porch and to usher in a new suite of services for their community,” said Mike Glanz, co-founder of HireAHelper. “The two business are very closely aligned. We help people get into their new house, while Porch helps make the new house feel like a home, so it is a very natural fit. We look forward to serving the Porch community and making moving a better experience for everyone.”

“The HireAHelper team is tackling a very similar problem to what we’ve been working on at Porch – how do you take a complicated and time-consuming process and make it as quick and painless as possible?” Ehrlichman said. “Also the company shares the same core culture as Porch. They care very deeply about their customers and their community, and have a strong focus on teamwork. There’s a real synergy between the two organizations that are coming together with this acquisition.”

The acquisition of HireAHelper strengthens Porch’s offering in the moving services industry. In April, Porch announced the acquisition of Kandela, which arranges set up and installation of essential home services like television, internet, home warranty, and home security.

HireAHelper adds 75 employees to Porch’s rapidly growing headcount of more than 800 employees. HireAHelper will remain in its current North County San Diego (Oceanside) location.