With temperatures dropping, it's only a matter of time before the snow is here to stay.
If shovelling snow is one of your least favourite winter activities — there's an app for that.
SnowJob has launched in Timmins. It's like Uber, but for clearing snow.
“Dynamics have changed in neighbourhoods and cities over the years. I remember 20 years ago, there was always a couple neighbourhood kids you could call … and now it’s not like that so that this app has been great for me personally. I don’t even own a shovel,” said Jamie Caicco, SnowJob partner.
To use it, he explained customers request a service. The app gathers quotes from service providers for 20 minutes. When the bidding period ends, the customer receives the best price and best-rated person for each method — shovel, snowblower and plow.
After agreeing to a bid, Caicco said the provider has three hours to do the job. Once the job is finished, the customer receives a photo, and the payment is released. Payment for services can be done by credit card, debit, or PayPal.
The SnowJob app launched in Sault Ste. Marie last winter, where he said they did more driveways than expected.
It's launching in four additional Northern Ontario cities this winter.
“It’ll be new in every city except Sault Ste. Marie, we’ve tweaked the app a bit based on the feedback and we think it’s a great product and there’s a bunch of target markets for this. Obviously elderly people used it last winter that just don’t have the means to do their driveway, that’s an important one, then there’s people like me — I thought of the app because I hate doing my driveway,” said Caicco.
Leading up to winter, Caicco said they're looking for service providers so there is a "good pool of dependable providers for when snow comes."
The mix of people offering the service, he said, ranges from students wanting to make extra money, people on shift willing to work on their days off, or contractors who can puck up extra jobs some nights.
To register as a customer or service provider, download the free app from Google Play or the Apple app store. You can register through your Google account, Facebook, or email.
Full Disclosure: Village Media is involved in the venture, as is Jeff Elgie, the company's president and CEO, but TimminsToday's newsroom has nothing to do with the app.
