# Remove an Angi Review: Angi, HomeAdvisor, Houzz How to remove an Angi review, or answer one, on Angi, HomeAdvisor and Houzz: what each platform's help pages say is removable and what is not. --- The Angi pages we read point to three ways an Angi review comes off a profile: it breaks the platform's guidelines, it does not come from a real customer, or the customer replaces it after a resolution. A review that is simply unfavorable stays, and Angi's help article on negative reviews says that usually only the consumer who wrote a review can change or remove it. The same logic applies on HomeAdvisor and Houzz, with different wording and very different amounts of published detail. This guide reads each platform's help pages as they stood on the day we read them and says plainly where a page stays silent. Rules change, so treat everything below as "the page says," and check the live page before you act. These are not open review sites. A review is tied to a project, a homeowner account or a client invitation, and that changes what you can argue. You are not proving that a stranger never used your business. You are showing that a review fails the platform's conditions, or you are reaching a resolution with the customer behind it.
The short version
## Can you remove an Angi, HomeAdvisor or Houzz review? Yes, but only a review that violates the platform's rules or is not from a genuine customer, and the decision belongs to the platform. Angi's customer FAQ says Angi can refuse to post or remove any review at its discretion. Houzz's review policy says Houzz decides what violates the policy in its "sole and absolute discretion." You request; they decide. Sort the review into one of three cases before you write to anyone. **Harsh but real.** The customer hired you, the project happened, and they are unhappy. This is not removable. Your options are to resolve the problem, ask the customer to update the review once they are satisfied, and respond publicly. **Real but breaking a content rule.** It names another company, includes private information, uses abusive language, or concerns work you did not do. A report has a basis here. **Not from a customer at all.** A competitor, an employee, a relative, or someone with no project on your profile. All three platforms have rules aimed at this, and it is the strongest ground for a request. Match the review against your job records, quote or invoice, dates, and the name or address on the project. A review you cannot match to any job is a different conversation from one you can match to a job that went badly. ## How a verified-review platform differs from an open one On a verified platform the first question is whether the link between reviewer and project is genuine, so evidence about the relationship is the whole case. Each platform describes its own version of the link: - **Angi** says reviewers need an account, anonymous reviews are not accepted, and Angi checks feedback before posting it. Companies cannot rate themselves, and reviewers confirm they are not affiliated with or competing with the business. - **HomeAdvisor** says a dedicated team follows up on reviews to determine their authenticity, and that homeowners can review any member professional. - **Houzz** says clients review after an invitation sent through its Get Reviews tool, and that it verifies every submitted review to screen for spam or false submissions. Verification cuts both ways. A fabricated review is harder to place, so a request grounded in "this person is not my customer" is taken seriously. But a genuine customer's negative review has passed the platform's own checks, so a request that only says "this is unfair" rarely gets traction. Houzz says it outright: it will not remove reviews from genuine past clients who comply with its Review Policy.
24 to 48 hourstypical wait before a new Angi review shows on a profile
5 to 7 business dayshow long Houzz says its check of a submission can take
Not stateda dispute or response deadline, on the pages read for all three

Angi help center article on review status; Houzz Pro help article on getting reviews; the Angi, HomeAdvisor and Houzz review pages read for this guide.

## Angi: what the guidelines allow and what Angi checks first Angi's customer FAQ sets the content standard: reviews should be family-friendly, without offensive or abusive language, accurate, relevant to the requested work, with no comments about other pros or unrelated topics, and without private information about the reviewer or others. Reviews can address work quality, customer service and value for money. That list is your checklist. A review that wanders into a competitor, a neighbor's details or an unrelated dispute can be reported against it. A review saying the work was poor and the price too high sits inside the standard. The FAQ says statements must be accurate but describes no test for accuracy, so a factual dispute still depends on evidence you can show. Angi's help article on the status of a review explains why a review may not be visible yet: - It typically takes 24 to 48 hours before a submitted review is visible on your profile. - A homeowner may be flagged for verification. Angi says it works to ensure reviews come from real customers, not spam bots, and that reviews from family members, employees or competitors are excluded. - A new review from a homeowner who already reviewed the same profile is flagged automatically to prevent multiple reviews for one job, and Angi investigates it. If it describes a different service experience, Angi says it should be posted within a few business days. Two consequences follow. A missing review is not necessarily a removed one, so check its status first. And if you suspect a review comes from a relative, employee or competitor, tell Angi support with evidence, because Angi states it excludes that category. The FAQ also says that if a dispute arises between a consumer and a pro, the rating may be held in pending status until the dispute is resolved. It also shows why one rating matters. A business with at least one review needs an average of 3 stars or higher to be Angi Approved and advertise. The Super Service Award needs an average of 4.5 stars or higher during the review period, at least three new reviews in that period, a lifetime average of 4.5 or higher, and good standing. ## Angi: the complaint process and how to respond When a homeowner complains to Angi about a job, Angi describes a process in which the review is held while it works toward a resolution. Its help article on the complaint resolution process gives two steps and one fallback: 1. Angi contacts the provider by phone or email with a short description of the complaint and the resolution the consumer wants. The consumer's rating is not posted publicly while Angi works toward a solution. 2. The provider responds to Angi and works toward a resolution with the consumer. If that succeeds, the original review is removed and the consumer can post an updated one. 3. If no agreement is reached, the original rating is posted and the provider can respond to it publicly. Angi expects providers to engage whenever a complaint is raised, whether or not they agree with the requested resolution. The article states that non-participation can lead to exclusion from the Angi network, a public banner on the profile noting unresolved complaints, and removal from category and task searches. It gives no deadline for responding or resolving. This is Angi's one real route for a review that is genuine but negative: not a policy argument, but a resolution the customer accepts. The customer still chooses whether to post an updated review, and the page does not say what the new rating must be. If Angi itself caused the problem, Angi's help article on handling negative reviews says to start a chat with a support specialist during business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern. It also says that once the customer's experience is positive, you can ask them to update their review. To post a public response, the help article on responding to homeowner reviews describes two routes. In the Angi for Pros app, open the Reviews tab, tap See reviews, select the review and tap Add a Comment. In a browser, sign in to your business account, go to Reviews, then All reviews, and use the comment link under the project details. Comments in pending status are reviewed by Angi before they are posted, so write for a moderator and for the next homeowner, not for the reviewer. A response that works thanks the reviewer, states the facts of the job in one or two neutral sentences, says what you offered, and invites contact offline. One that fails argues the reviewer's character, publishes job or payment details, or threatens legal action. ## HomeAdvisor and Angi Leads: what the pages say and do not say HomeAdvisor's published detail on disputes is thin, so this section covers only what the pages said. The consumer page at homeadvisor.com/reviews says a dedicated team follows up on reviews to determine their authenticity, that a review carries an overall rating plus star ratings for Quality, Customer Service and Value for Money, and that "All honest, objective feedback is posted." It describes no removal or dispute process. The pro help center for the same service is branded "Angi Leads" on the pages read. Its reviews FAQ says: - You can request reviews from the app or a request page, giving the customer's name and contact information so the project can be verified. - Many reviews are verified automatically, and Angi's Customer Care team follows up with homeowners in certain cases. - You can respond to reviews on your profile, and if you have concerns about a review, Angi can have a team look into whether it meets the review requirements. A separate page on success with reviews says negative reviews happen, advises responding to them with empathy and an offer to fix the issue offline, and gives an example in which a messy-property complaint traces back to a contract that did not state clearly whether tidying the site was included. It does not say whether reviews can be removed. The practical reading: HomeAdvisor's stated position is that honest reviews are posted, good or bad. Your argument has to be that a specific review is not honest feedback in that sense, for example because it is not about a job you did. A complaint that only says the review hurts matches nothing on the published pages. ## Houzz: the review policy, verification and the support route Houzz publishes the most specific policy of the three. As read for this guide (the page shows a last-updated date of May 5, 2021), its Review Policy says: - The reviewer must have had first-hand experience as a client, not just inquiries as a potential client. - The reviewer must not be an owner, employee, officer or principal of the business or of a competitor, must not be related to the business owner in any way (blood, adoption and marriage are named), and must not review the professional through another profile. - Only one person per household or company may review the professional. - Reviews must be accurate, honest and complete. - Prohibited content includes libelous, defamatory, threatening, harassing, abusive, discriminatory or obscene content, as Houzz determines. - Reviews must disclose any monetary compensation or incentive, must not reference other people's comments or reviews, must not carry external links or promote other companies, and must relate only to a project with the company listed on the professional's profile. - Using the posting or removal of a review to demand payment is prohibited, while good-faith refund requests tied to a bad experience are allowed. The policy describes no reporting method, removal procedure, timeline or appeal. Houzz's help article on getting reviews says every submitted review is verified to screen for spam or false submissions and that this can take up to 5 to 7 business days, depending on volume. For questions about removal or disputes, the article offers only a support inquiry link. Houzz's article on negative reviews gives the decision rule: it will not remove reviews from genuine past clients who comply with its Review Policy, and if you do not recognize the client or project, contact Houzz support. Recognize the client and the project, and the review stays unless it breaks the policy. Do not recognize them, and you have a policy-based request. A client who made a mistake can edit their own review from the Activity tab of their Houzz profile, in the Your Reviews section. You cannot edit it for them. The same article advises replying promptly, acknowledging the feedback, tailoring the reply, staying calm and inviting the client to continue offline. If a reviewer threatens a bad review unless you pay, the payment-demand rule above applies, and the message itself is your evidence. ## Where Angi, HomeAdvisor and Houzz differ The platforms differ most in how much they publish about disputes. The table keeps to what the pages read state, and an entry like "not detailed" means the page was silent, not that the feature does not exist.
QuestionAngiHomeAdvisor / Angi LeadsHouzz
Who can reviewAccount holders; anonymous not acceptedHomeowners reviewing a member proInvited clients; colleagues can also review
Content rulesFamily-friendly, relevant, no private informationNot detailedDetailed Review Policy
Dispute routeComplaint process; review held during itTeam may investigate certain reviewsSupport inquiry only
On unfavorable reviewsRemoval generally up to the consumerPage says honest reviews are posted, good or badKept if from a genuine client who follows policy
Public responseYes; pending comments reviewed firstYesYes
Stated deadlinesNone for resolutionNone found5 to 7 business days to check a submission
Where they disagree, follow the platform the review sits on, not the one with the best-written help page. A policy read on one site gives you no standing on another. ## What is removable and what is not The line is the same everywhere: conduct and relationship problems can be reported, opinions about your work cannot.
SituationReportable?Strongest basisOutcome
Customer says work was late and poorNoNone; resolve or respondStays unless updated
Reviewer is a competitor or employeeYesAngi excludes them; Houzz bars themDepends on evidence
No job matches the reviewerYesHouzz: contact support if you do not recognize the clientPlatform decides
Review names another companyYesHouzz policy; Angi relevance standardPlatform decides
Review contains private informationYesAngi guidelinesPlatform decides
False statement, real customerUnclearHouzz and Angi require accuracy; HomeAdvisor not detailedHard to predict
The last row is where most disputes sit. A verifiable falsehood, such as a claim that work was never done when you hold signed completion records, gives the platform something to check. A matter of opinion, such as "overpriced," gives you nothing to dispute. Legal remedies against a reviewer are outside what the help pages read cover, and a lawyer in your jurisdiction should assess them. ## A realistic sequence for one disputed review This scenario uses invented, generic parties. A remodeling contractor gets a one-star review that matches a real job, and the reviewer says the crew left damage that was never fixed. In our experience the timeline usually runs like this, and it is never a promise: records and status check in the first two days, a private conversation with the customer in the first week, then a platform exchange or public response over the following one to three weeks.
From review to resolution
  1. Match the review to your recordsFind the job, dates, quote or invoice, and completion photos. Decide which of the three cases it is.
  2. Check the status firstOn Angi, allow the typical 24 to 48 hours before treating a missing review as removed.
  3. Contact the customer privatelyOffer to inspect and fix what is real. Angi's pages describe a customer-updated review as the outcome of a resolution, and the customer decides whether to post one.
  4. Answer the platform if it contacts youOn Angi, reply to the complaint process in writing and say what you will do.
  5. Post a short public responseThank the reviewer, state the facts neutrally, say what you offered, and invite contact offline.
  6. Escalate only a policy problemSend support the specific rule and your evidence. Do not argue that the review is unfair.
  7. Tell the customer where to editOnce resolved, point them to the edit route. Never offer money or discounts for a particular rating.
If the customer will not engage and the review is genuine, the response is the end of your control. ## Mistakes that make a disputed review worse The most common mistake is treating a verified platform as if it were an open one. Calling a reviewer "probably fake" when the project matches your records gets a refusal and spends your credibility. - **A long public rebuttal.** It draws attention to the review and shows future customers how you treat criticism. - **Paying for a changed review.** Houzz's policy requires reviews to disclose monetary compensation or incentives, so an incentive is a policy problem. - **Posting reviews from relatives or staff.** Angi says it excludes reviews from family, employees and competitors, and Houzz bars them. - **Paying an outside party to "remove" a review.** None of the pages read describe a route an outside party can use on your behalf. ## The next step if a review is hurting you now Start with the record, not the report: match the review to a job, decide which of the three cases it is, and write down what you would say to the customer. Then send either a private resolution offer or a policy-based request, never both in one message.
If this is happening to you now

If one review is distorting your rating, we can read it and the platform's rules against your records and tell you which route fits, including when none does. Start with a private audit on our audit page.

Reputation Partners handles these files alongside search results and AI answers, since a disputed review often surfaces in more than one place. The removal service page sets out how we assess what can be taken down and what is better answered. If a legal question arises about a reviewer's statements, your own counsel decides. ## Questions people ask ### Can Angi remove a review if I did not do the job? Tell Angi support, with dates and any records you hold. Angi says it excludes reviews from family, employees and competitors and can refuse to post or remove a review at its discretion. Whether it acts on your evidence is Angi's decision, and its pages give no timeline for that. ### Does a public response affect whether Angi removes a review? The Angi help pages read do not say a response changes a removal decision. A response is a separate tool that shows homeowners your side. Angi reviews comments in pending status before they are posted, so keep it short and factual. ### Will Houzz take down a bad review from a real client? Not because it is negative. Houzz's help article says it will not remove reviews from genuine past clients who comply with its Review Policy. If you do not recognize the client or project, contact Houzz support. If you do, focus on resolving the issue and responding. ### What if a customer threatens a bad review unless I pay? Houzz's Review Policy prohibits using the posting or removal of a review to demand payment, while allowing bona fide refund requests tied to a bad experience. Keep the message and cite the policy. The Angi and HomeAdvisor pages read did not address this case, so ask their support how they treat it. ### How long until a removed review disappears from my profile? The pages read give no removal timeline. Angi says a new review typically takes 24 to 48 hours to appear, and Houzz says its check of a submission can take up to 5 to 7 business days. Those figures describe publication, not removal, so do not assume a request will be quick. ### Can I sue Angi, HomeAdvisor or Houzz over a review? The help pages say nothing about legal action, and this guide is not legal advice. Any claim depends on your jurisdiction, the exact words used and who wrote them. Take the review, your records and the platform's terms to a lawyer licensed where you operate before you decide.