Thumbtack Is Teaming Up With Sarah Michelle Gellar to Solve Your Haunted House Problems

If you're hearing more creaks and strange noises in your home this Halloween season, don't despair—Thumbtack, the home services website, has teamed up with Buffy the Vampire herself to help you solve your home maintenance issues.

The Haunted Homes Hotline, in partnership with actress and producer Sarah Michelle Gellar, launches October 24.

Homeowners can call the hotline between then and October 31, from 9am to 6pm EST, and have their home questions answered by a team of experts. The experts can tell them whether it's actually something paranormal—or, more likely, that is isn't and what they can do to fix it.

Callers will be entered to win $50 off their next home project booked through Thumbtack, and two callers will win a chance to speak to Gellar herself, who's known for her roles in chilling movies and TV shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

"Working with Sarah Michelle Gellar was a no-brainer!" David Steckel, Thumbtack’s Home Care Expert, tells The Spruce. "Her years as a horror icon have made her an expert in the paranormal space, and we know she’ll be able to tell callers if something in their home seems truly off. Plus, as a homeowner herself, she’s seen and dealt with routine maintenance projects and can offer her perspective on what projects to prioritize."

Encouraging Proactive Maintenance

While the partnership with Gellar is a fun twist, the hotline has a real, tangible purpose: making homeowners more proactive and aware when things go wrong in their homes.

"Homeowners often struggle with where to begin with proactive maintenance, and when we put off tackling projects like clearing pesky spiderwebs or servicing a noisy HVAC system," Steckel says. "We wanted to help homeowners learn the importance of staying ahead of routine maintenance by highlighting the potential 'horrors' that may come from deferred home projects."

Steckel says that Thumbtack did a survey of millennial homeowners and renters, and found that things like doors closing unexpectedly, noises from inside the walls, flickering lights, and creaky floors are the most common reasons they think their homes may be haunted.

"Stay ahead of proactive maintenance," Steckel says. "We don’t want you to be among the 26% of millennials who’ve moved or sold their house because they were worried about it being haunted."

What to Expect From the Hotline

Steckel says the hotline was set up to ensure that people are able to get feedback and solutions to their home maintenance questions in a timely manner, so they can fix them before they become a bigger problem.

"The dedicated Haunted Homes Hotline is designed for homeowners and renters to call in with questions about their homes and help determine if something otherworldly is happening, or if you just need to call in the pros to help find and fix home troubles," Steckel says. "We understand people want quick feedback and easy solutions when they’re concerned about their homes."

Steckel says when people call the hotline, the home specialist will then help them determine what projects might need to be tackled and what order they should be done in—whether that's a DIY solution, or with the help of a Thumbtack pro nearby.

And that doesn't just apply to homeowners. Renters can also call in and get solutions to maintenance issues that might not be the responsibility of their landlords.

"Lightbulbs, wall hanging, deep and regular cleaning, changing filters, shoveling, and even certain lawn care and landscaping projects can be left up to the tenant," Steckel says. "If renters need help with projects like these, Thumbtack pros are always available to help."

Get Help Beyond Halloween

While the hotline may only run until October 31, homeowners and renters can continue to get help for their home maintenance and small reno projects.

Steckel says now is a great time of year to be reminded of the importance of home maintenance, and staying on top of things before they become a bigger problem.

"As the seasons change, it's crucial to remain proactive about home maintenance, particularly in the fall and winter," Steckel says. "Thumbtack has a fantastic home maintenance checklist that helps users determine which projects are most important, so for more information on the best ways to stay proactive, download the Thumbtack app and sign up for our home care program! We’ll take care of the rest."

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Read the original article on The Spruce.