To determine the home warranty companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 54 companies, with each companys star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including:

When looking at pricing, we looked at subcategories such as example pricing as shown on the website, instant quotes and highest and lowest service fees.

The number of covered items in the policies and the number of optional items available for coverage determined the included coverage rating.

Credibility and customer satisfaction ratings were determined by each companys BBB grade, accreditation, reviews, complaints and the number of years in business, as well as consumer ratings on Trustpilot and Google Maps.

When ranking each company on customer support, we looked at service request methods and availability.

Sign-up and restriction ratings were based on the number of plans available, whether or not an inspection is required, available contract terms and whether or not age is a factor for denying system coverage.

Category rating was based on whether customers have the option of choosing their technician or if the company assigns one.

We looked at any fees or penalties resulting from discontinuing coverage before the companys threshold.

Discount ratings for each company were determined by the availability of veteran or military discounts and any sign-up price reductions.

When rating for property types covered, we examined coverage availability for homes such as mobile or manufactured houses, condos and rental properties in addition to typical single-family home coverage.

Ratings for nationwide availability includes the number of states plus D.C. in which coverages are available.

We added or removed additional points based on average service fees and customer representative responsiveness.

All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.

Compare Quotes From Top-rated Home Warranty Companies

Home warranties can protect you against unexpected expenses. Receive a custom quote today.

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Best Home Warranty Companies in California Of January 2024 - Forbes

The primary cost factors that sway the price of roof replacement are the type of materials and the design of your roof. For example, the standard roof ranges between 1,000 and 3,000 square feet, and you can opt for anything from asphalt shingles to aluminum, clay or copper roofing.

Your roofing cost estimate will vary based on materials and labor. Roofing materials come either by the square foot, by the bundle or by roofing squarea 10 ft by 10 ft slab of materials. Additionally, up to 60% of your price will account for labor.

Our average roof replacement cost accounts for the most common roof sizes, materials and labor rates across the country.

The cost of installing a new roof costs between $4 and $40 per square footor about $7 on averageincluding both labor and materials. Remember that in roofing terms, this means between $400 to $4,000 per roofing square, or about $700 for the most popular materials.

Estimating the size of your roof can be a headache if you dont have the original blueprints. The slope and shape of your roofhipped, gabled or flat, for exampledictate the number of shingles, shakes or tiles youll need. In the end, a professional will do the best job of clarifying the exact size of your roof.

When choosing a roofing contractor, opt for a professional with specific experience in roof replacements. Not only can they help you make the call to replace instead of performing repairs, but they will also help you design the roof thats best for your home.

The price of the service accounts for between $2 and $7 per square foot on average. The high end of this range accounts for complex jobs with steep roofs, hard-to-access areas and regions with higher costs of living. Your contractor may charge between $40 and $60 per hour for the work, but flat-rate estimates are more common for large projects like these.

The other 40% to 50% of total roof replacement costs go toward materials. An itemized list breaks down to the roofing materialshingles, shakes, tiles, etcas well as the underlayment, new flashing, roof ridges and vents. Youll also contribute to the cost of building supplies such as nails, tools, ladders and other related equipment.

The slope of your roof affects both the square footage and the labor rates of roof replacement. For one, the higher the pitch, the larger the area. While most roofs fall between a 3:12 and 6:12 ratio, steeper roofs will require special equipment and take longer to install.

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Everything You Need To Know About Roofing Prices (2024) Forbes Home - Forbes

To find the best home warranty company for you, look for a provider you trust that has a plan that covers the home systems and appliances you consider essential. The price whether you pay monthly or annually also needs to be in your budget.

If you're buying a home warranty, here are three tips for comparing coverage and finding the right plan:

Many home warranty providers offer three primary types of plans: appliances, home systems and combination plans. An appliance plan covers items like your dishwasher and refrigerator. A home system plan covers a homes plumbing, electrical and other systems. A combination plan covers your home appliances and systems.

Some companies have add-on options for things that dont typically fall under the appliance and system categories, such as swimming pools and roof leaks. Most customers opt for a combination plan, but some prefer coverage for appliances or systems only.

There are different types of home warranties for buyers and sellers. For example, a homebuilders warranty is for newly constructed homes and covers more than a typical plan. If most of your home appliances are new and still covered under a manufacturer warranty, you may want to opt for a systems-only plan.

Providers generally charge from $36 to $68 a month for a home warranty. If cost is a significant factor for you, shop around for the best deal and consider choosing less coverage or a higher service call fee to reduce the price. You can save money if you get a warranty that only has coverage for the items that need it.

Be sure to get quotes from multiple companies some home warranty companies may offer price matching. As you research, we recommend comparing:

Warranty plans come with a cost, but paying a monthly premium could be much less expensive than paying hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket for a system or appliance repair or replacement.

Not all home warranty companies are created equal. After analyzing 1-star reviews about multiple providers, we noticed some commonalities between many of the poorly rated companies, including patterns of denying claims, misleading or aggressive marketing tactics, hidden fees and service delays.

Always read a home warranty contract thoroughly before you sign. Look for details about coverage, exclusions and limits.

For more advice, read about questions to ask a provider before purchasing a plan.

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Best Home Warranty Companies of 2022 | ConsumerAffairs

Sooner or later things in your home are bound to break down, get damaged, or just start becoming problematic due to wear, tear, and general usage. Especially things like kitchen appliances, HVAC systems, and electrical power tools, which can be quite expensive to repair, and since they are used a lot, they are at a high risk of failing. Some people think that a home warranty is unnecessary and they can handle the issue when it arises. However, it is a wise investment that is benefitting a lot of people. Here are a few reasons why you should consider it.

Things like the HVAC system or a pool will require a professional to fix, this is not something that you can DIY. Not everyone has the time or money, however, to keep looking for contractors and looking at different repair solutions to get the job done. A home warranty saves you from all this trouble and provides you hassle-free maintenance whenever you need it. The professional will do everything required for the job, whereas if you were to do it yourself you might end up spending more on just tools than what you would pay the professional for the entire job.

Your home probably has a lot of appliances. From the kitchen to the garden to the workshop, there are tools that we use in every part of the home for all kinds of different things. Some of these come with manufacturer warranties while many dont. Having one solid home warranty policy means you dont have to deal with dozens of different warranty claim procedures. You just have to deal with one warranty provider and this will take care of all the products that you own. In fact, this can even extend to products that dont otherwise come with a warranty.

While the average lifespan of the appliances in your home will probably be over a decade, there are always freak accidents where something you just bought a couple of days ago goes bad. This could be due to electrical surges or you might have just gotten a bad egg. Regardless, going through the warranty claim procedure with a manufacturer can be a hassle. Especially on high-value appliances. Through a warranty provider, you are covered no matter how old or how young the appliances are. In fact, you might even be covered for appliances that are well past their warranty period.

Some people rely entirely on a home insurance policy and never invest in a home warranty. Its important to note that both these services function very differently and neither one is a replacement for the other. A home insurance policy will not provide you the cover that a home warranty will. And if you use a lot of appliances or you run a small business from home, then it can really be a money saver to have a home warranty in place. To get the best coverage you should invest in both a home warranty and a home insurance service so that damage to the house or damage to the things within the house are all protected against.

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Reasons Why It Is Important To Have A Home Warranty - South Florida Caribbean News

SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a leading global provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions, today released the October 2021 First American Real House Price Index (RHPI). The RHPI measures the price changes of single-family properties throughout the U.S. adjusted for the impact of income and interest rate changes on consumer house-buying power over time at national, state and metropolitan area levels. Because the RHPI adjusts for house-buying power, it also serves as a measure of housing affordability.

Chief Economist Analysis: Real House Prices Increased 19.6 Percent Year Over Year

Affordability sank to its lowest level since 2008 in October, as two of the three key drivers of the Real House Price Index (RHPI) swung in favor of reduced affordability relative to one year ago. Higher mortgage rates and record year-over-year nominal house price growth triggered a nearly 20 percent jump in the RHPI (rising RHPI values indicate declining affordability), said Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American. The soaring nominal house prices and uptick in mortgage rates swamped any affordability gains from the 3.6 percent yearly increase in household income. Since we know real estate is local, house-buying power and nominal house price gains vary by city, begging the question, where is affordability declining the most?

The Five Cities Where Affordability Declined the Most

Affordability declined year over year in all of the markets we track, said Fleming. The five markets with the greatest year-over-year decline in affordability were:

1.) Phoenix (+33.7 percent),2.) Charlotte, N.C. (+32.3 percent),3.) Tampa, Fla. (+30.9 percent),4.) Jacksonville, Fla. (+29.3 percent),5.) Memphis, Tenn. (+27.5 percent).

In October, mortgage rates increased 0.2 percentage points relative to one year ago, which reduces affordability, all else held equal. Higher mortgage rates decrease affordability equally in each market as mortgage rates are generally similar across the country, said Fleming. However, household income growth and nominal house prices vary by market, creating the market-level variance in affordability. Faster nominal house price appreciation can erode, or even eliminate, the boost in affordability from higher household income.

Phoenix suffered the greatest year-over-year loss in affordability in October, mostly due to the nearly 34 percent annual increase in nominal house price growth. Robust investor activity and strong net-in migration to Phoenix has fueled soaring demand for homes against a limited supply of homes for sale, said Fleming. In Charlotte, N.C., household income declined modestly, meaning all three key drivers of the RHPI dragged affordability down in October relative to one year ago. The importance of household income becomes apparent when comparing the decline in affordability in Charlotte to Tampa. While annual nominal house price appreciation in Tampa outpaced that of Charlotte, rising household income tempered the decline in affordability. Ultimately, nominal house price appreciation overwhelmed any affordability lift from house-buying power in all three of these markets.

How Will Affordability Impact the Housing Market in 2022?

If affordability falls too far, some home buyers on the margin will pull back, prompting fewer bidding wars and causing house prices to moderate. In the near term, a labor market characterized by high demand, but limited supply means upward pressure on wages as employers compete to attract employees. While mortgage rates are expected to increase in 2022 as the economic recovery continues, consensus expectations still put them below 4 percent, said Fleming. For some home buyers, as the big short in housing supply continues, it will become impossible to keep up with double-digit nominal house price growth, especially in a rising-rate environment. The challenge for home buyers in 2022 will mirror 2020 and 2021 you cant buy whats not for sale even if you can afford to.

October 2021 Real House Price Index Highlights

October 2021 Real House Price State Highlights

October 2021 Real House Price Local Market Highlights

Next Release

The next release of the First American Real House Price Index will take place the week of January 24, 2022 for November 2021 data.

Sources

Methodology

The methodology statement for the First American Real House Price Index is available at http://www.firstam.com/economics/real-house-price-index.

Disclaimer

Opinions, estimates, forecasts and other views contained in this page are those of First Americans Chief Economist, do not necessarily represent the views of First American or its management, should not be construed as indicating First Americans business prospects or expected results, and are subject to change without notice. Although the First American Economics team attempts to provide reliable, useful information, it does not guarantee that the information is accurate, current or suitable for any particular purpose. 2021 by First American. Information from this page may be used with proper attribution.

About First American

First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a leading provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions that traces its heritage back to 1889. First American also provides title plant management services; title and other real property records and images; valuation products and services; home warranty products; banking, trust and wealth management services; and other related products and services. With total revenue of $7.1 billion in 2020, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2021, First American was named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the sixth consecutive year. More information about the company can be found at http://www.firstam.com.

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Affordability Falls to Its Lowest Level Since 2008, According to First American Real House Price Index - Business Wire

OPEN SUN. 1:00-3:00--PRICE ADJUSTED!!!--Character, charm & loads of living space waiting for you in this turn of the century 3-story Dogtown home. Scenic stained glass windows , pocket doors, fireplaces, hardwoods, large windows & wrap-around front porch are just the start. First floor features beautiful original wood staircase, stunning stained glass windows w/ landscape motif, tall ceilings. Foyer leads into large living room featuring oversized period windows, fabulous millwork, hardwoods & wood burning stove. Dining room features pocket doors, hardwoods, second fireplace w/original mantle, amazing period millwork, opens to kitchen. Kitchen w/42" cabinets (some w/glass doors), breakfast bar, pantry, eat in kitchen leads to back deck. Half bath on first floor too! Upstairs-4 bedrooms plus an office, utility room, 2nd floor deck, hall bath, loads of living space. Walk to Olympia, Pan Olive, close to shopping, Hwy 64 wonderful waiting for your TLC & design touches...take a look today!

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Historical homes you can own in the St. Louis area - STLtoday.com

This exceptional, custom built home, located in the desirable Trotter Ridge Subdivision, is astonishingly LISTED UNDER APPRAISED VALUE!! This lovely home presents a fantastic flow that highlights the open floor plan. The welcoming family rm w/gas fireplace is designed to be the heart of the home & is open to the breakfast & kitchen area, complete with sizable pantry, SS appliances & ample counter space. On the 1st floor is a roomy, yet intimate dining rm, and a room perfect for an office or formal living area. Enjoy your morning coffee on the all-season enclosed porch. Upstairs, the primary suite is truly a retreat with an extra cove that could be used as a 2nd walk-in closet or reading nook. Master ba features a dbl bowl vanity, soaking tub, oversized shower & walk-in closet. Upstairs laundry rm, two add'l spacious br's and bonus rm. Freshly painted & pre-wired for generator. New Roof 2020, New Upstairs HVAC 2019, water softener/filtration system, & Home Warranty! See agent remarks.

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Expensive homes on the market in Greensboro | Local | greensboro.com - Greensboro News & Record

The combination of first-rate knowledge of the build process along with high levels of customer service are the solid foundations for the specialised services that ICW offers. From new builds to renovations, large or small scale, we evaluate projects carefully to ensure the right service is recommended, providing total peace of mind for all parties involved.

As well as delivering A-rated warranties, ICW offers building control services to clients in England and Wales, presenting one point of contact onsite for the duration of a project.

ICW has built a reputation for the personal touch of our customer service. We dont just say were customer-focused, value-driven and quality-led. We genuinely are, every step of the way. We work hard to ensure that we can meet and exceed our clients expectations and continue to push ahead with new customer service initiatives. As such, this year ICW has launched a new client portal for warranty clients and brokers

With access to the ICW client portal, clients and brokers will have an overview of current projects to manage site paperwork, view survey reports and book surveyor visits with ease. The portal is accessible via smartphone, tablet and desktop, so that clients and brokers can log in to securely access project information from any location.

Introducing our client portal is a proactive move that will help empower our clients to access the information they need at a time that suits them.

Aaron McCarten, chief operating officer at ICW Group, said: There is a growing demand for self-service tools that help to streamline the customer experience.

We understand that digital is now an essential means of doing business and we have developed this bespoke online portal to support our clients and brokers, offering an enhanced, efficient and effective service. This is just one of the many positive developments that we are looking forward to this year.

2021 has seen many housebuilders returning to pre-covid levels of operations, buoyed by a stable demand for new homes and the governments post-pandemic recovery drive for the construction industry. Continued support for the sector, including funding for modern methods of construction, will ensure that there is a focus on building good quality sustainable homes that people want to live in for the future.

There has been a marked increase in the number of residential developments adopting modular or offsite methods of construction across the UK. MMC is becoming more standard on build projects due to the fact that it offers faster build times with potentially increased value, helping to deliver better quality, more affordable homes.

Indeed, there is a reported growing demand from homebuyers for greener, more sustainable homes, and using MMC can help achieve such aims. As plans are approved for modular developments, this provides a welcome boost in confidence throughout the supply chain for those involved in the manufacture or supply of MMC materials and systems.

ICW Group supports housebuilders by providing a product approval service that will smooth the way for using MMC on build projects. The ICW approval process has been designed to assist manufacturers through a framework of inspections to gain product approval, ensuring that architects and specifiers can be confident about the quality and suitability of products used onsite.

ICW Group is committed to working in partnership with builders, developers, brokers and homeowners to provide excellent warranty and building control services with enhanced customer service, from initial enquiry through to project completion. To find out more about the range of services that ICW Group offers, please visit i-c-w.co.uk or get in touch on info@i-c-w.co.uk.

ICW Group

Tel: +44(0) 208 0991 393

info@i-c-w.co.uk

http://www.i-c-w.co.uk

Twitter:ICW_GroupLTD

Please note: this is a commercial profile.

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ICW Group supporting clients every step of the way - Planning, BIM & Construction Today

By MARIE NESMITH

With a perfect score of 30, Carter and Keri Smith captured the Cartersville Dances With the Stars Judges Choice Award. The competition, which helped raise funds and awareness for Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter and the Cartersville/Bartow County school systems homeless education programs, was presented at the Clarence Brown Conference Center Saturday.

I think we were both in disbelief and utter shock, Mrs. Smith said, about their winning performance. Carter was 100% confident they had made a mistake in asking us to participate. Out of all the many special people around this community, choosing us to participate was truly an honor.

Performed to a 1950s song mix, the Smiths swing medley was choreographed by Milly Crenshaw with Celebrity Ballroom Dance Studio. The Cartersville residents were married in 2014 and share five children ranging in age from 18 to 21.

Carter and I would like to think we are fun, upbeat folks to be around, so to reflect our personalities, we wanted something fun and fast, said Mrs. Smith, a senior account executive at Choice Home Warranty. We then decided on the 50s theme. We contacted a music professional to mix a selection of songs, presented it to Milly and her first response was wow, that has a lot of energy.

So, from there we were up for the challenge of knowing that was her nice way of saying this may be too fast or hard for you to dance to. Carter had no dancing background prior to this event and he says he still does not qualify to claim any. He says, thank God for Milly, our patient, open-minded and uplifting coach. Milly deserves a medal or something.

In its ninth year, Cartersville Dances With the Stars generated a little more than $208,000. In addition to sponsorship packages and ticket sales, the event raised funds by having competitors collect money from the public.

We are absolutely thrilled with how the 2021 Cartersville Dances With the Stars event turned out, Good Neighbor Executive Director Jessica Mitcham said. In a year full of challenges, restrictions in number of attendees, changes in how couples fundraised prior to the event and health precautions, we are enormously thankful for all the hard work our eight couples and their professional coaches put into making this event a huge success. In total, after expenses were paid, we raised just over $208,000 to help support the homeless education programs in our school systems and the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter.

Formed in 1996, the Good Neighbor has served more than 8,400 people since its inception. In addition to the Transitional Housing program, the nonprofit now features two shelters and a street outreach.

While they are housed, Good Neighbors shelter guests are required to find a job within four weeks, and the shelters staff helps them establish savings, focus on problem-solving skills and chart out future housing options.

Cartersville Dances With the Stars is critical in our work to remind Cartersville and Bartow County of how many children and families rely on the services provided by the schools and Good Neighbor to support struggling children and families, Mitcham said. We are so grateful to all eight couples who really embraced rallying these causes this year, raised funds to support them and danced to entertain our guests.

As Mitcham noted, this years Cartersville Dances With the Stars benefit featured eight married couples. Along with the Smiths, the competition featured Greg and Kim Free, Ahmad and Tamara Hall, Billy and Misty Jones, Bruce and Tracy Mulkey, Jay and Cait Parrozzo, Zach and Alexis Pritchard, and Josh and Lori Shook.

The Pritchards took home the Peoples Choice Award for the most funds raised with nearly $50,000.

Married since 2012, the couple has two children: Avery Claire, 6, and Page, 4. Zach is the owner of Pritchard Injury Firm and Alexis is a school counselor at Cartersville High School.

We are so thrilled to have accomplished exactly what we came to do raise money for the students and families in our community, Mrs. Pritchard said. These programs can't function without the selfless donations from individuals and businesses in our area. And these students can't perform at their best every day if they're hungry or homeless.

Along with learning their dance routine, the couple was busy raising funds in the months leading up to the competition. Their largest benefit, the Home for the Holidays golf tournament, was postponed due to snow and will now be presented March 22.

Zach and I want to bless others as we have been blessed, Mrs. Pritchard said. God wants us to care for others and look after all our neighbors we're hardly scratching the surface, but we had a personal goal to raise as much money as we could.

What's wild is that we found even in this pandemic and time of uncertainty, citizens of Bartow County still wanted to give. We had people call us to ask what they could do above and beyond what was asked of them. We truly believe Cartersville is the best place on Earth.

With a nod to their teenage years, their cha-cha dance to Want to Want Me/I Want to Dance With Somebody was choreographed by Bobbie Bruton.

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to channel our inner cheerleader and pitcher from our high school days, Mrs. Pritchard said. Luckily, a few of the members of the percussion section of our CHS marching band agreed to participate and put on the show of a lifetime.

Our coach, Bobbie Bruton, wanted to be a little more technical with dance moves this year, so she chose the cha-cha and my only request is that we dance to Whitney Houston. Bobbie choreographed the most amazing routine and Zach and I can't stop watching the replay of that night. The routine, the costumes, the audience, the judges it was definitely a night to remember.

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'Night to remember': Cartersville Dances With the Stars tops $208000 - Daily Tribune News

The renovation process, which used to rely on relationships and referrals and old-fashioned direct sales, is now modernized and made more transparent, as people can find a great contractor through platforms, social media, and customer reviews. Some home improvement contractors might not like the way that new discovery methods empower people, but those who are marketing-savvy or customer-focused can adapt and thrive. And for people who need the services of contractors regularly -- either for rental properties or fix and flips -- its better for business to be able to expand your network with just a few keyboard clicks.

These platforms, whether they function as online networking hubs or vendor- matching services, are well known by now, and most people have spent some time on one or more while researching costs and contractors. Each of them is a little different: Houzz is a portfolio aggregator and networking hub, while HomeAdvisor is an information resource that leads into a direct-matching/lead-gen funnel for people to connect with multiple contractors. HomeAdvisor is great for gleaning info on the bathroom remodel or kitchen remodel process before contractor-matching. Houzz can lead you to the perfect interior designer and architect -- as well as provide visual inspo for a remodeling job. For smaller projects that may not require a licensed contractor, theres Thumbtack and Handy.

The company generating the most buzz in this space currently is Porch (NASDAQ: PRCH), which recently went public via a SPAC deal and is notable for offering access to a variety of services. Beyond the home-construction trades, Porch is a platform for homeowners to connect with cable TV providers, movers, and home security companies.

For those who still trust recommendations from neighbors and friends but dont necessarily want to make a bunch of calls to get recommendations, Nextdoor and Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) have become the easy way to get word-of-mouth referrals, or, as the case may be, do hyper-local marketing. Nextdoor just introduced a premium service for local contractors, and Facebook is known as the most effective platform for targeted SMB advertising. Facebook groups remain a very useful localized tool for getting real-life reviews on how someone behaved on a job site, whether they completed a project under or over budget, etcetera. If you find a reputable contractor on a Facebook group, you know theyre worth contacting, because the key tenets of current-day Facebook are: nobody agrees, and everyone has a complaint.

The easiest way to be sure that youre hiring someone whos legitimate, licensed, and bonded is to go to the local chapters of trade associations, such as Builders Association or Latin Builders Association or the National Association or Plumbing Contractors Association. The local Chamber of Commerce can also be a good place to ask if you live in a place either too small or too large for trade associations to be helpful.

Although the true usefulness of a home warranty is forever debated with no clear answer, one reason a lot of homeowners have them is because home warranty companies have networks of numerous contractors in all the most common specialty trades. The thing is, these companies pay the contractors less, so theyre not anyones favorite way to get a job. If you do find a good contractor through a home warranty company, hang onto their information in case you need them to do more work for you directly later down the line.

Whether you find them through a platform or a social media group or through old-fashioned word of mouth, there are several steps you should take to vet a prospective contractor before hiring them.

Have a look through previous jobs and talk through their process. Make sure they can clearly explain the work that was done, as this will demonstrate that they were hands-on with the job.

This is a must for any professional contractor, but nonetheless, dont assume. Ask for proof of liability insurance (and ideally, also property damage coverage and workers compensation). Also check to make sure their license is current -- and that its theirs. The system of RMOs ("responsible managing officer," the one with the license) and RMEs ("responsible managing employee," who borrows the license for a kickback to the licensed contractor) can be abused sometimes, and its safer just to know that the person youre speaking to has a license. Even if they do intend to hire workers and subcontractors, they should still be engaged on site at the beginning.

You may end up catching previous business bankruptcies, small claims against the prospective contractor, complaints, or even lawsuits. The construction industry draws all types, and jobs that arent professionally managed are especially magnets for dubious characters. A final deep dive on Google might save you many months of stress.

When you get to the top one or two candidates, this is standard.

Finding a reliable contractor has always been such an intimidating and hazard-prone process that many homeowners try to DIY projects or put them off indefinitely. Not only is home-improvement work expensive, but contractors have a reputation for setting their own terms once the job has begun. The modern discovery and vetting tools that exist today put a lot more of the power back in homeowner hands at the early stage -- and hopefully thats enough to start your project on the right track.

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How to Find a Contractor for Home Renovations - Motley Fool