"Guy seemed nice enough, but when I asked about references, he kept dodging the question."
Good call trusting your gut there. I've seen mixed results with those contractor networks—some are solid, others...not so much. Had a roofer recommended through one once, and he turned out great. But honestly, if someone's hesitant about providing references, that's usually a red flag. Better safe than sorry in these situations.
Definitely agree about references—dodging that question is usually a deal-breaker. I've found that contractor networks can sometimes inflate prices a bit, too, since they're taking their own cut. If you're budget-conscious, it might be worth checking local community groups or neighborhood forums instead. Curious though, has anyone here actually saved money by going through one of these networks, or is it mostly just convenience?
"Curious though, has anyone here actually saved money by going through one of these networks, or is it mostly just convenience?"
I've tried contractor networks a couple times, and honestly, it's been more about convenience than any real savings. The quotes I got were usually middle-of-the-road—not outrageous, but definitely not the cheapest either. One thing I did notice is that the contractors from these networks often had quicker availability, probably because they're paying for leads and want to stay busy.
But if you're really budget-conscious, I'd second the recommendation of checking local community groups. Last year, I found a great roofer through our neighborhood Facebook group who was significantly cheaper than the network quotes. Plus, he was super upfront about materials and costs, which I appreciated. Networks can be handy if you're short on time or patience, but if you're willing to do a bit of legwork, local recommendations usually pay off better in my experience.
I've had similar experiences—networks are handy if you're pressed for time, but savings-wise...meh. Local referrals usually beat them price-wise, at least in my experience. Good call checking neighborhood groups, that's how I found my plumber too.
Have you checked what kind of vetting or quality control the network actually does? Sometimes they're just glorified directories, but I've seen a few that genuinely screen their contractors. If you're not saving much money anyway, might as well confirm you're at least getting someone reliable. Neighborhood groups are usually solid, but it doesn't hurt to have a backup option just in case your local referrals are booked up...right?
