I've been on both sides of this—worked independently and also tried out a couple of these contractor networks. Honestly, some networks do genuinely vet contractors (licenses, insurance, references), but others are just glorified referral services taking a cut. I'd say treat them like any other recommendation: use them as a starting point, but still do your own digging. Nothing beats personally checking references and past projects, especially for bigger jobs like roofing or major remodels.
"Nothing beats personally checking references and past projects, especially for bigger jobs like roofing or major remodels."
Totally agree with this. I've seen some homeowner headaches firsthand after storm damage repairs, and usually it's because someone trusted a network blindly without doing their homework. Even the best contractor networks have their weak spots, and let's face it, vetting can slip through the cracks sometimes.
One thing I've noticed is that some networks push contractors who pay more for visibility rather than those who genuinely have the best track record. It's not always obvious, either. A buddy of mine once hired a roofer through a network that had glowing reviews online—turned out the guy subcontracted everything and wasn't even on-site. The job got done, but quality control was shaky at best.
Which makes me wonder... how do you guys feel about contractors who subcontract heavily versus those who handle most of the work with their own crew? Does it matter to you when choosing someone for big repairs?
I'm usually on a tight budget, so cost matters a lot—but I've learned the hard way that cheaper isn't always better. Had a bathroom remodel last year where the contractor subcontracted out most of the work. Communication got messy real fast, and timelines went sideways. I think if the main contractor is hands-on and present, things run smoother. Curious though... do you guys usually ask upfront how much work they'll subcontract?
I've had mixed experiences with subcontractors, honestly. I get where you're coming from—communication can definitely tank if the main contractor isn't around much. But I've also had projects where subcontractors actually made things run smoother because they specialized in certain tasks. Like when we redid our kitchen a couple years back, the main contractor subbed out the electrical and plumbing work. At first, I was skeptical... but turns out those subs were way more knowledgeable than the main guy would have been on those specifics.
I guess what I'm saying is, subcontracting itself isn't necessarily the issue—it's more about how well your main contractor manages them. If they're organized and communicate clearly, having specialists handle certain tasks can save headaches down the line. But yeah, I always ask upfront now about subcontractors—not just how much they'll subcontract, but who exactly they'll be bringing in. Learned that lesson after a flooring guy brought in a random crew without telling me, and they ended up botching half the job.
Also, sometimes smaller contractors who do everything themselves can get overwhelmed or stretched thin, especially if they're juggling multiple jobs at once. Had that happen with a deck build once; great guy, solid work ethic, but he just couldn't keep up with his schedule and ended up rushing parts of my project.
So for me, it's less about whether or not they subcontract and more about transparency and management style. If they're upfront and clear about it—and they have good relationships with reliable subs—it usually works out fine.
"I guess what I'm saying is, subcontracting itself isn't necessarily the issue—it's more about how well your main contractor manages them."
Totally agree with this. When we had our roof done last summer, the main contractor brought in a roofing crew from some network I'd never heard of. I was a bit uneasy at first, but honestly, they were fantastic—fast, professional, and knew exactly what they were doing. It really comes down to trust and clear communication from whoever's managing the project...makes all the difference.
