"Bigger isn't always better...just gotta do your homework and trust your gut."
Couldn't agree more. Worked with a small crew last summer—no flashy ads, just a beat-up truck and some solid experience. They nailed the job, no fuss. Sometimes simple really is best.
Had a similar experience myself—small crew, older tools, but knew their stuff inside out. Curious though, how do you guys usually vet these smaller outfits without much online presence or reviews? Always feels like a bit of a gamble...
"Always feels like a bit of a gamble..."
Yeah, I get that feeling too, but honestly, sometimes the lack of online presence isn't always a red flag. I've found that smaller outfits often rely heavily on word-of-mouth. Instead of just online reviews, try asking them directly for recent references—then actually call those people. Also, checking their insurance and licenses step-by-step can give you peace of mind. It's a bit more legwork upfront, but it usually pays off in my experience...
"checking their insurance and licenses step-by-step can give you peace of mind."
Totally agree with this. Learned the hard way after a leaky skylight fiasco... now I always cross-check licenses myself. Feels tedious, sure, but beats buckets in the living room during a storm.
Yeah, learned that lesson myself when we hired a guy recommended by a neighbor—nice enough guy, but turns out his "license" was expired by two years. Didn't realize until we had issues and tried to file a claim. Insurance company basically laughed us off the phone. Now I always double-check everything myself, even if it feels a bit paranoid. Better safe than sorry, right?
