Totally agree—it's not paranoid, just smart. I've seen similar situations during inspections. One quick way to verify is to ask for their license number upfront, then run it through your state's licensing board website. Takes maybe five minutes, tops. Also, don't forget to check if they're bonded and insured...lots of folks skip that step, but it can save you a huge headache later on. Learned that one the hard way myself a few years back.
Had a similar thing happen a while back. Guy recommended some "network" I'd never heard of, said they were all vetted and reliable. I was skeptical—been around long enough to know that "vetted" can mean anything from thorough background checks to just paying a membership fee. Did some digging myself, and turns out it was legit, but pretty new and small-scale. Makes me wonder though...how do these contractor networks actually vet their members? Feels like there's a lot of gray area there.
Yeah, totally get what you're saying about the "vetting" process. Had a similar experience myself—contractor recommended a network I'd never heard of, claiming they were all thoroughly checked out. Did some digging and found out their "vetting" was basically just checking licenses and insurance, nothing deeper like actual customer references or quality checks. Honestly, I think a lot of these networks rely heavily on reviews and feedback after the fact, rather than upfront screening. Always worth doing your own homework, IMO.
Had something similar happen when I was getting my bathroom redone last year. The plumber gave me this glowing recommendation for a tile guy from some network I'd never heard of. He made it sound like they were super selective, but when I checked their site, it seemed like all they did was verify licenses and basic paperwork—no real follow-up on past jobs or customer satisfaction. Ended up asking around locally instead and found someone great through word-of-mouth. Lesson learned: always trust but verify, right?
"Ended up asking around locally instead and found someone great through word-of-mouth. Lesson learned: always trust but verify, right?"
Definitely agree with this. I've had mixed experiences with those contractor networks myself. Some seem legit at first glance, but when you dig deeper, they're basically just glorified directories. A few years back, I needed some roof repairs after a storm, and my roofer recommended a similar network. Like you, I checked it out and wasn't impressed—felt more like a marketing gimmick than a genuine vetting service.
Ended up chatting with neighbors instead, and they pointed me toward a local guy who'd done solid work for them. Turned out great, and he even spotted some issues the previous roofer missed. Makes me wonder though... has anyone here actually had a positive experience with these contractor networks, or is local word-of-mouth always the safer bet?
