How to Choose a Contractor You Can Actually Trust
Star ratings only tell you what other people felt. Here's how to evaluate a contractor on verified performance — and the questions worth asking before you sign.
Reviews are a start, not the whole picture
A 5-star average tells you past customers were happy. It doesn't tell you whether the contractor is licensed, insured, responsive, or reliable about finishing on time. Those are different questions — and they matter just as much.
Look for verified signals
Prioritize contractors whose credentials are verified rather than self-claimed: a checked license, current insurance, and a track record of completed jobs on the platform.
On At Your Porch, this is what the Trust Score measures — verified operational performance, kept separate from opinion-based reviews so you can weigh both.
Questions worth asking
Ask how they document completed work, whether they provide a written warranty, and how quickly they typically respond. A contractor who hands you a clean project record at the end is one who takes accountability seriously.
Trust your record, not just your gut
The best protection is documentation. Choose a contractor who leaves you with a permanent record of exactly what was done — so the next owner, insurer, or contractor can pick up where they left off.
Ready to build your property record?
Free for homeowners — start in minutes.