The HomeDependable Vetting Standard
Anyone can call themselves “vetted.” Here's exactly what the word means to us. Every company we coordinate with a homeowner passes the same four checks — no exceptions, no pay-to-skip. And because you should never have to take our word for it, each one includes how to verify it yourself.
- 1
License verified for your state and trade
Why it matters. Most states license trades like roofing, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical separately, and a license in one trade doesn't cover another. An unlicensed job can void permits, insurance claims, and any warranty.
What we check. We confirm the company holds an active, unexpired license for the specific trade and the state the work is in — not just "a license" in general.
Verify it yourself. Search your state's licensing board (often the Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Contractors State License Board, or similar) for the company or license number, and confirm it's active and matches the trade.
- 2
Insurance verified — liability and workers' comp
Why it matters. If a worker is hurt on your property or your home is damaged and the company isn't properly insured, the liability can land on you. This is the check most homeowners skip and most regret.
What we check. We confirm the company carries current general liability and, where crews are involved, workers' compensation coverage.
Verify it yourself. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and confirm the policy is current — for larger jobs, you can ask to be named as a certificate holder so you're notified if it lapses.
- 3
Review and complaint history audited for patterns
Why it matters. A star rating alone is easy to game. What matters is the pattern over time — repeated complaints about the same thing (no-shows, surprise charges, unfinished work) are the real signal.
What we check. We read the actual reviews and pull complaint history, looking for recurring problems rather than trusting a single average score.
Verify it yourself. Read the 1–3 star reviews specifically, check the Better Business Bureau and your state's consumer-complaint records, and look for how (or whether) the company responds to problems.
- 4
Responsiveness confirmed — they show up and call back
Why it matters. The best license in the world doesn't help if the company ghosts you. In home services, simply answering the phone and showing up on time already puts a company ahead of most.
What we check. We confirm the company actually responds and follows through before we ever coordinate them with you.
Verify it yourself. Note how quickly they return your first call, whether they give a real arrival window, and whether the person who quotes is the same operation that does the work.
Why our incentives are on your side
We're free for homeowners and always will be. Service companies pay us to bring them serious, well-matched jobs — which means we only make money when we send a company real work. Sending you a bad company would cost us the relationship on both sides, so the incentive is to hold the bar, not lower it. We don't sell your phone number to a pack of contractors, and you hear from one number: ours.
New to how the industry works? Here's an honest breakdown of lead-generation sites and why they generate so many calls.
Frequently asked questions
- How does HomeDependable vet contractors?
- Every company passes the same four checks before we coordinate them with a homeowner: an active license for the correct state and trade, current liability and workers' compensation insurance, an audit of review and complaint history for recurring patterns, and confirmed responsiveness. The bar is the same for every company, every time.
- Does it cost anything for homeowners?
- No. HomeDependable is free for homeowners with no obligation. Service companies pay us to bring them serious, well-matched jobs — so we only earn when we send a company real work, which is why we're motivated to send you good ones.
- Can I verify a contractor myself?
- Yes, and you should. Check your state licensing board for an active license in the right trade, ask for a current Certificate of Insurance, read the 1–3 star reviews and BBB/complaint records for patterns, and note how quickly they respond. This page lists exactly how to do each check.
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