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Consumer Tips
22 articlesDon’t make a hiring decision based on a company’s sign in your neighbor’s yard
A company’s sign in your neighbor’s yard does not mean your neighbor was satisfied with the company’s work. Multiple homeowners have reported hiring a company simply because a neighbor had previously hired the company.
Avoid business on a handshake
Insist on written, signed contracts. If a company representative or contractor claims his or her handshake is as good as a contract, it probably is not.
Avoid cash payments
Be wary of contractors who insist on cash. A few contractors and service providers demand cash payments or offer substantial discounts for cash payments to avoid bounced checks, garnished wages and Uncle Sam (although we have no direct proof of any company engaged in tax avoidance).
Avoid large, up-front payments
Protect your finances. Beware of scams and always assume the worst.
Avoid moonlighters
Moonlighting occurs when an enterprising and dishonest employee steals a customer from his or her employer. For example, an employee working for one company might come out to do an estimate but then offer to do the work for less money on non-company time.
Be patient during the busy season
Many home service industries are seasonal. During the busy season, the better companies get backed up.
Do not help contractors
Protect yourself and the contractor. If you help a contractor and the contractor gets injured, the contractor may be able to make a tort claim against you.
Do not lend tools to the people you hire
Contractors should arrive at a jobsite with their own equipment. Many homeowners have reported contractors and technicians who failed to bring the required tools with them.
Keep valuables out of sight
Minimize risk from the beginning. Multiple homeowners reported thefts when unknown contractors, employees, or technicians were working in their homes.
Monitor workers in your home
Protect your home and your valuables. Never leave unknown workers alone in your home and never hide a key for an unknown worker.
Never make the final payment until you are completely satisfied
Money is power. Contractors are much less interested in making you happy after they have been paid in full.
Never open an account for a contractor at a local store
Poor or nonexistent credit is a bad sign. Some individuals or contractors request an account at a local store in the homeowner’s name to allow the contractor to charge the homeowner’s materials directly to this account.
Only compare apples to apples
Make sure you’re comparing companies equally. Some companies knowingly deliver low quality at a low price.
Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true
Prices that seem too good to be true, usually are too good to be true. Many homeowners have regretted their decision to act on a “great deal” that turned into a bad deal.
Remember that one referral is only one referral
One referral doesn’t always tell the whole story. Many homeowners have reported hiring companies because a neighbor or friend had recommended that company.
Request lien releases on major work
Protect your property. A lien is a claim made against a homeowner’s property by an individual or company that has supplied labor and has not been paid.
Seasonal Maintenance Checklist
Seasonal maintenance checklist for homeowners
Be wary of the high-pressure sales technique
Resist the high-pressure sales technique. Some companies often offer “today only” incentives to encourage the homeowner to make a decision on the spot.
Thoroughly check references
Always do your due diligence. Before hiring a company for a major project, such as remodeling, interview many of the company’s references.
Avoid unknown companies selling door to door
Do not buy from an unknown company selling door to door. Some contractors have well-rehearsed, door-to-door scams designed to quickly separate you from your money.
What questions should you be asking your service provider?
While going through your seasonal checklist, you may notice that there is some work you can do yourself, but some tasks, are best left to a professional. Hiring someone to service your home can be intimidating, so we have complied a few our our blog articles to help guide you.
Write a check to the company you hired, not to an employee
Know who you’re paying. Some unethical employees and/or unethical subcontractors steal from homeowners by convincing them to write checks directly to them or to a different company from the one the homeowner hired.
General Questions
8 articlesHow are companies selected for Best Pick Reports?
The majority of our Best Pick companies are identified through our due diligence research. We also accept nominations from homeowners and companies.
How can I get in touch?
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please reach out to the Best Pick Reports Help Desk Team! Phone 877-906-7575 Email helpdesk@bestpickreports.
How is Best Pick Reports funded?
Companies that meet our qualification standards have the option of participating in the Best Pick program. Those that choose to participate receive the designation and authorize us to include their name in our annual publication and on our website.
Standard Pros
Standard Pros are part of our wider home services network of handpicked local pros. Learn how they differ from Certified Best Picks.
What is a Best Pick?
A Certified Best Pick company is one that has been deemed to be exceptional with regard to its quality of work and customer service through independent analysis of the company’s customer feedback and reviews. All Best Pick companies must: Maintain excellent customer satisfaction rates Carry general liability insurance as well as workers’ compensation insurance if
Why are your phone numbers different from the company’s website?
To ensure we’re matching homeowners in our service areas with Best Pick companies, we use tracking numbers in our publications. Also, when you call a Best Pick company from our book or website, the company will know that you’re calling through Best Pick Reports due to this unique number.
Why isn’t my favorite service provider listed?
A particular company may not be listed in Best Pick Reports for a variety of reasons. It is possible the company did not receive a good rating, does not conduct a considerable amount of business in the geographic area, does not have the required insurance and licenses, or chose not to participate in the Best
Why should I use Best Pick Reports?
We’ve been matching top-quality companies with homeowners since 1997, and our research shows that the Best Pick companies we recommend have extremely high satisfaction rates from their customers. Through Best Pick Reports, you can also access useful information on home repairs and home service companies, so you can be educated when reaching out to companies
Mailing List
3 articlesHow can I get a copy of Best Pick Reports?
Bestpickreports.com features the same recommendations that you will find in the print guide, along with additional homeowner reviews.
How can I remove my name from your mailing list?
To remove your name from our mailing list, please contact our Help Desk via phone at (877) 906-7575 or email at [email protected].
Where did you get my information?
In order to send Best Pick Reports to the areas that our companies service, we obtain basic homeowner information like name and address from publicly available sources such as county records and property data providers, similar to how sites like whitepages.com or zillow.
Research Methodology
6 articlesDo many companies not qualify as a Best Pick?
Due to the rigorous nature of our research process, many companies do not qualify. It is also possible for a company to lose its Best Pick status if it fails to meet our standards at any point.
Do you check company credentials?
Yes, we verify that all companies hold general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance when required by the state. We also verify that companies carry proper trade licenses.
Do you rely on other sources for your research?
As part of our due diligence and company qualification process, we analyze Google reviews. If needed or requested, we also conduct independent consumer satisfaction surveys with homeowners who had firsthand experience with home service providers.
How are company scores calculated?
Best Pick Reports relies on consumer feedback and due diligence to determine a company’s qualification status. We develop a qualification rating based on either a) the company’s past three years of Google reviews or b) our survey data on the company spanning the last three years.
How can I contribute feedback to Best Pick Reports?
We do not accept opt-in reviews as part of our research. Our company qualification and research process is conducted in-house to ensure that we get an unbiased and randomly sampled understanding of a company’s performance.
How does Best Pick Reports conduct research?
Fully vetting each Best Pick company is something we take a lot of pride in. We know you trust our recommendations, and we work hard to ensure that our Certified Best Picks truly are the best of the best.
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