Ask better questions before you hire.
Clear, practical questions for hiring local service pros — plumbers, HVAC techs, electricians, and more. One guide per trade. No fluff, no sales pitch.
Hiring guides
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Plumber
Licensing, estimates, warranties, and emergency pricing
Local: Los Angeles · Phoenix · Houston · Dallas · Atlanta · Chicago · Denver · Seattle · Miami · NYC
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HVAC technician
Load calculations, refrigerant credentials, and maintenance plans
Local: Los Angeles
- Electrician Permits, panel work, insurance, and code compliance
- Roofer Material specs, tear-off vs overlay, and storm damage claims
- Painter Surface prep, product lines, and weather contingencies
- Landscaper Scope clarity, plant warranties, and irrigation responsibility
- Pest control Inspection findings, treatment plans, and re-service terms
- General contractor Licensing, payment milestones, change orders, and subcontractors
- Handyman Scope limits, insurance, punch lists, and pricing clarity
- Locksmith Licensing, after-hours fees, rekey vs replace, and ID checks
- Appliance repair Brand authorization, diagnostics fees, parts warranties, and OEM vs aftermarket
- Water damage restoration Moisture mapping, dry-out scope, insurance docs, and category of water
- Chimney sweep CSIA credentials, Level 1–3 inspections, creosote, cameras, and caps
- Window installer Full-frame vs insert, NFRC ratings, flashing, lead-safe work, and warranties
- Flooring installer Product specs, moisture tests, subfloor prep, acclimation, and warranties
- Garage door Repair vs replace, springs and cables, opener safety reverse, and warranties
- Septic Pump vs repair, inspections, drain field, permits, disposal, and warranties
- Well pump Pressure tank vs pump diagnosis, pull fees, controls, warranties, and red flags
- Tree service Licensing and insurance, ISA credentials, removal vs pruning vs stump, permits, 811, and storm red flags
- Fence installer Licensing and insurance, wood vs vinyl vs chain-link, property line, 811, posts, gates, and warranty red flags
- Concrete / flatwork Licensing and insurance, mix and PSI, base prep, rebar and joints, cure, thickness, permits, and warranty red flags
- Moving company USDOT and insurance, binding estimates, inventory/BOL, valuation, access fees, SIT, and broker vs carrier red flags
- House cleaner Bonding and insurance, background checks, written scope, products, keyholding, and re-clean policies
- Carpet cleaner Insurance and method, pet urine and odor limits, drying time, furniture moving, and re-clean policies
- Mold remediation Licensing and insurance, containment and negative air, moisture source, clearance testing, and warranty red flags
- Insulation contractor R-value and type, attic vs walls, air sealing, vapor barriers, vermiculite awareness, warranty, and cleanup
- Solar installer Licensing and insurance, NABCEP, site survey and production estimates, equipment warranties, roof condition, permits and interconnection, financing vs ownership, and payment red flags
Why this exists
Hiring a contractor or local pro is stressful when you don’t know what “good” looks like. These guides collect the questions that actually separate careful operators from risky ones — so you can compare quotes with more confidence.
Every page is informational only. We don’t recommend specific companies, and we don’t take payment from contractors listed here (there aren’t any listings yet).