Every business on Handvetted passes a four-point verification before a homeowner ever sees them. Here’s exactly what that means.
We don’t take a business’s word for it. We confirm every license through the official state licensing registry — the same database a state inspector would use. The license must be active, current, and specific to the services the business claims to provide.
If a roofer applies but their license only covers general construction, that’s a flag. If a license is expired, suspended, or under investigation — automatic rejection.
License number, issue date, expiration date, license type, covered services, disciplinary history
At application and re-verified on a regular schedule. If a license lapses, the business is suspended immediately.
You’re inviting these professionals into your home. We take that seriously. Every owner and principal operator of every business on Handvetted undergoes a comprehensive background screening.
We’re not just checking for criminal history. We look at business-related infractions, fraud records, and complaints filed with state consumer protection offices. This isn’t a checkbox — it’s a real investigation.
Every individual listed as an owner, partner, officer, or principal operator of the business
Criminal records, fraud history, business complaints, consumer protection filings, civil judgments
A license and a clean background are necessary. They’re not sufficient. We also require a minimum 4.5-star rating across verified review platforms.
But we don’t just look at the number. A business with fifty 5-star reviews that were all posted in the same week is suspicious. We look at volume (how many reviews), recency (how recent they are), distribution (are they consistent over time), and response quality (how the business handles negative feedback). Consistency matters more than perfection.
Google Business Profile, BBB, verified industry-specific platforms. Not anonymous forums or unverified sites.
Review spam, purchased reviews, sudden rating jumps, deleted negative reviews, no responses to complaints
After the first three checks pass, a member of our team personally reviews the full application. This isn’t automated. A human looks at the business’s website, their portfolio, their communication style, their warranty policies, and their overall presentation.
We ask ourselves one question: would we trust this business with our own home? If the answer isn’t a clear yes, the application is rejected — even if every automated check passed.
Website quality, portfolio of work, warranty terms, communication responsiveness, overall professionalism
Applications are reviewed within 5–7 business days. We’d rather be thorough than fast.
Submit an application with your business details. Takes about five minutes. We need to know who you are, where you operate, and what services you provide.
Licenses are re-checked on a regular schedule. If a license lapses or is suspended, the business is removed from Handvetted immediately.
We monitor review platforms continuously. If a business's rating drops below our threshold, we flag it for review and may suspend them.
If a homeowner reports a negative experience, we investigate. Verified complaints can result in warnings, suspension, or permanent removal.
Most platforms let anyone pay to appear. We don’t.
Every professional on Handvetted has passed this standard. Tell us what you need and we’ll connect you with one.
