We have taken a very “hands on” approach to our screening process. Where most directories open the door to every potential client and see how many will stick, we had to approach things in a very different manner. Most directories have no real liability, because they get paid whether you get a good job or not, so that way of screening is fine for them. We, on the other hand, take responsibility for our contractors and offer a real guarantee that the contractor will perform with quality and integrity. So, we have to go the extra mile it takes to find the right contractor.
When we first enter a city, we get involved in organizations and local entities that can lead us to well respected industry professionals that would not be a part of our list. In other words, we seek out individuals and companies that work on a consistent basis with contractors, but have nothing to gain by sharing their names with us. If they have been in business for many years, they have burned through many contractors to find the very few that they continue to trust time and time again. If we need a particular industry that is not being referred, then we do in-depth profiling to determine who we want to approach. We then require them to produce a list of industry professionals that can vouch for their quality and integrity. A list of homeowners is not the same as a list of professional contractors or industry professionals that have done business with them for years.
Once we have the names of contractors that they use consistently and can vouch for their integrity and quality, we call each contractor and request a face-to-face interview. During the interview we get a great understanding of why they are so highly referred. We get very personal with them in our interviews and talk with them about the financial standing of their companies and their goals for future growth. We also let them know that being a part of the list is a privilege that can be taken away if they do not perform with the highest integrity and quality. They sign an agreement that states that they will refrain from high pressure or high fear sales tactics and that if we find out that they are price gouging or needlessly upselling, they will be removed from the list. See our Code of Ethics . Most of the contractors we spoke to were very excited that there was finally a place that would hold someone accountable. However, there were some companies, although very few, that got angry that we would try to “regulate” how they do business. Those companies are not part of The Good Contractors List®.
