How we check a contractor before the deposit

First, we decide whether a meaningful check is possible

Before contacting anyone, the request is reviewed for project location, trade, document quality, authorization, and a usable contractor or insurance contact route. Licensing is not uniform across the United States. Some work is regulated by a state board, some by a county or city, and some scopes have no general-contractor license at all.

If the applicable records, documents, jurisdiction, or contact path cannot support a meaningful lawful check, the request is stopped and the $39 is refunded.

We identify the official record that applies to the work

We do not treat a marketplace badge, search result, or AI summary as a licensing record. The report links to the relevant government source and records the status, named holder, classification, and published limitations available at the time of review.

A missing record is interpreted in context. It can mean the search name is wrong, the trade is locally regulated, the jurisdiction does not license that scope, or the contractor lacks a required credential. The report states which conclusion the source supports and which it does not.

We match the legal business to the quote

The company name, entity record, license holder, website, email domain, contract, and quote are compared. Normal abbreviations are not treated as alarming. A different legal entity, dissolved company, unexplained trade name, or person acting for a company is recorded as a fact to resolve.

We request current insurance proof through the reviewed route

When the homeowner authorizes it and a usable contact exists, current proof is requested from the contractor or listed agency. Receipt alone is not labeled “verified.” The report identifies who supplied the document, whether the named insured and dates align, and whether agency confirmation was obtained.

The California Department of Insurance notes that homeowners may contact the insurance company directly to verify certificate information. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also advises consumers to call the insurance company to verify coverage.

We compare who quoted the work with who wants the money

The payee on the check, transfer, invoice, or payment instruction is compared with the entity on the quote and contract. A mismatch is not declared fraud. It is surfaced with the exact names and an instruction to obtain a written explanation before payment.

We calculate the deposit and inspect the written payment terms

The requested deposit is shown as both dollars and a percentage of the quoted total. We look for a written connection to materials, milestones, or the payment schedule. Because deposit law varies, the report does not invent a nationwide legal limit. It points the homeowner to the applicable source when one can be identified.

We write findings with timestamps, sources, and limits

Every finding includes the fact, the source or supplied document, the time checked, and a plain-language limit. Unanswered proof requests stay unanswered. A current license is not presented as a workmanship guarantee. An active business entity is not presented as proof of financial strength.

The result is one of three decision frames: clear on the facts checked, resolve before paying, or insufficient evidence. It remains the homeowner’s decision.