How We Verify Contractors
Every listing on PermitDeck is checked against real public records. No fake badges. No paid certifications. Here is exactly what we do.
Why this page exists: The biggest complaint homeowners and contractors have with aggregator sites is that their trust badges do not mean anything. We are publishing our methodology so you can judge for yourself whether a PermitDeck Verified listing is worth your time.
What PermitDeck Verified means
Before a contractor appears on PermitDeck, we run every one of these checks. If any check fails, the listing is not published.
Live business website
Every contractor has a reachable business website that loads without errors. We WebFetch each URL and reject listings whose site is down, parked, or redirects to an unrelated domain. Re-checked when listings are updated.
State license number (when a license is required)
For trades that require a state license (electrical, plumbing, general contractor, tree care in regulated states), we capture the actual license number printed on the contractor's site or licensing board lookup. License numbers are linked to the issuing state agency where a public lookup URL exists.
City and state match business records
Location claims are cross-referenced against the website's stated service area and, where available, secretary of state business filings. A deck builder claiming Denver must actually operate in Denver.
Public reputation (Google / BBB / Yelp)
We check that the business has a visible, non-fabricated reputation on at least one major public review platform. We do not scrape or re-publish review content; we only confirm the business exists publicly.
Verification date is shown
Every listing shows when it was last verified. Verification is not a one-time stamp. Listings are re-checked on a rolling schedule and whenever a listing is updated by its owner.
What we reject
- Businesses whose websites are down, parked, or 404 at verification time
- Any license number we could not match to a real state agency record
- Contractors with active enforcement actions from the issuing licensing board
- Businesses with no verifiable public presence beyond a single directory listing
- Any listing where the claimed city and the operating address cannot both be confirmed
What verification does not guarantee
We are being explicit about the limits of the badge because a badge that promises more than it delivers is worse than no badge at all. Verification confirms a business is real, operates where it claims to, and holds the licenses it claims to hold. It does not and cannot guarantee:
- Quality of workmanship on any individual project
- Pricing fairness or consistency
- Customer service response time
- Insurance coverage (we recommend asking for a certificate of insurance before hiring)
Before hiring any contractor, ask for references, check reviews across multiple public platforms, confirm insurance, and get a written estimate. Our guides walk through each step.
How this compares to the big aggregators
| PermitDeck | Typical aggregator | |
|---|---|---|
| Published methodology | This page | Rarely published |
| Contractor pays for badge | Free | Often tied to paid subscription |
| License number actually checked | Often self-reported | |
| Verification date shown on listing | Rare | |
| Contact info hidden behind a form | Never | Common |
| One inquiry = one contractor | Leads sold to 3 to 8 contractors |
Frequently asked questions
Is this a paid certification?+
How is this different from Angi's "Certified Pro" badge?+
What happens if a contractor's site goes down after they're listed?+
Does verification mean you vouch for the quality of their work?+
How do I report a listing that looks inaccurate?+
Can a contractor get listed without a website?+
Browse verified contractors
Deck builders, tree services, and electricians across all 50 states.
Get your business verified
Free listing. No per-lead fees. No contracts. One inquiry, one contractor.