Re: Looking for HOME-REPAIR/REBUILDING SITES for rating contractors LOCALLY

Re: Looking for HOME-REPAIR/REBUILDING SITES for rating contractors LOCALLY

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Looking for HOME-REPAIR/REBUILDING SITES for rating contractors LOCALLY 50 SOMETHING GAL 10-24-2006
There is a site called RATE YOUR BUILDER
http://www.rateyourbuilder.infoand it has been good, but was recently
sold to someone who is hiding his or her real identity behind "Domains
by Proxy." It bears watching because of its past track record for
being unbiased and uncensored, but I've a feeling the new owner is not
going to keep it as nice. For now though, there are a lot of good
ratings there and you can ADD a builder and see if anyone rates it too.

Otherwise, a true rating is lacking in pretty much every locale. If
there is regulation the regulatory agencies may not publish complaints.
I've found out as have many people now that Better Business Bureaus
can be very lame. Don't count on them. Look at some consumer sites,
too. Not sure if http://www.complaints.comis still around but it used
to have info on local contractors I think. Also
http://www.ripoffreport.com Though they deal mainly with home
builders, not repair contractors, the sites http://www.hadd.comand
http://www.hobb.orgmay also be of help.




50 SOMETHING GAL wrote:
> I am looking for websites and/or forums where I can research licensed
> and/or independent HANDYMEN and CONTRACTORS (eg. plumber, roofer,
> electrician etc.) -->>LOCALLY.
>
> I've visited the site CONTRACTORS.COM but I am a bit put off by what
> appears to be a highly-commercial website. I guess I inherently
> distrust a site that claims to "screen" all of its contractors. This
> service can't possibly be performed free of charge -- the contractor
> obviously must pay money to the site to be "screened" and therein lies
> the conflict of interest. I do not blame this site for their model
> (indeed I do not see how they could do it any other way) but I'd so
> much prefer a Public, Open, Free, consumer-interactive FORUM that
> allows individuals to rate ANYONE -- and post to a searchable database
> BY LOCALITY on such factors as the type of job done, quality of work,
> estimate vs. final cost, licensed vs. unlicensed, and credit cards
> welcomed, to name a few.
>
> There is a model in place for just this -- the Forums on CRAIGS LIST --
> but to my surprise CL has not one forum dedicated to this
> urgently-needed resource. Even LOCAL.COM doesn't have Forums. :(
>
> The best resource for hiring (almost anyone for almost anything) is a
> personal referral. But I do not have that luxury, and need a more
> publicly-accessible resource. Thanks in advance for pointing out any
> sites you may know of.
>
> 50-sumpin'



other useful resources:
Government National Mortgage Association - Ginnie Mae
The National Home Equity Mortgage Association
Fannie Mae Mortgage
Movie-Corner.com Movie Blog