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Practical guides, checklists, and templates that help homeowners hire safely and contractors run better businesses. Everything here is free.
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Red Flags One-Pager
Quick reference for the warning signs that matter most when hiring a contractor.
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Members get the Hire-Safe Checklist, Payment Schedule Template, Change Order Template, Red-Flags Countermeasures Playbook, and more.
Join as a HomeownerGuides for Homeowners
Step-by-step guides to help you hire better, pay smarter, and protect your investment.
How to Verify a Contractor License
Where to look it up, what scammers fake, and what disciplinary actions mean for your project.
Read guideHow to Check Contractor Insurance (COI)
What to ask for, how to read a certificate, and why "I'm insured" isn't enough.
Read guideRed Flags in Contractor Estimates
The warning signs in quotes that experienced homeowners catch — and most don't.
Read guideSafe Payment Schedules & Retainage
How to structure payments so you stay in control without being unfair.
Read guidePermits: Who Pulls Them?
When permits are required, who's responsible, and what happens when they're skipped.
Read guideHow to Check Contractor References
The right questions to ask, how to spot fake references, and when to visit past job sites.
Read guideContractor Bonds Explained
License bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds — what they cover and how to verify them.
Read guideWhat to Do When a Contractor Does Bad Work
A step-by-step response plan: document, notify, mediate, escalate.
Read guideHow to Get and Compare Contractor Quotes
How many to get, what a good quote includes, and why the cheapest bid usually isn't the best.
Read guideLien Waivers Explained
What lien waivers are, the four types, and when to sign or request one.
Read guideGuides for Contractors
Business guides to help you handle disputes, get paid for extra work, and grow through referrals.
How to Handle Customer Disputes
A professional dispute resolution framework: listen, document, resolve, and protect yourself.
Read guideChange Orders: Getting Paid for Extra Work
How to document scope changes, price them fairly, and get agreement before starting.
Read guideBuild a Referral-Based Business
The 5-touchpoint system: pre-job through 6-month follow-up, without being awkward.
Read guideLien Waivers: What Contractors Need to Know
The four types, when to sign, when to request, and common mistakes that cost money.
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