Older articles, page 2
How Much Deposit Should You Pay a Contractor?
How much deposit is reasonable for contractor work? See state deposit caps where they exist, milestone payment structures, lien waivers, and red flags.
Storm-Chaser Roofing Scams: The Insurance Angle
Storm-chaser roofers exploit insurance paperwork, not just bad workmanship. How assignment of benefits and deductible waivers can leave you liable.
Texas Contractor License Verification: TDLR Guide
Learn how to verify Texas Contractor License Verification: TDLR Guide using public records and a 17-check ProofScore before you hire or pay.
Florida Contractor License Lookup: DBPR Guide
Learn how to look up and verify a general contractor license in Florida using the official state board before you hire. Backed by 17 public-record verification
California CSLB License Check: What Homeowners Miss
Learn how to verify California CSLB License Check: What Homeowners Miss using public records and a 17-check ProofScore before you hire or pay.
Clone Websites: When Scammers Copy a Real Business
Scammers clone real local businesses - same name, copied reviews, a different phone number - to intercept calls and deposits. How to spot the clone.
Is That Moving Company Legit? Check Before They Load
Verify a mover's USDOT number, spot the hostage-load scam pattern, and understand binding vs. non-binding estimates before your belongings leave the driveway.
How to Find a Business in Secretary of State Records
Exact-name search fails more often than it should. A working method using entity numbers, registered-agent search, and foreign qualification lookups.
Solar Sales Red Flags: Verify the Installer, Not the Pitch
Solar sales reps and the company holding the electrician's license are often different entities. Learn to verify who actually installs your system.
Website Trust Signals: What to Check Before You Buy
A before-and-after teardown of business website red flags - domain age mismatches, what the SSL padlock doesn't mean, and contact-page tells.
Door-to-Door Pest Control: Vet the Company First
Summer pest-control sales crews often sell contracts for a company you've never verified. Learn how to check the real business and avoid auto-renewal traps.
Home Service Licensing Rules: CA, TX, WA, MI, FL Compared
A state-by-state comparison of which trades require licensing in California, Texas, Washington, Michigan, and Florida - and the real gaps between them.