The 7-Point Contractor Check
Anyone can build a directory and take money from whoever pays. The only thing that makes a referral worth anything is what stands behind it. This is what we check before a company can appear on this site, and what we check again at least twice a year afterward.
1. State license verified and active
We pull the license straight from the Florida DBPR and confirm it is active, in the company's name, and the right class of license for window replacement.
2. Insurance and workers' compensation confirmed
General liability and workers' comp confirmed as in force, with the certificate holder verified. If a company carries an exemption instead of comp, we say so.
3. Permit history pulled
We look at whether the company actually pulls permits in the counties it works in. Window replacement in Florida needs a permit. A company with no permit history is doing something wrong.
4. Lawsuit and lien search
Civil court records searched in the counties the company works in, looking for a pattern of suits by homeowners and for liens recorded against customers.
5. Complaint record checked
DBPR complaint and discipline history, plus what is on file with the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau.
6. Business standing and track record
Active with the Florida Division of Corporations, under the same name and ownership long enough to stand behind a warranty.
7. Written contract and warranty reviewed
We read the company's own contract and warranty. Price agreed in writing before work starts, a real warranty, and no terms that quietly strip the homeowner's rights.
What happens when a company fails
They do not get listed. Not at a lower position, not with a warning label, not for a higher commission. A company that is unlicensed, uninsured, or carrying a pattern of complaints cannot buy its way onto this site, because the moment that becomes possible the check is worth nothing and so is the site.
The date of the last check is printed on every company profile. If that date is old, treat it as old.