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How We Screen Contractors

When ImproveNet matches you with one or more professionals, you'll get a listing similar to the one below. Read on for a description of our screening codes and what they mean.

Sample Listing

Basic Screening

Additional Screening

Sample Listing

ZENITH CONSTRUCTION CO.	C Le R I
720 BAY ROAD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 (650) 701-8000 Quality workmanship. Free estimates. Ask for our reference list of satisfied customers. Room additions, kitchens, baths, decks, fencing, and dry rot repair. Second stories, foundations, custom homes, and new construction. Family owned business for 35 years.

Description of Screening Codes

Basic Screening

ImproveNet has found that the best predictor of quality work and reliability is a record free of any significant legal and credit problems. All ImproveNet-certified professionals pass the following two basic tests.

C: Clear Credit History

A C in a listing means the firm has passed a credit check in our most recent quarterly screening. Good credit is one sign of a company's financial health and indicates that the firm pays its bills on time. In addition, firms with a C in their listing have not filed for bankruptcy in the last seven years.
Please Note: In some cases, we cannot find a full credit history for a firm. When this happens, we pass a firm with no negative credit information if it has been in business for more than three years and has a clear legal screening.
We believe that if a firm has been in business for several years and has no bad marks, it is likely to be reliable.
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Le: Clear Legal History

An Le in a listing means that the firm has not lost any significant legal actions or liens filed against the owner or the business by customers or other home improvement professionals, including subcontractors and materials suppliers, in the past five years.
Please Note:ImproveNet relies on third-party data sources, and due to delays in the data gathering process, pending actions or other issues affecting a firm's record may have occurred between record updates.
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Additional Screening

Wherever possible, ImproveNet reports that a given firm has maintained liability insurance and has favorable references.

Important note: The absence of any of the following codes from a contractor's listing means ONLY that we have not yet verified that screening code status for that firm. It does not imply that the firm in question does not have proper insurance or references.

R: Recommendations

An R in a listing means that the firm has been strongly recommended to us by industry professionals or past customers. We believe one of the best indicators of quality and reliability is having positive professional references. For those contractors listed without an R, ImproveNet has not been able to independently verify professional references. We urge you to obtain such professional references from any prospective contractor on your own.
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I: Insurance

An I in a listing means that ImproveNet has a current certificate of general business liability insurance for that firm on file. For contractors, an I rating always means they carry general liability insurance. For architects and designers, the I can be either general liability or errors and omissions insurance. Note that firms whose listings lack an I may hold such insurance, but ImproveNet has not independently verified that such insurance is in full force and effect.
For any firm that you are considering hiring, we recommend that you obtain a copy of its general liability insurance certificate directly from its insurance carrier.
Most responsible contractors carry both general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Be sure to ask your contractor about this coverage as well, because if a third party is injured by a contractor working on your home improvement project, or if one of the contractor's employees is injured, you may be liable.
Your homeowner's insurance policy may give you some coverage. You should, however, check the exclusions listed on your policy and your coverage limit. Even if your policy provides secondary coverage, the limits of your policy may put you at risk.
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C:	Clear Credit History
	A C in a listing means the firm has passed a credit check in our most recent quarterly screening. Good credit is one sign of a company's financial health and indicates that the firm pays its bills on time. In addition, firms with a C in their listing have not filed for bankruptcy in the last seven years. Please Note: In some cases, we cannot find a full credit history for a firm. When this happens, we pass a firm with no negative credit information if it has been in business for more than three years and has a clear legal screening. We believe that if a firm has been in business for several years and has no bad marks, it is likely to be reliable. Back to Top
Le:	Clear Legal History
	An Le in a listing means that the firm has not lost any significant legal actions or liens filed against the owner or the business by customers or other home improvement professionals, including subcontractors and materials suppliers, in the past five years. Please Note:ImproveNet relies on third-party data sources, and due to delays in the data gathering process, pending actions or other issues affecting a firm's record may have occurred between record updates. Back to Top

R:	Recommendations
	An R in a listing means that the firm has been strongly recommended to us by industry professionals or past customers. We believe one of the best indicators of quality and reliability is having positive professional references. For those contractors listed without an R, ImproveNet has not been able to independently verify professional references. We urge you to obtain such professional references from any prospective contractor on your own. Back to Top
I:	Insurance
	An I in a listing means that ImproveNet has a current certificate of general business liability insurance for that firm on file. For contractors, an I rating always means they carry general liability insurance. For architects and designers, the I can be either general liability or errors and omissions insurance. Note that firms whose listings lack an I may hold such insurance, but ImproveNet has not independently verified that such insurance is in full force and effect. For any firm that you are considering hiring, we recommend that you obtain a copy of its general liability insurance certificate directly from its insurance carrier. Most responsible contractors carry both general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Be sure to ask your contractor about this coverage as well, because if a third party is injured by a contractor working on your home improvement project, or if one of the contractor's employees is injured, you may be liable. Your homeowner's insurance policy may give you some coverage. You should, however, check the exclusions listed on your policy and your coverage limit. Even if your policy provides secondary coverage, the limits of your policy may put you at risk. Back to Top