02-08-2011, 06:05 PM
Is Yelp popular in your area? Yelp.com is kinda like Amazon customer reviews for businesses. Mostly what people review are restaurants and clubs but I typically look in there for reviews on contractors and other businesses in case there are any. Of course, like Amazon, there may be fraudulent reviews for and against someone but there's recourse for business owners and the website itself has some basic anti-fraud measures in place (e.g., new account, makes 1 review and never comes back, that review eventually goes away).
Anyway, I'd check Yelp and see if you're listed already. If so, update it with your contact info and website. If not, then create an entry.
I also agree about the BBB. Dunno what's involved there but I do like to check the BBB before I use a contractor. I don't really know how good and reliable that is, either, but when I was looking for sliding glass doors, I ended up talking to the sleaziest salesman ever, and looked up his business later (a big well known one) and their rating was "F". Obviously I didn't go with them (their prices were crazy-high anyway). The one I ended up using had just a tiny, out of the way office, but they had top ratings on the BBB, good prices and did good work when I went with them.
Anyway, I'd check Yelp and see if you're listed already. If so, update it with your contact info and website. If not, then create an entry.
I also agree about the BBB. Dunno what's involved there but I do like to check the BBB before I use a contractor. I don't really know how good and reliable that is, either, but when I was looking for sliding glass doors, I ended up talking to the sleaziest salesman ever, and looked up his business later (a big well known one) and their rating was "F". Obviously I didn't go with them (their prices were crazy-high anyway). The one I ended up using had just a tiny, out of the way office, but they had top ratings on the BBB, good prices and did good work when I went with them.