Verify the credentials. Confirm who is coming. Set clear boundaries and put the work in writing. Keep this practical guide beside your estimates and appointment details.
No sign-inNo email requiredFour practical checksOne-page printable
Your homeowner safety & contractor vetting checklist
Use this before your next home service visit. Keep the documents, set the boundaries, and make changes in writing. A friendly conversation is useful; current evidence and a clear scope matter too.
01 / Before the call
Verify the business, license and insurance.
Ask for the legal business name, applicable trade license number, issuing jurisdiction and expiration. Check the official registry yourself.
Request a current liability certificate showing the named business, insurer, policy reference, coverage dates and limits. Confirm coverage through an independently found insurer or agent contact.
Check workers' compensation where applicable. License and insurance requirements depend on the trade and property jurisdiction.
02 / Arrival & boundaries
Know who is coming into your home.
Request the worker's full name and, if available, a photo from the company before arrival. Match their ID to dispatch details at the door. You do not need to keep a copy of their ID.
Agree on work areas, entry, pets, private rooms and cleanup. Tell a trusted person about the visit if that helps you feel prepared.
If the person or scope differs from the plan, pause and call the company using its known number. You can stop a visit.
03 / Payment & contract red flags
Put the work and payment schedule in writing.
Confirm labor, materials, exclusions, permits, cleanup, warranty and expected timing before approving the work.
Avoid paying the entire job up front. Set payment milestones and keep receipts. Deposit limits depend on your location and contract; check your state consumer agency rather than assuming a universal percentage.
Require written approval for changes in price or scope. Do not accept pressure to sign blank forms or an unexplained cash-only deal.
04 / Your written boundaries
Set expectations before the arrival.
Say: “Please stay within the agreed work area. Check with me before entering other rooms, and let me know when I can inspect the work.”
Use the booking script and arrival message below to confirm the plan.
Keep the estimate, credential evidence, messages, receipts and completion notes together.
Confirm service coverage and availability directly. A directory listing or resource badge does not replace these checks.
Five questions to ask before letting a pro inside
Who is coming, and how will the company confirm their identity?
What current license and insurance evidence applies to this job?
What is included in the written price, and what could change it?
What work areas, timing, cleanup and payment milestones are agreed?
How will water be shut off and the installation tested?
Explore women-owned and independently women-operated trade businesses. Review each listing's status and separate ownership, license and insurance evidence before choosing whom to contact.
SheFix verification is a point-in-time review, not a background check or a guarantee of safety, price or workmanship. See exactly what verification means.
Check current evidence before choosing a contractor.
This guide helps you ask questions and document agreements. Licensing, deposit rules and insurance requirements depend on the work and jurisdiction. Verify the current requirements with the relevant licensing board, consumer agency and insurer.
No. Verify current evidence for the work at your property. The resource badge links to this free safety guide. It does not certify ownership, licensing, insurance or personal safety.
Is an account or email required?
No. Read, print, download and share this guide without signing in. Your chosen trade is used in this page to tailor your message; the message is not sent to analytics or an account.
Useful enough to pass along
Share the checklist. Give clients a clearer starting point.
For homeowners & community groups
Share a practical reference with a neighbor, parent group, or someone preparing for a service visit. The PDF and guide stay free, with no email gate.
Before your next home service visit, use this free four-point contractor vetting checklist. It covers current credentials, arrival details, written scope, and payment boundaries. No account or email needed. https://www.shefix.co/resources/homeowner-safety-guide
For trade professionals & publishers
Give customers the free homeowner resource from your website. The optional profile reference attributes visits to your listing ID, while the link takes homeowners directly to the safety guide.
This is a resource link, not a verification or safety certification badge. Editorial links are welcome. A sponsored or paid placement should use an appropriate rel attribute.
Check your quote and payment terms.
The full estimator combines price alerts, itemization questions, a booking script and four pre-arrival checks.
