You’re about to trust a contractor with thousands of dollars and your home. We review court records, business filings, judgments, and other public records to identify warning signs that often go unnoticed.
Illustrative County, Ohio · Fictional sample
A contractor can have an active LLC, good reviews, and polished proposals—and still have recent financial or legal problems scattered across multiple public record systems.
Most homeowners don’t know where to look, which records matter, or how to interpret what they find.
That’s where we come in. We put the public record to work so you can make an informed decision.
We follow the business and its owners across relevant public records and jurisdiction-specific filings to answer the questions below.
Confirm its registration, status, identity, and business history.
Identify the owners and research their relevant public-record histories.
Review recent lawsuits and outcomes for meaningful patterns.
Look for supplier disputes, collections, judgments, and recorded obligations.
Check applicable licenses and professional registrations.
Assess if permit records and local filings align with the type of work the business says it does.
Every finding includes plain-English context, source information, and practical questions to ask before signing or paying.
“We don't just find the record. We tell you why it may, or may not, matter.”See the Full Sample Report
Recent supplier lawsuit
Contractors commonly purchase materials on supplier credit. What's notable is that the dispute resulted in both a court judgment and a substantial unpaid balance, which may indicate financial strain or unresolved obligations.
If a deposit is required, ask whether the judgment has been satisfied and request documentation before moving forward.
Source: County Municipal Court · Case 2026 CVH 00243 · Civil · Sample record
Your next steps depend on what we found. Every report includes recommendations tailored to that contractor and based on the records we reviewed.
Every report helps you ask better questions before signing a contract or paying a deposit. When the records raise concerns, you’ll know what to discuss. When they don’t, you’ll have greater confidence in moving forward.
One contractor · Human-reviewed · No subscription