Here is every step — with estimated time, where to look, and what to record. This is exactly what we do when we produce a Private I report.
1
Find the Legal Business NameSearch OpenCorporates and your state's Secretary of State to confirm the entity is real, active, and matches who came to your door.
~20 min
2
Verify the LicenseLook up the contractor on your state's licensing board. Confirm status is active, the classification covers roofing, and there are no disciplinary actions.
~20 min
3
Search Complaints, Court Records & OSHACheck the state Attorney General database, BBB complaint texts, civil court records (county-level), and the OSHA enforcement database for citations.
~45 min
4
Evaluate Reviews for AuthenticityCheck Google, Yelp (including filtered reviews), Angi, and BBB. Assess for fake-review patterns: burst velocity, single-review accounts, repeated phrasing.
~20 min
5
Verify Insurance & BondingConfirm general liability, workers comp, and bonding via state records or manufacturer directories — then request a Certificate of Insurance before signing anything.
~15 min
6
Check Online Presence & CredibilityCheck domain age against claimed business history, reverse-image-search portfolio photos, and cross-reference contact details across all platforms.
~10 min
The checklist has every question. The worksheet has every step with checkboxes and fillable fields to track what you've found.
📋
The Complete Question Checklist
All 47 questions — organized by category, with sources listed for each one. Print it and work through it systematically before you sign.
Open Checklist PDF
Opens in a new tab. Use your browser's Print → Save as PDF.
✅
Step-by-Step Vetting Worksheet
Every step with checkboxes, fillable fields, and a verdict section. Track exactly what you've checked, what you found, and what's still open.
Open Worksheet PDF
Opens in a new tab. Use your browser's Print → Save as PDF.