What to Look For
Responsive communication — How a service communicates before the job is the best predictor of how they communicate during and after it.
Transparent pricing — A professional service will tell you the price before starting.
Insurance — Ask for proof of general liability insurance. Any professional service carries it.
Reviews that sound real — Specific reviews describing the work done and how communication was handled are more useful than generic five-star reviews.
What to Avoid
Unsolicited door-to-door solicitations. Cash-only requirements with no invoice. Requests for full payment upfront. Pressure to make an immediate decision. No physical address or verifiable business presence.
Questions Worth Asking
Are you insured? What's your process if something goes wrong? How do you handle scope changes? Can you provide references from similar work?