Service Track: Find and Check Home Service Contractors
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Service Track started in 2007 as a webcentive page to rate and recommend service companies, beginning with flooring and plumbing in North Carolina's Research Triangle (RTP). It's now a guide to finding and checking contractors for home repair, remodeling and building. Before you hire: confirm the contractor's state or local license and insurance, get at least three written estimates, get a written contract with the license number, schedule and payment terms, and never pay the whole job up front or in cash. Be wary of door-to-door offers, leftover-materials deals and anyone who asks you to get the permits. For pre-1978 homes, hire an EPA Lead-Safe Certified firm. Review and lead sites below are commercial; read reviews with a critical eye.
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Each site has quick lookups: who owns it (whois), its history (Wayback Machine), a safety check, and one-tap questions to AI helpers. Grok asks you to tap Send first.
Links last checked Oct 18, 2026.
| Site | whois | history | safety | sitesearch | Google AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check a contractor before you hire (start here) | ||||||||
| bbb.org - Better Business Bureau: check a company | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| cdxapps.epa.gov - EPA: find a Lead-Safe Certified renovation firm (pre-1978 homes) | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| consumer.ftc.gov - FTC: how to avoid a home improvement scam | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| consumer.ftc.gov (disasters) - FTC: avoid repair scams after storms and disasters | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| epa.gov - EPA: renovating an older home? How to find a lead-safe certified firm | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| nascla.org - NASCLA: contractor licensing agencies by state | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| reportfraud.ftc.gov - FTC: report a home repair scam | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| usa.gov - USA.gov: state consumer protection offices (check complaints) | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| North Carolina licensing boards (where Service Track started, in the Research Triangle) | ||||||||
| nclbgc.org - North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors: license lookup | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| nclicensing.org - NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| Find, compare and review local pros (commercial) | ||||||||
| angi.com - Angi (formerly Angie's List) | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| checkbook.org - Consumers' Checkbook: nonprofit, ad-free contractor ratings (some areas) | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| homeadvisor.com - HomeAdvisor (Angi) | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| houzz.com - Houzz: remodeling pros and ideas | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| nextdoor.com - Nextdoor: neighbor recommendations | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| porch.com - Porch | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| thumbtack.com - Thumbtack | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| yelp.com - Yelp | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| Trade associations: find a member pro | ||||||||
| acca.org - ACCA: find an HVAC contractor | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| nahb.org - NAHB: National Association of Home Builders (find a local builders association) | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| nari.org - NARI: National Association of the Remodeling Industry | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| nwfa.org - NWFA: National Wood Flooring Association (find a flooring pro) | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
| phccweb.org - PHCC: Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association | whois | history | safety | search | AI Mode | Grok | Bing AI | |
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Number of links: 23