Contact Us | Join Angie's List | Sign In

Why is Angie's List better than free sites?
We don’t accept anonymous reviews, and our certified data collection process protects against companies that try to report on themselves or their competitors.

How do contractors and doctors get rated on Angie’s List?
When a member submits a review on their experience.

What if I sign up and don't like it?
Like this would ever happen! But, seriously, our annual memberships come with a 110% money-back guarantee.

Best and worst contractors of 2008

Our 2nd annual list of Best and Worst Contractors is a compilation of the most exceptional and appalling home-improvement companies from 2008.

Jim Tolly, otherwise known as Jim the Happy Handyman, has been doing odd jobs all his life. “I was raised on a farm in Kansas, and that gives you a good backing in all the basics,” he says.

More on best & worst contractors

Watch the podcast

Repair mortar on brick homes

Brick homes are known for their durability, but decades of wind and weather can leave the mortar that binds them loose and worn. Find out how a process called tuckpointing can bring back a brick home’s strength.

Watch the podcast

How to avoid bad contractors

1. Clearly define your project. Before you begin talking with contractors, pick up remodeling magazines, search the Internet for information on designs and materials, and then put your ideas on paper. Even rough ideas on paper are better than nothing at all. It will give a potential contractor a better sense of what your expectations are and what you are hoping to accomplish.

2. Consider an architect. If you're eliminating walls, adding rooms or doing anything that impacts the structure of your home, an architect or structural engineer may be a good idea.

More tips on hiring contractors

Contractor Reviews on Angie's List

“It's been a terrible summer for exterior painting, with all the rain, but he got to our house without too much of a wait. The paint job is outstanding. I love it!...” Randall W.

“Installed new service pole, breaker box, lights, bathroom fans, GFI outlets, 3-way switches, 2-way switches, kitchen appliances. There were lots of issues with such an old house. He got the job done safely and quickly. Highly recommend him for any electrical needs…” Ken D.

"...horrendous! I had to have to have another plumber come out to repair the work they did and finish the work they left undone causing a long delay on the completion of a remodel..." Carey S.

Find a contractor