What “Verified” means
Some listings on Find A Pro WNY carry a blue check next to the business name. It is the only trust mark on this site that a contractor cannot buy. Here is exactly what it means.
What we check
Before a business is marked Verified, we confirm one of the following:
- A licence. For trades that require one, we take the licence number and check it against the issuing authority’s own public record — for most of our contractors that is Erie County or the City of Buffalo home-improvement contractor licence.
- Or current insurance. For trades that are not licensed — landscaping, cleaning, snow removal and similar — we require a current Certificate of Insurance naming the business.
We also confirm the listing reaches the business it claims to be: the phone number answers as that business, or it matches the business’s own Google profile.
It expires
A verification runs for 12 months, or until the insurance certificate we saw expires — whichever comes first. After that the check disappears from the listing until the business is checked again. A licence lapses and a certificate runs out, so a check with no end date is not a check.
What it does not mean
Verified is a paperwork check, not a review of anyone’s work. It does not mean we have inspected a job, endorse the contractor, or guarantee the outcome. Always get a written quote, and confirm current insurance yourself before work starts on your home.
It is not for sale
Verified is available at every level of listing, including free ones, and paying us has no effect on it. Placements that are paid for — sponsored positions and paid listings — say so on the listing itself, every time. If you ever see a paid position on this site that is not labelled, tell us at hello@findaprowny.com.
Contractors: how to get verified
Claim your listing and email us the licence number or a current certificate of insurance at hello@findaprowny.com. There is no charge, and it does not require a paid listing. We will tell you when it expires so you can renew it.