How our data works: The license-first public directory

1. Where records come from

HomeCrafto ingests open data files published by state licensing departments, municipal building agencies, and official government registries. Examples include the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), NYC Department of Buildings (DOB), California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), Texas TDLR, and Florida DBPR.

We match each record to an official issuing authority, credential number, classification, and effective date. Where an issuing board provides a public search portal, we provide a direct link so homeowners can independently verify active credential standing.

2. Fail-closed data cleaning & privacy rules

Government registries often contain sole proprietorships, individual apprentices, and personal residential addresses. HomeCrafto applies strict privacy filters:

• Business Entity Verification: We only publish formal business entities (LLC, Inc., Corp., Co., Ltd., or registered trade DBAs). Individuals without a registered business entity are held offline.
• Residential Address Protection: If an address is flagged as a private home, mobile service, or P.O. Box, the exact street number is withheld, and only the city/service area is shown.
• No Scraping Private Data: We never harvest personal emails or phone numbers from private social networks.

3. The "Withheld beats guessed" standard

Lead marketplaces often generate artificial 5-star badges, make up "24/7 emergency service" tags, or create synthetic descriptions to fill space. At HomeCrafto:

• No Fake Reviews: We do not publish unverified user ratings or pay-to-remove review systems.
• No Assumed Hours: Unless opening hours are confirmed with explicit timezone evidence, we state that hours are unrecorded.
• Insurance & Bonding: A license file confirms the credential; it does not prove current job-site insurance. Homeowners are instructed to request a Certificate of Insurance (COI) before authorizing work.

4. How to verify any license yourself

Before hiring any contractor or signing a contract:

1. Check the State Portal: Click the "Verify on official portal" link on any HomeCrafto record, or search your state’s contractor board directly. Confirm the license status is "Active" with no disciplinary revocations.
2. Verify Contractor Identity: Confirm the business name and license holder name match the person or company on your written contract.
3. Request a Certificate of Insurance (COI): Ask the contractor’s insurance agent to email a certificate proving active General Liability and Workers’ Compensation insurance.
4. Confirm Local Permits: Ask your local city/town building department whether your project requires a trade or building permit, and confirm that the contractor will pull it.

5. Updating or correcting a record

Are you a licensed trade professional with a record on HomeCrafto, or a homeowner who noticed an out-of-date phone number? You can report corrections directly via Report a Correction or claim your public listing via Claim this Listing. Changes are reviewed against authoritative government sources before publishing.

Before the first call

• Describe the job and ask whether it is within their scope and service area.
• Check the credential with its issuing authority and ask what applies where the work will happen.
• Ask about insurance, availability, who will do the work, and a written scope.
• Ask about callout fees, labor or fixed rates, materials, cancellation and any estimate charge.