Guide
How to vet a service contractor before you hire
Jun 5, 2026 · Ottawa Service Directory · 5 min read
Reviews are a start, not the whole story. A short checklist for confirming a contractor is real, insured, and worth a written quote.
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Public reviews are a useful signal, but they are the beginning of your homework, not the end. Before you sign anything, confirm the basics yourself.
The five-minute checklist
- Confirm the business is real and currently operating (a working phone, a real address or service area, a recent web presence).
- Ask for proof of liability insurance, and for trades that require it, a licence or certification number you can verify.
- Get an itemized written quote, not a phone estimate.
- Ask who actually does the work and whether it is subcontracted.
- Read a range of reviews across sources, not one cherry-picked quote.
This directory lists real, operating Ottawa businesses and shows ratings only when they come from a named public source. It does not verify licensing or insurance for you; always confirm those directly with the business before you hire.
Common questions
- How do I check if an Ottawa contractor is insured?
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and confirm it is current, ideally naming you or your project. For trades that require it, ask for a licence or certification number you can verify with the issuing body. A reputable contractor provides this without hesitation.
While you are at it, confirm the business is currently operating (a working phone number and a real address or service area are both good signs), and ask who actually performs the work, since it is sometimes subcontracted.
- Are online reviews enough to trust a contractor?
- Reviews are a useful signal but not the whole story. Read a range across sources rather than one cherry-picked quote, then confirm the basics yourself: that the business is real and operating, insured, and willing to give an itemized written quote. This directory only shows ratings from a named public source and does not verify licensing or insurance on your behalf, so that confirmation step is still yours to take.
- What should a written quote include?
- An itemized quote should name the scope of work, the materials or product lines, what is and is not included, the timeline, and the payment schedule. A number given over the phone is an estimate, not a quote, and should not be the basis for hiring. Ask specifically who will be doing the work, since some contractors subcontract parts of a job without saying so upfront.