How we choose local pros
Every vendor is verified before it appears
A business enters our tables only after we confirm it first-hand: the company exists and currently operates, its service area covers the market page you're reading, and its review record is checked directly on Google Maps or HomeStars on the date shown in the table. When we can't confirm something, we print a dash — never a guess.
What our badges mean
We award at most a handful of badges per comparison, and every one has printed criteria. Best overall goes to the vendor with the strongest combination of verified review volume, rating, and published warranty terms. Best value requires verified pricing below the local median with a rating of 4.5 or better. Best for farms / Best for wells reflect demonstrated experience with rural properties. No badge can be bought: referral partners are eligible on the same criteria as everyone else, and the badge criteria are published here so you can check our work.
Referral fees never touch rankings
Some vendors pay us a referral fee when you choose them — those rows are marked "referral partner" in every table, and the fee is disclosed again before any introduction. Order and badges are set by the criteria above, applied identically to partners and non-partners. Full details: how we make money.
Data goes stale; we date it
Every review count and price range carries the date we checked it, and tables are re-verified on a monthly cycle. If you spot something out of date, tell us: hello@comparelocal.ca.