Question about how to find reputable contractors for house work

[W_HAMILTON]

Hi everyone,

I have lots of repairs and other little jobs I need done around the house, but I don't know how to go about finding a good repair person / handyman. I know there are some websites where you can sign up and they will recommend people for your project (e.g., I called Lowe's and they just told me to do that at www.porch.com, but then I read further about the website and it seems like many people are very unhappy with it); however, I don't know really who to trust, and that is the main reason I am looking for guidance: so I can find a trusted person to allow into my house to perform these repairs and other work.

Do you all have any recommendations on how I can find someone reputable? Any online sources that you have used and trusted?

Thank you!

[TexasBushwhacker]

1. AngiesList and HomeAdvisor are the bigger ones n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I've used Angie's List for years and have always been satisfied

with the contractors I've hired from their recommendations - with the exception of a guy who died before he did the work I contracted for. But that wasn't the fault of Angie's List.

[MADem]

3. Do you live in a town with a senior center?

Sometimes, they keep lists of recent retirees or just reliable guys that are recommended by and to older folks. Worth making a phone call and asking, certainly.