Why This Page Exists

Most people searching for a contractor in Metro Detroit are not trying to discover that plumbers exist. They are trying to find out whether the one in front of them is licensed, insured, and going to show up. The most common questions we see are variations on the same worry: is this person legitimate, and what happens if something goes wrong.

That worry is well founded. Deposit fraud, unlicensed work, and contractors who disappear mid-project are real and they are not rare. A directory that lists anyone who pays to be listed makes that problem worse, not better.

So this page states plainly what we check, what we do not check, and what our listing does and does not mean. If a verification claim is not described here, we are not making it.

What We Check Before a Business Is Listed

Licensing. Where the trade is licensed in Michigan, we confirm the licence through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and record the licence number, the name it is held under, and its status at the time we check. Some trades on this platform are not state-licensed. Where that is the case, the listing says so rather than implying a licence exists.

Business identity. We confirm the business is a real, operating entity, that the name on the listing matches the name on the licence or registration, and that the contact information reaches the business.

Insurance. We require a current certificate of general liability insurance, and workers' compensation where the business has employees. We record the carrier, policy period, and coverage amounts as stated on the certificate.

Service area. We confirm which municipalities the business actually serves, so a business does not appear on a page for a city it does not work in.

What We Do Not Check

We do not inspect work. We have not been to their job sites and we do not evaluate the quality of anything they have built, installed, or repaired.

We do not monitor licences or insurance continuously. We check at listing and again at renewal. A licence can lapse or a policy can be cancelled between those points, and we will not know until the next check. Ask any contractor for current proof before work begins, regardless of what our listing says.

We do not run background checks on individuals, and we do not screen for every complaint, lawsuit, or dispute a business may have been involved in.

We do not guarantee pricing, timelines, workmanship, or outcomes. Those are between you and the business you hire.

We do not rank businesses by how much they pay us. Paid placement is labeled as paid placement wherever it appears.

What Our Listing Actually Means

A verified listing means that as of the date shown on the profile, we confirmed the licence status, business identity, insurance certificate, and service area described above. It is a factual record of a check we performed on a date, not an endorsement and not a warranty.

It means we did the part a homeowner cannot easily do themselves — confirming a licence number is real and current, and that an insurance certificate exists. It does not mean we are vouching for the work.

Rebuild Detroit presents and verifies provider information. Rebuild Detroit does not perform any of the services listed on this platform. We are not a party to any agreement between you and a contractor, and we do not take a cut of the job.

How Often We Recheck

Licence and insurance status are rechecked when a listing renews. Profiles display the date of the most recent verification so you can see how current it is.

If we learn that a licence has lapsed, an insurance policy has been cancelled, or a business has closed, we update or remove the listing. We do not wait for the renewal date to act on information we have.

If a business is removed for a verification failure, it can be relisted once the underlying issue is resolved and re-verified.

What To Do Before You Hire Anyone

Ask for the licence number and check it yourself. Michigan LARA maintains free public verification and it takes about a minute. Do this even for a business listed here.

Ask for a current certificate of insurance, issued directly by the carrier or agent rather than forwarded by the contractor.

Ask who pulls the permit. On licensed work, a contractor asking you to pull the permit yourself is a signal worth pausing on — it shifts liability to you and often indicates a licensing gap.

Get the scope in writing before any money changes hands, including what happens if the scope changes mid-job. Be cautious about large deposits before materials are ordered or work begins.

Get more than one quote, and compare what is included before comparing price. Quotes that look far apart usually differ in scope rather than margin.

Reporting a Problem With a Listing

If information on a listing is wrong, out of date, or misrepresents a business, tell us and we will check it. If a licence or insurance claim turns out to be inaccurate, we correct or remove the listing.

We cannot mediate disputes, enforce contracts, or recover money. For those, the appropriate routes are the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for licensed-trade complaints, the Michigan Attorney General's consumer protection division, and small claims or civil court.

If you believe a crime has occurred, contact local law enforcement. We will cooperate with any legitimate request.

Paid Placement and How We Make Money

Businesses can pay for placement on this platform. That is how we fund the work, and we would rather say so directly than bury it.

Paying does not change whether a business passes verification. A business that fails verification is not listed, at any price. Verification standards are not a negotiable term in any agreement we sign.

Paid placement is labeled wherever it appears. Where a page shows a curated selection, the basis for that selection is stated on the page.