Scoring
The dimensions that matter.
Scores are now focused on one question: which Bay Area general contractors deserve a homeowner's first shortlist?
| Dimension | Weight | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Service fit | 20% | Does the provider actually specialize in the page topic? |
| Service area fit | 15% | Does the provider serve the city or region named on the page? |
| Permit communication | 15% | How clearly the contractor explains drawings, permit responsibility, inspections, and city review risk. |
| Budget clarity | 15% | How clearly the provider explains scope, assumptions, and cost planning. |
| Portfolio relevance | 15% | Whether public examples match the homeowner's project type. |
| Public review signal | 10% | Snapshot of public ratings or review sources when manually recorded. |
| Process clarity | 10% | Evidence of consultation, design, permitting, and construction workflow. |
Disclosure
Partner labels are not optional.
Partner providers
When a profile or lead route has a commercial relationship, the page must label it. Hiding that is how trust dies.
Sponsored listings
Sponsored placements can exist later, but ranking reasons, labels, and correction paths need to stay visible.
Public review data
Store snapshots and links. Do not copy full Google, Yelp, or Houzz reviews. That is both lazy and legally annoying.
Corrections
Providers should be able to request corrections. Homeowners should be able to see what was last reviewed.
Ranking rules
No fake certainty.
- Rank by page topic, not generic company reputation.
- Do not claim verified reviews unless verified users submitted them through a controlled process.
- Do not claim license status unless it was checked from an authoritative source.
- Require an override reason when a manual ranking beats the score model.
- Never imply a contractor has license, insurance, or permit ownership unless the source record supports it.