How to Find a Good Contractor: The Complete Midwest Homeowner's Guide

Finding a good contractor comes down to three non-negotiables before any work begins: a verified license, active insurance you confirmed yourself, and references you actually called. Once those three boxes are checked, collect at least three itemized written bids and review every line of the contract before signing. The rest of this guide walks you through each step — and what happens when homeowners skip them.

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The 8-Step Checklist at a Glance

Before diving into detail, here is the complete process. Each step is explained in full below.

1. Collect referrals from neighbors, friends, and community groups
2. Verify license and insurance independently — don't take the contractor's word for it
3. Get at least three bids — in writing, itemized by material and labor
4. Check three references from similar projects completed in the last 12 months
5. Review the contract line by line before signing
6. Cap your deposit at 25–30% of the total project cost
7. Require lien waivers at every payment milestone
8. Inspect the work at each stage before releasing the next payment

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How to Find Contractor Candidates

Start with referrals — they are still the best filter

Ask neighbors who recently had similar work done. Ask your local Facebook neighborhood group, Nextdoor, or a community forum. A personal referral from someone whose judgment you trust eliminates dozens of unknowns before you make a single phone call.

Do not start with a general web search or rely on a contractor who knocks on your door. Both require you to do the full vetting process from scratch with no baseline signal.

Online directories — use them as a starting point, not a finish line

Platforms like Angi, HomeAdvisor, Houzz, and Thumbtack aggregate contractor profiles and reviews. They are useful for building a candidate list and reading aggregated feedback, but they do not perform the same depth of vetting for every contractor on their platform. Treat them as a lead source, not a seal of approval.

Above Board Pros verifies every contractor in its network against government licensing databases before they appear in search results. If you find a contractor through this site, the license and insurance checks described below have already been run — but reviewing them yourself is still worth the 10 minutes.

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How to Verify a Contractor Is Licensed and Insured

This is the step most homeowners skip — and it is the one that costs them the most. Contractor fraud almost always involves someone who presented false or lapsed credentials. The verification process takes about 10 minutes and requires nothing more than a phone and a browser.

Step 1: Verify the license

Ask the contractor for their license number and the state or local agency that issued it. Then look it up yourself.

Midwest state licensing resources:

State	What's licensed statewide	Where to verify
Ohio	Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, hydronics, refrigeration (specialty trades)	Ohio eLicense — also call OCILB at 614-644-3495
Indiana	Plumbers (state-issued); most GC licenses are issued locally by municipality	Indiana Professional Licensing Agency for plumbers; call your local building department for GCs
Illinois	Roofing contractors (state); most general contractors do not require a state license	Call IDFPR at (217) 785-0800 to verify roofer licenses
Michigan	Electrical (state); various trades licensed at state and local level	Michigan DIFS — also check with your local building department
Minnesota	Residential contractors and remodelers (state license required)	Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry contractor license lookup
Wisconsin	Dwelling contractors (state registration)	Wisconsin DSPS contractor lookup
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska	Specialty trades licensed by state; GC licensing is largely local	Check with your local building department
Tennessee	State license required for projects over $25,000; local requirements for smaller jobs	Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — verify at tn.gov/commerce

Important nuance for Ohio and Indiana: These states do not license general contractors at the state level. Anyone can legally call themselves a general contractor and sign home improvement contracts. This makes local licensing verification and reference checks even more important, not less.

If your contractor cannot provide a license number, or if the number does not appear in the state database, stop. Do not proceed.

Step 2: Verify the insurance — by calling the carrier yourself

Ask the contractor for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing:

• General Liability: Minimum $1 million per occurrence
• Workers' Compensation: Required if they have employees

Then do the step most homeowners skip: call the insurance carrier at a number you look up independently — not one written on the certificate. Ask: "Is policy number [X] currently active? What are the coverage limits? Has it lapsed in the past 12 months?"

Certificates of Insurance can be forged. Policies can lapse for non-payment the day after a certificate is printed. A 3-minute phone call catches both problems.

If your contractor is not insured and a worker is injured on your property, you may be held liable. If they damage your neighbor's property and have no liability coverage, the claim can come back to you.

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Questions to Ask a Contractor Before You Hire Them

Ask every contractor you are seriously considering the same questions. Their answers — and especially their reactions to the questions — tell you a great deal.

Licensing and credentials

• "What is your license number, and who issued it?"
• "Can you show me your current certificate of insurance? May I call your carrier to verify?"
• "Are you registered with the Better Business Bureau, and do you have any unresolved complaints?"

The project itself

• "Have you completed similar projects in the last 12 months? Can you provide three references I can call?"
• "Will your own employees do this work, or do you use subcontractors? If subcontractors, who are they and are they also licensed and insured?"
• "Who is responsible for pulling the permits on this project?"

On permits: If a contractor suggests you pull the permit, decline. When a homeowner pulls a permit, they become legally responsible for the work meeting code — even if a contractor did it. Legitimate contractors pull their own permits.

The bid and contract

• "Can you provide a fully itemized written bid listing specific materials by brand, grade, and quantity?"
• "What is your payment schedule, and what milestones trigger each payment?"
• "How do you handle change orders — will all changes be in writing before work proceeds?"
• "What is your warranty on both labor and materials?"

The practical reality

• "What is a realistic start date and completion timeline for this project?"
• "Who is my day-to-day point of contact during construction?"
• "How do you handle problems when they come up — and they always do?"

A contractor who gets defensive, vague, or impatient at any of these questions is showing you something important. A professional who does quality work fields these questions every week. They have clear answers ready.

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How to Get Multiple Bids — and Actually Compare Them

Why three bids is the standard

Getting three bids from three different contractors does three things:

1. Sets your price expectations. If all three bids cluster between $18,000 and $22,000, you now know the market rate. The contractor who comes in at $10,500 is not giving you a deal — they are either missing scope, planning to use inferior materials, or intending to return with change orders once work is underway.

2. Reveals scope gaps. When contractors bid the same project differently, the differences expose what some are not including. The contractor who missed the permit fee, the debris haul, or the subfloor repair will come back and ask for more money later.

3. Lets you compare materials. One contractor may spec 30-year architectural shingles; another 25-year three-tab. They look like the same job at first glance but the difference in material cost is real and the difference in lifespan is significant.

What a real bid looks like

A legitimate bid is a written document — not a verbal number, not a napkin, not a vague email. It should list:

• Every material by brand, model, grade, and quantity
• Labor costs by trade or as a lump sum tied to specific scope
• Permit fees
• Debris removal and cleanup
• Start date and completion timeline
• A payment schedule with milestone triggers
• The contractor's license number and insurance information

If a contractor gives you a single dollar amount with no breakdown, you do not have a bid. You have a marketing number. Ask for a line-item document before any further conversation about price.

The red zone: bids more than 30% below the others

A bid significantly below the field is almost never a sign of efficiency or generosity. It is almost always a sign of one of these:

• The contractor missed scope items and will return with change orders
• They plan to use inferior materials not specified in writing
• They are in financial trouble and need cash flow from your deposit
• They are operating fraudulently and do not intend to complete the work

If you receive a low outlier bid, ask the contractor to walk you through their bid line by line. Ask what materials they plan to use. Ask how they can match your scope at that price. Their answer will tell you whether the gap is explained or suspicious.

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Understanding Your Contract Before You Sign

What every home improvement contract must include

Do not start work — and do not pay a deposit — until you have a signed written contract covering every item below:

Scope of work: Specific materials listed by brand, grade, and quantity. "Install new windows" is not a scope. "Install six Andersen 400-series double-hung windows, size [X], Low-E glass, with factory-painted exterior trim" is a scope.

Start and completion dates: Both must be stated. "Weather permitting" is acceptable as a modifier, but vague language like "as soon as possible" is not a timeline.

Payment schedule: Payments must be tied to completion milestones, not calendar dates. Example: 25% at contract signing, 25% when framing is complete, 25% when rough-in inspections pass, 25% when punch list is signed. Never agree to a schedule that front-loads more than 30% before substantial work is visible.

Change order process: Any work added to or removed from the original scope must be in writing and signed by both parties before work proceeds. Verbal change authorizations are one of the most common sources of disputes.

Warranty: What does the contractor warrant, for how long, and what does it cover? Labor warranties and material warranties are separate. Know both.

License and insurance information: The contract should state the contractor's license number and insurance carrier, not just check a box confirming they have it.

Lien waiver clause: Require signed lien waivers from the general contractor and any subcontractors at each payment milestone. This is not optional — see below.

Mechanics liens: the risk most homeowners don't know about

In every Midwest state, subcontractors and material suppliers have the legal right to place a lien on your property if the general contractor does not pay them — even after you paid the GC in full. This means you can pay your contractor completely, the contractor pockets the money without paying their subs, and you end up with a lien on your home.

Protect yourself:

• Require a signed lien waiver from the GC and every subcontractor at each payment milestone
• For large material purchases, request a joint check arrangement — the check is made payable to both the GC and the supplier, so it can only be cashed when both parties endorse it

This is not a rare edge case. Mechanics lien disputes appear regularly in home improvement fraud cases across the Midwest.

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Contractor Red Flags: Real Midwest Scam Cases

Understanding the patterns behind real fraud cases is the most effective way to avoid becoming the next victim. Below are documented cases from Midwest metros — with links to the source reporting.

The storm chaser problem

The single most common fraud pattern in the Midwest: an out-of-state contractor — or one operating under a temporary business name — arrives in a neighborhood after a hail storm, tornado, or major wind event. They knock on doors, offer to assess damage for free, and pressure homeowners to sign contracts that same day.

They collect a large upfront deposit — often 40–60% of the project cost — and then disappear, do substandard work, or fail to complete the job. Because they operate transiently and may have registered under a new business name for each area they hit, tracking them down after the fact is extremely difficult.

This pattern has been documented extensively across every Midwest state. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has issued repeated public warnings following major storms, and the state successfully sued storm-chasing roofing companies operating in the Chicago metro area. ABC7 Chicago documented cold-calling contractors targeting Illinois homeowners after storms.

The rule: Never hire a contractor who knocks on your door unsolicited. If you need storm damage repair, call a contractor whose business address you can verify and whose license you can look up before they arrive.

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Ohio: Among the highest contractor fraud complaint rates in the Midwest

Ohio's Attorney General Consumer Protection Section consistently ranks home improvement fraud as one of its top complaint categories, obtaining over $50 million in judgments and settlements in 2024 alone.

Documented cases:

• Columbus / Central Ohio — KB Co. Builders: Five consumers filed complaints alleging work was shoddy, incomplete, or never started. Damages alleged: approximately $240,000. Ohio AG filed civil action. (Insurance Journal, March 2026)

• Northeast Ohio — CMN Group (Virginia-based storm chasers): Following the August 2024 storms, this out-of-state company collected more than $188,000 in deposits from 24 homeowners for roofing and siding work — then ghosted them without completing repairs. Ohio AG sued in March 2026. (Insurance Journal, March 2026)

• Cincinnati area — Acme Restoration / Ryan Roofing: The Ohio AG sued owner Anthony Ryan for collecting large deposits for home improvement projects and failing to deliver. Ryan was sentenced to four to six years in prison in 2025 — a second civil action after a prior 2023 case under a different business name. (ABC6 On Your Side)

• Statewide — All Around Concrete: Owner operating under "All Around Concrete" defrauded 14 Ohio homeowners of a combined $105,746. Indicted in July 2024. (Ohio Attorney General press release, July 2024)

• Marion, Ohio — Clear View Construction: Owner Ryan Needels accepted payments for pole barns and construction projects and stole the money instead of completing work. Convicted on 47 felony counts, sentenced to 17 to 22 years in prison and ordered to pay $448,000 in restitution. (Insurance Journal, March 2026) | (Ohio AG, November 2024)

• Warren County, Ohio: Contractor accused of stealing more than $70,000 from clients. (Dayton 24/7 Now)

• Avon, Ohio — Cleveland Custom Homes: Owner Jeffrey Crawford indicted on charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity after defrauding clients across Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Trumbull counties. Customer losses alleged to exceed $1 million. Crawford pleaded guilty to schemes totaling nearly $3 million. (WKYC, 2026)

What to do in Ohio: File a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section at OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or call 800-282-0515. Verify specialty trade licenses at elicense4.com.ohio.gov.

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Indiana: Serial offenders and Indianapolis-targeted fraud

Indiana does not require a statewide general contractor license, which makes verification harder and bad actors more difficult to stop before they accumulate victims.

Documented cases:

• Indianapolis — Hank Eversole (serial offender): The Indiana AG filed a lawsuit in October 2024 against Eversole — a contractor who had previously been ordered by a Marion Superior Court judge to pay $97,631 in restitution to three plaintiffs in 2016. After that judgment, he continued operating. In the 2024 case, one Indianapolis couple paid $19,000 for work that was never completed. Another consumer paid a $3,000 deposit for a deck roof and never saw the contractor return. (The Indiana Lawyer) | (Inside Indiana Business)

• Statewide: Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has partnered with the Indiana Builders Association to specifically warn against home improvement scammers targeting Indiana homeowners. (Indiana AG Consumer Alert)

What to do in Indiana: File a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com. For trade contractor license verification (plumbers), use the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency verification portal. For GC licensing, call your local building department.

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Michigan: The licensing gap and storm season fraud

Michigan has a dedicated annual Contractor Fraud Awareness Week — a testament to how seriously the state takes the problem. A 2024 investigation by Bridge Michigan found that the state has not kept pace with the volume of contractor fraud complaints from homeowners, leaving many cases unresolved.

Documented cases:

• Detroit — demolition contractor (David Holman): Admitted to fraudulently billing the City of Detroit and federal TARP program over $1.2 million related to house demolitions. Used contaminated backfill material at residential locations. Agreed to pay full restitution. (Hoodline, March 2024)

• Detroit — second contractor in the same demolition program: A second contractor also pleaded guilty to fraudulently billing the City over $1 million in the same program. (Michigan AG, March 2024)

• Northern Michigan — Travis Reimer: Homeowners across Northern Michigan paid Reimer more than $400,000 for home additions and construction projects. Police allege he took the money, had subcontractors do partial work, and pocketed the subcontractor payments instead of paying them. Charges filed 2024–2025. (CBS Detroit)

• Grand Rapids — David Jenkins (Jenkins Estates): A 23-year-old Grand Rapids builder accepted a $235,000 down payment from clients on a $1.7 million custom home contract. Jenkins ordered materials and hired subcontractors but paid neither — leaving the project incomplete and exposing his clients to mechanics liens from the unpaid parties. Jenkins voluntarily surrendered and served two weeks in jail in December 2025. Investigators noted he was already under a separate Grand Rapids police investigation for similar activity at the time. (Bridge Michigan, 2026) — Grand Rapids also has a city contractor complaint portal for documenting issues with local contractors.

What to do in Michigan: File a complaint with the Michigan Attorney General or the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS). Verify contractor licenses at michigan.gov/difs. During and after storm season, DIFS specifically warns against signing contracts with door-to-door contractors before verifying their credentials.

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Illinois / Chicago: The highest storm-chaser concentration in the Midwest

Illinois ranks among the top states nationally for hail damage, and the Chicago metro in particular sees heavy influxes of out-of-state contractors after severe weather events. The Illinois AG received 2,256 construction and home improvement complaints in 2024 — the fourth consecutive year this category topped consumer complaints statewide.

Documented cases:

• Statewide storm chasers — Godfather Construction: State prosecutors alleged this company set up a website specifically warning homeowners of the exact scam it was running — using the site as a credibility prop while charging for work done poorly or not at all. (Courthouse News Service)

• Post-storm solicitation warnings (2024 and 2025): The Illinois AG issued consumer alerts in 2024 and again in May 2025 warning residents of contractors who appear immediately after storms, pressure homeowners to sign same-day, and then fail to deliver.

• BBB Chicago metro warnings: The Better Business Bureau specifically documented contractors cold-calling Illinois homeowners after storm events, using high-pressure tactics and inflated damage assessments to secure contracts.

Illinois-specific rules to know: The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act requires a written contract for any job costing more than $1,000. Roofing contractors must be licensed by the Illinois DFPR. Most general contractors in Illinois do not require a state license — which means local vetting and references are your primary protection.

What to do in Illinois: File a complaint at illinoisattorneygeneral.gov or call 1-800-386-5438.

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Minnesota / Minneapolis: Door-to-door scams and pool contractor fraud

Minnesota's spring thaw season brings an annual wave of door-to-door contractors targeting driveways, decks, and siding — pitching "we have leftover material from a nearby job" lines to pressure quick decisions.

Documented cases:

• Statewide — pool contractor Charles Workman: Federally charged with wire fraud after taking hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively from more than a dozen Minnesota families, promising to build pools and then abandoning jobs. (CBS Minnesota)

• Storm season fraud warnings (2024): The Minnesota AG Keith Ellison issued a specific spring 2024 warning about home improvement scammers targeting homeowners with driveway repair and seasonal maintenance pitches. Scammers target homes with unpaved or cracked driveways, offering bargain prices available "only today."

• Storm-related contractor fraud: Following the first major storms of each season, contractor fraud warnings are consistently issued by both the Attorney General and local news outlets, documenting out-of-state contractors entering the market. (KIMT, Minnesota)

Minnesota-specific protection: Minnesota has a Contractor Recovery Fund administered by the Department of Labor and Industry that compensates homeowners who suffer losses due to a licensed contractor's fraudulent, deceptive, or dishonest practices. This fund only covers losses involving licensed contractors — another reason to verify licensure before hiring.

What to do in Minnesota: File a complaint with the Minnesota AG at ag.state.mn.us or call 651-296-3353.

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Missouri: St. Louis and Kansas City

Missouri does not require a statewide general contractor license. Anyone can legally call themselves a general contractor and sign contracts for home improvement work. This creates a lower barrier to entry for fraudulent operators, and puts the full verification burden on homeowners. The state does license specialty trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) — verify those at the Missouri Division of Professional Registration at pr.mo.gov.

Documented cases:

• St. Louis County — A-1 Construction General Contractor (John G. Adams): Missouri AG Andrew Bailey obtained a default judgment against Adams for falsely promising home renovation and repair to six Missouri homeowners and collecting deposits without completing any of the work. (Missouri Attorney General)

• Statewide — Brandon Ward / Insight Contractors: Ward pleaded guilty to felony Deceptive Business Practice and Stealing charges after collecting $61,650 in upfront payments from homeowners for projects never started. Sentenced to probation with full restitution ordered in October 2025. (Hoodline, October 2025)

• Kansas City — Griffin Quality Construction: A Kansas City contractor faces felony fraud charges after allegedly collecting more than $15,000 from homeowners without finishing their projects. Charges announced December 2025. (KCTV5, December 2025)

• Kansas City — serial repeat offender: FOX4 Kansas City documented a Missouri contractor who moved between business names to evade accountability after repeatedly defrauding homeowners across the metro. (FOX4 KC)

What to do in Missouri: File a complaint at ago.mo.gov or call the Missouri AG Consumer Protection Section at 800-392-8222.

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Wisconsin / Milwaukee

Wisconsin requires Dwelling Contractor registration through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). This is a meaningful state-level protection — operating as an unregistered contractor is itself a legal violation and an immediate disqualifying red flag. Verify registration at dsps.wi.gov before signing anything.

Documented cases:

• South Milwaukee — Property Restoration Professionals (Owen Masters): Following a 2024 hailstorm, Masters collected $5,000 to $20,000 per homeowner for roofing work that was never completed. South Milwaukee police investigated him for multiple theft-by-contractor offenses between October 2024 and May 2025. Investigators found that his business was not licensed in Wisconsin. Charged with felony theft in February 2026. (Daily Reporter, February 2026)

• Wisconsin — Ross Schlomann: Sentenced to five years in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution after defrauding more than a dozen clients whose homes he had promised to build in a scheme the judge called a "sophisticated Ponzi operation." (Civic Media / The Tap, August 2024) | (We Are Green Bay)

• Statewide BBB alert (2024): The Wisconsin BBB issued a formal scam alert documenting home improvement contractors collecting deposits and disappearing without completing work across the state. (Urban Milwaukee / BBB Wisconsin, 2024)

What to do in Wisconsin: File a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) at datcp.wi.gov or call 800-422-7128.

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Iowa / Nebraska / Kansas

None of these three states require a statewide general contractor license for residential work. Licensing exists at the local level — Omaha, Des Moines, and Wichita each have their own contractor registration programs. Verify with your city's building department before hiring.

Iowa / Des Moines:

• Johnston — Shawn Heuss / Allure Roofing & Construction: Arrested in October 2025 on charges of fraudulent submission, second-degree theft, and fraudulent practice. After a storm damaged his own roof, Heuss filed an insurance claim — then painted part of the roof and submitted a fake invoice from his own company instead of making real repairs. Illustrates how contractor fraud extends into insurance fraud schemes affecting Iowa homeowners. (Iowa Insurance Division, November 2025)

Nebraska / Omaha:

• Omaha-area home builder: An Omaha-based builder accepted large construction payments — one family spent over $700,000 on their dream home — and stopped building before the homes were livable. Multiple Iowa families were also affected, with the number growing as additional victims came forward after initial reporting. (WOWT Omaha, July 2025)

Kansas / Wichita:

Kansas sits in the core of the nation's hail belt. Wichita and the surrounding metro experience some of the highest annual hail-damage rates in the country, making roofing and exterior contractors one of the highest-risk hiring categories after each spring storm season. Out-of-state storm chasers are a documented recurring problem.

What to do in Iowa: Contact the Iowa AG at iowaattorneygeneral.gov or call 888-777-4590.
What to do in Nebraska: Contact the Nebraska AG at ago.nebraska.gov or call 402-471-2682.
What to do in Kansas: Contact the Kansas AG at ag.ks.gov or call 785-296-3751.

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Tennessee / Nashville

Tennessee is one of the stronger licensing states in the Midwest/South region: state licensure is required for home improvement projects exceeding $25,000. For smaller projects, licensing requirements are local. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors received 884 complaints in 2024, resulting in $990,896 in civil penalties.

Documented cases:

• Middle Tennessee — fake contractor, seven families defrauded: A fraudulent contractor swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from seven Middle Tennessee families, promising home construction and renovation work that was never completed. (NewsChannel 5 Nashville)

• Tennessee — Thomas Brooks: Collected large cash payments from homeowners, performed minimal or no work, left homes in worse condition than before, then filed for bankruptcy to shield assets from restitution claims. (WSMV Nashville, January 2024)

• Post-storm chasers: Following severe weather events including tornado outbreaks and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Tennessee AG and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issued specific warnings about out-of-state contractors targeting affected neighborhoods. Governor Lee declared Contractor Fraud Awareness Week in May 2025 in direct response. (Tennessee AG, March 2025) | (Tennessee TDCI, May 2025)

What to do in Tennessee: File a complaint with the Tennessee AG at tn.gov/attorneygeneral or contact the Board for Licensing Contractors at 615-741-8307.

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What to Do If You Have Already Been Scammed

If you have paid a contractor who abandoned your project, did substandard work, or disappeared with your deposit, take these steps immediately:

1. Document everything. Gather your contract, all receipts and payment records, all text messages and emails, photos of the incomplete or defective work, and any business cards or marketing materials the contractor provided.

2. File a complaint with your state Attorney General. AG Consumer Protection divisions investigate home improvement fraud, pursue civil and criminal penalties, and can sometimes secure restitution. Links are listed above for each state.

3. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. BBB complaints are public and create a documented record. They also sometimes prompt resolution when contractors want to protect their rating.

4. Contact your state licensing board. If the contractor is licensed, the licensing board has the authority to suspend or revoke their license and impose fines.

5. Consult a consumer protection attorney. If the amount is significant, a private attorney can file suit for breach of contract. Many work on contingency for clear fraud cases.

6. File a mechanics lien against the contractor. If a licensed contractor owes you work or a refund, you may be able to file a lien against their bond.

7. If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge. Credit card chargebacks can reverse deposits for services not rendered. Act within your card's dispute window — typically 60–120 days from the statement date.

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How to Find a Contractor Near You in the Midwest

Above Board Pros connects homeowners with pre-screened, licensed contractors in Midwest markets. Every contractor in our network has been verified against government licensing databases before appearing in search results.

Find vetted contractors in your area:

Ohio

• Cincinnati contractors
• Columbus contractors
• Cleveland contractors
• Dayton contractors

Indiana

• Indianapolis contractors
• Fort Wayne contractors

Michigan

• Detroit contractors
• Grand Rapids contractors

Illinois

• Chicago contractors
• Naperville contractors

Minnesota

• Minneapolis contractors
• St. Paul contractors

Wisconsin

• Milwaukee contractors
• Madison contractors

Missouri

• St. Louis contractors
• Kansas City contractors

Iowa

• Des Moines contractors
• Cedar Rapids contractors

Nebraska

• Omaha contractors
• Lincoln contractors

Kansas

• Wichita contractors
• Overland Park contractors

Tennessee

• Nashville contractors
• Murfreesboro contractors

Not seeing your city? Browse all markets or use the search above to find verified contractors in your area.

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The Fastest Shortcut

If this checklist feels like a lot of work, that is by design — hiring the wrong contractor is genuinely costly, and the verification steps above exist because each one catches a real failure mode.

Above Board Pros does the first layer of this work for you. Contractors in our network have been verified for licensure and insurance before you see their name. You still get three bids, still read the contract, and still check references — but you start with a filtered pool instead of a blank internet search, and you skip the worst-case outcomes entirely.

Find a verified contractor near you →