# How RenoFiz Vets Contractors: What Vancouver Homeowners Should Know *Category: Insights | 6 min read | 2026-07-15* When you're considering a renovation platform, the first question isn't "how much will it save me?" It's "how do I know the contractors are any good?" It's a fair question. The renovation industry has no shortage of stories about contractors who didn't show up, didn't finish, or didn't do what they promised. Online reviews can be gamed. Word-of-mouth recommendations are limited. And a contractor who seems great on paper can turn out to be someone who doesn't return calls once the deposit is paid. RenoFiz answers that question with a transparent vetting process. Here's exactly how it works. ## Licensing: Verified Where BC Requires It Licensing requirements in British Columbia depend heavily on the type of work. For electrical, plumbing, and gas work, contractors must hold licenses through Technical Safety BC. These are trade-specific licenses that require apprenticeships, examinations, and ongoing certification. RenoFiz checks these trade licenses for every contractor and subcontractor performing licensed trade work — a general contractor may be great at coordinating a renovation but unqualified to do electrical work in-house. RenoFiz doesn't just check that a trade license exists. Where one applies, it verifies the license is current and in good standing — not expired, not suspended, and covering the type of work the contractor is matched to. ## Insurance: Verified for Your Protection Every contractor in the RenoFiz network carries two essential types of insurance: General Liability Insurance ($2M minimum): This covers damage to your property during the project. If a contractor accidentally causes a water leak, breaks a window, or damages existing finishes, general liability pays for the repair. While $2 million is the baseline RenoFiz requires, many established contractors in the network carry $5 million policies. WCB (WorkSafeBC) Coverage: This is the one most homeowners don't think about — and the one that matters most. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor doesn't have WCB coverage, you could be personally liable for medical costs and lost wages. In BC, all contractors with employees must carry WCB coverage. RenoFiz verifies WCB coverage for every contractor in the network and requires ongoing proof that coverage remains active. If a contractor uses subcontractors — common for electrical, plumbing, or tile work — those subcontractors should carry their own WCB coverage too. RenoFiz checks that the general contractor has processes in place to verify subcontractor coverage. ## Trade References: Checked, Not Just Collected A portfolio of past work shows a contractor's best projects. References show their real projects. RenoFiz collects and checks trade references for every contractor entering the network. The process includes asking past clients about: - Was the project completed on time and on budget? - How was communication during the work? - Were there any disputes, and how were they resolved? - Would you hire them again? These aren't checkbox questions. They're conversations with real homeowners who can describe their experience in detail. Contractors who can't provide satisfactory references aren't admitted to the network. ## Ongoing Accountability: The Most Important Layer A license check and reference call tell you about a contractor's past. Ongoing accountability tells you about their future. Every contractor in the RenoFiz network has something real to lose: access to all future leads and matches from the platform. If a contractor ghosts a client, delivers poor work, or leaves a project unfinished, they don't just lose one job — they risk losing their place in the network entirely. This creates an incentive that doesn't exist in the traditional model. A contractor you find on Google or a directory can disappear and rebrand under a new name. A contractor in the RenoFiz network can't — their reputation on the platform is tied to their performance on every job. ## The Shared Baseline: How Vetting Connects to the Estimate Vetting alone isn't enough. Even the most licensed, insured, and well-reviewed contractor can end up in a dispute if the scope of work isn't clear. That's why RenoFiz connects vetting to the estimate. When you describe your project, Chris, RenoFiz's AI project assistant, builds a detailed line-item estimate. You review it, adjust if needed, and approve it. Only then does RenoFiz match you with a vetted contractor. The contractor receives your approved estimate as a shared starting baseline. They know the scope, the materials, the timeline, and the price before they ever visit your home. The vetting ensures they're qualified. The shared baseline ensures you're aligned. Together, they replace the two biggest sources of renovation stress: "is this contractor legit?" and "are we even talking about the same project?" ## The Honest Truth Vetting reduces risk — it doesn't eliminate it. A contractor can have perfect credentials and still have a bad week. Communication styles vary. Site conditions change. Even the most thorough vetting process can't predict every interaction. What it does is eliminate the most common failure points: unlicensed work, insufficient insurance, unclear scope, and contractors who can walk away from a bad job with no consequences. RenoFiz's vetting process is designed to catch the problems that would otherwise catch you by surprise. The contractors who pass it are the ones you'd want working in your home — and you know that before you ever meet them. ## The Bottom Line Choosing a contractor shouldn't be the hardest part of your renovation. Licensing, insurance, references, and accountability are the four pillars of a contractor you can trust. RenoFiz checks all four so you don't have to. Describe your project to Chris, approve your estimate, and get matched with a vetted contractor who's ready to work from your scope and budget. ## Want a scoped estimate before you talk to contractors? RenoFiz can help turn your project idea into an itemized scope and budget range. [Estimate my project](/wa)