Methodology
How we rank home service contractors
Formula v0.9 is the published organic method. The same inputs apply on every plan. Sponsored · Paid ad never changes scores.
We don't publish placeholder phone numbers. If a contact field looks fake, the listing fails QA — not the homeowner.
Published formula v0.9. Core weights total 90. PageSpeed is optional and excluded from the denominator when N/A. Free, Basic, and Pro use identical score inputs. Pro extras are display and tools only — they do not add points or change rank. Sponsored · Paid ad never changes organic scores.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| License match (VA DPOR or Layer A) | 25 |
| Rating | 15 |
| Review band (volume) | 15 |
| Discipline flag | 10 |
| HTTPS / site | 10 |
| Profile QA | 10 |
| Freshness | 5 |
| PageSpeed (optional) | Optional · N/A-excluded |
Reviews + speed only vs license-weighted
| Approach | What it includes | What it leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews + website speed only | Google-style ratings, review counts, and PageSpeed / HTTPS signals | Active license match, discipline flags, placeholder-phone QA, dated DPOR checks |
| License-weighted (v0.9) | License match, rating, review band, discipline, HTTPS/site, profile QA, freshness; PageSpeed optional | Paid plan tier as a score input; silent zeros for missing facts |
A score made only of reviews and website speed can rank a contractor who fails a license match. Our Layer A / VA DPOR license weight is designed so unmatched licenses stay unscored or off the ranked list.
No 555 pledge
No 555 rule. Example and placeholder numbers (including 555 exchange patterns) fail Entity QA. A listing is not ranked until phone and DPOR legal entity match public sources, with an as-of date on the page.
Equal inputs across plans
Score inputs are identical for Free, Basic, and Pro. Connecting additional review sources on a paid plan is display-only unless the same verified fact is available the same way for every contractor. Paying for Pro or a Sponsored slot is not a score input. A free listing and a Pro listing with the same public inputs receive the same score.
FAQ
Do paid listings change scores?
No. Sponsored placements are labeled Sponsored · Paid ad and do not change organic scores (R-22). Free, Basic, and Pro use the same published formula and the same score inputs. Pro extras are display and tools only — they do not add points or change rank.
Can I buy a higher rank?
No. You cannot buy an organic rank. A Sponsored slot is separate, labeled paid advertising, limited per page, and never reorders the organic list.
Where do licenses come from?
Virginia contractor licenses come from VA DPOR (or the unlocked Layer A source for that jurisdiction). Each license fact shows an as-of / checked date on the listing when published.
Changelog
| Version | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 2026-10-06 | Initial public license-weighted formula. PageSpeed optional and N/A-excluded. Paid plans never change weights. |
Engine build tag 2026-10-06.1 powers the live score explorer below. Published citation weights on this page are formula v0.9. Changing a published weight means a new changelog row — not a per-contractor setting.
Live score explorer
This calculator uses the published formula. It is not saved and is not a listing.