What actually makes you different from Angi or HomeAdvisor?

Those platforms sell your contact information to multiple contractors who then call you. We don't do that. We talk to you first, understand your project, then handpick 2–3 contractors who are actually right for it. We're not a marketplace — we're more like a knowledgeable friend who happens to know every licensed contractor in LA.

This is really free? What's the catch?

No catch. We charge a small advisory fee to the contractor we place — only after they've been introduced and you've decided to work with them. You never pay us anything. Good contractors value a qualified, well-prepared client. They'd rather pay our fee than spend hours on calls with homeowners who aren't ready.

How do you actually pick the right contractor for my project?

We start by understanding your project in detail — scope, budget, timeline, the type of home you have. Then we go through our network and look for contractors who've done similar work in your area, don't have capacity issues right now, and have a track record we can actually point to. We call references, not just collect them.

I've already gotten bids. Can you still help?

Yes — this is one of the most common situations. Contractors format proposals in ways that make them hard to compare. We take everything apart and put it back together in a format where the differences are obvious. It usually changes which bid looks best.

Which parts of Los Angeles do you work in?

All of greater Los Angeles — Westside, San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, South Bay, Northeast LA, the Eastside. Permitting in LA is jurisdiction-specific, and our contractors know the differences between LADBS, Santa Monica, Culver City, Burbank, and the others.

What if I don't like the contractors you introduce me to?

Tell us what didn't feel right — too expensive, wrong specialty, something felt off in the first call — and we'll go back and find different options. We'd rather take another pass than have you sign with someone you're unsure about.

How do you vet the contractors in your network?

License verification through CSLB, insurance verified in real-time through TrustLayer, financial stability check, past project photos reviewed, and reference calls with actual past clients. We ask the uncomfortable questions — how did they handle a problem, did the budget hold, would you hire again. We accept fewer than 1 in 10 contractors who apply.

Fixed-Price vs. Time & Materials Contracts: Which Is Right for Your Renovation?

How Fixed-Price Contracts Work

In a fixed-price (lump sum) contract, the contractor agrees to complete a defined scope for a specific total price, regardless of how long it takes or what materials actually cost. Your budget is protected — within the defined scope. Everything outside the scope is a change order.

Best for: Complete scope of work defined before bidding; newer construction with fewer unknowns; you need budget certainty.

Fixed-Price Risk Profile

Risk	Who Bears It
Labor takes longer than estimated	Contractor
Material prices increase	Contractor (if no escalation clause)
Crew is inefficient	Contractor
Hidden conditions beyond scope	Homeowner (via change order)
Scope changes or additions	Homeowner (via change order)
Contractor prices in risk premium	Homeowner (pays more upfront)

How Time & Materials Contracts Work

In a T&M contract, you pay for actual hours worked at agreed rates plus actual materials cost at cost plus agreed markup. You see exactly what you're paying for — but the total is unknown until work is done.

Best for: Historic or pre-1940 homes where structural unknowns are extensive; remodels with incomplete design; repair work where scope depends on what's found; projects with a trusted contractor where transparency matters more than a price ceiling.

T&M Rate Structure (What Your Contract Should Specify)

Element	Example
Superintendent rate	$95/hr
Journeyman carpenter rate	$75/hr
Laborer rate	$55/hr
Materials markup	Cost + 15%
Subcontractor markup	Cost + 10%
Invoicing frequency	Weekly
Supporting documentation	Time sheets + receipts required

The Not-to-Exceed (NTE) Clause: Making T&M Safe

The most important protection on any T&M contract is a Not-to-Exceed clause — a maximum total cost that triggers a mandatory pause and written change order before additional spending.

Example NTE language: "Total contract cost shall not exceed $[AMOUNT] without prior written authorization from Owner. When actual costs reach 80% of the NTE amount, Contractor shall notify Owner in writing. No costs beyond the NTE shall be incurred without a signed written amendment."

How to Monitor Hours and Costs on a T&M Contract

Protect yourself with: weekly invoicing with time sheets showing which workers were on site, how many hours, and what they were doing; material receipts required for all material charges; daily site check-ins; and scope milestone check-ins at each phase transition.

Red flag on T&M: If you're being charged for hours but production doesn't match — walls aren't going up, tile isn't being set — you may be paying for crew inefficiency.

Hybrid Contracts: The Best of Both Worlds

For complex renovations in older LA homes, a hybrid approach often works best: fixed-price for well-defined scope (kitchen cabinets, countertops, tile) combined with T&M with NTE for unknown scope (structural repair, hazmat remediation, electrical discovery). This gives you budget certainty where certainty is possible and cost transparency where surprises are likely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a contractor switch from fixed-price to T&M mid-project?
Not without your written agreement. A contractor who proposes switching after discovering the project is harder than expected is asking you to absorb risk you didn't price into the contract. You're not obligated to accept a unilateral change.

Q: Is a fixed-price contract always safer?
Not always. A fixed-price contract with a vague scope and aggressive change order language may leave you paying more than a well-structured T&M with a NTE. The contract type matters less than the quality of the underlying documentation.