Looking for a Contractor? Here’s What Houzz, Thumbtack, and HomeAdvisor Don’t Tell You.
If you’re like most homeowners starting a remodel, you’ve probably opened Google and typed something like “looking for a contractor near me.” Within seconds, the same three platforms rise to the top—Houzz, Thumbtack, and HomeAdvisor—each promising to match you with “the best local professionals.”
And on the surface, it sounds perfect. A few clicks, a few reviews, and you’ve got a list of contractors ready to give you quotes. But what those polished platforms don’t tell you is how the system actually works—and why it’s often the reason so many homeowners end up frustrated, over budget, and wondering where things went wrong.
The Illusion of Convenience
Lead-generation platforms make their money by selling your project information to contractors. Every time you click “Request a Quote,” your name, number, and project details get sent to a handful of companies who each pay for the chance to contact you first. What most homeowners don’t realize is that many of the best contractors never even appear on those lists—they’re too busy with real referrals to spend money chasing leads.
So what you’re often left with are companies that might be newer, inexperienced, or desperate enough to underbid the job just to get their foot in the door. They might look great online—five stars, beautiful photos—but that glossy profile doesn’t always reflect how the project unfolds once work begins.
What Homeowners Don’t See
Homeowners frequently share the same story: “We found them on Houzz (or Thumbtack, or HomeAdvisor), everything looked good, the price seemed fair—and then halfway through the project, costs ballooned.”
That’s not an accident. When contractors are paying for leads and fighting to win a race-to-the-bottom bid, accuracy goes out the window. The goal becomes “get the job,” not “get it right.”
One of our past clients, Tanya, learned that lesson the hard way. She had a beautiful vision for her remodel, and she initially went with a design firm she found online. But her engineer was from Seattle, her designer worked remotely, and no one was truly communicating. When she finally came to us, she said, “I wish I’d found you first. You have your own engineer, your own designer, and you actually talk to each other.” By the time we took over, half the design had to be reworked—an expensive fix that could have been avoided with the right team from the start.
What Real Contractors Wish You Knew
The best remodels don’t come from algorithms—they come from relationships. A trustworthy contractor should ask about your lifestyle before talking about layout, explain the real cost of materials before you sign anything, and be transparent about what could go wrong.
What separates a professional, design-build remodeler from a “match-made” lead is depth of experience. A true contractor will know how to protect your investment, coordinate trades, and keep the project moving even when surprises happen. They’ll plan, communicate, and follow through.
That’s not something a star rating can capture.
How to Find the Right Partner
If you’re serious about your remodel, skip the middleman. Talk directly with established local firms, look for transparency in their process, and ask to see their past work in person. Listen for communication—not just confidence.
The right contractor won’t underbid just to earn your signature. They’ll take the time to build a realistic estimate, walk you through the why behind every line item, and make sure you’re not blindsided six months later when the “cheap” bid turns into a financial headache.
A Local Perspective
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve seen it all—homeowners burned by lowball estimates, mismatched design teams, or projects abandoned when things got complicated. It’s not just a Portland problem; it’s happening everywhere homeowners are searching online instead of asking the right questions in person.
At HD Contractor, we’ve built our process around trust, communication, and craftsmanship. From in-house engineering and design to full-scale project management, we handle everything under one roof—so your remodel stays cohesive, realistic, and built to last.
Because while those big-name platforms might introduce you to a contractor, they can’t guarantee the relationship that turns a project into a success. That part still comes down to people—and we believe that’s where the best remodels truly begin.