FAQ
Questions we get a lot
Straight answers about what Ascent Prime costs, how we vet contractors, and what happens when something goes wrong mid-project.
EVERY QUESTION, ONE PAGE
Straight answers
Is a contractor referral service worth it?
For most homeowners, yes — you get a contractor who's already been checked instead of a name off a search page. Doing it yourself means verifying L&I registration, bond, and insurance, then calling references and judging past work, and most people don't have the time or the leverage to do all that well. We've already done it before you call. And since Ascent Prime is free for homeowners, there's nothing to weigh the cost against.
How is this different from Angi, Thumbtack, or HomeAdvisor?
The difference is what happens to your phone number: those platforms sell it as a lead to several contractors at once, which is why your phone rings for days after you post a project. We don't sell your information to anyone. We make one match with a contractor we've already vetted, and we stay involved after the introduction. If something goes sideways mid-project, you call us — not a support ticket queue.
What does Ascent Prime cost?
Nothing. Ascent Prime is free for homeowners — no fee, no subscription, and no obligation to hire the contractor we introduce. The matching, the permit help, and the follow-through all cost you nothing.
What's the catch?
There isn't one. We only keep contractors on our roster who do good work, so we're picky on your behalf — a contractor who ghosts clients or leaves jobs unfinished doesn't stay on our list. You're never obligated to hire anyone we introduce, and you'll never pay us a dime.
How do you vet contractors?
We verify their standing with Washington Labor & Industries, then review their real past work before anyone makes the list. Every contractor we work with holds an active L&I registration — verifiable at lni.wa.gov — plus a current bond and liability insurance. We look at L&I history for infractions, lawsuits, and lien activity, and we review completed projects: photos, walk-throughs where possible, and conversations with past clients. Slow to answer us? They never make the list.
What if I don't like the contractor you match me with?
We match you again. You see the bid before you commit to anything, and if the fit isn't right — at the introduction, the walk-through, or the first call — tell us and we go back through the network. Re-matching is included. There's no limit of one try.
What happens if the contractor does bad work or disappears?
Call us — we get involved. We don't disappear after the handoff, so if the work slips or a contractor goes quiet mid-project, we step in to get answers and get the job back on track. It also matters that your contractor is registered with Washington L&I and bonded: there's a real bond behind the job, which is exactly the kind of protection you'd have had to verify yourself hiring off a search page.
Do you help with permits?
Yes. If your project needs a permit — most remodels, additions, and ADUs in Snohomish County do — we walk you through what needs filing and who files it. The contractors we match have permitted projects like yours before, so the paperwork doesn't blindside you halfway through the job.
Can you help with an insurance claim (storm, water, fire damage)?
Yes. We match homeowners with contractors who do insurance restoration work, and we help with the claim paperwork along the way. Storm, water, or fire damage is hard enough without learning the claims process on the fly — we've done it before and we'll walk you through it.
Do you work on Whidbey Island / Camano Island?
Yes — Whidbey and Camano are inside our service area, and island jobs are genuinely covered. We keep contractors on our list who actually take the ferry, which is rarer than it should be. We also cover all of Snohomish County, Skagit County, and north King County — anywhere within about two hours of Everett.
How small is too small a project?
Nothing is too small. Painting, small repairs, a single bathroom — those projects get the same vetting and the same matching as a full remodel. We built the list for every size of job, not just the big ones.
Are you a general contractor?
No. Ascent Prime is a contractor matching and project support service — we don't perform construction work, and we never claim to. The contractors we match you with are registered with Washington L&I as contractors; we're the people who checked their record before you ever called them. The distinction matters, because the contractor doing the work is the one whose registration, bond, and insurance covers your project.
How fast can you match me?
Usually within a few business days. The form or a phone call takes about ten minutes, and from there we go through the network for the contractor whose past work fits your project and who has room in their schedule. When something genuinely can't wait — storm damage, a dead furnace — we move faster.
Do you help with websites and marketing too?
Yes — that's our digital service, and it works the same way as the contractor side. We vet web designers, SEO, ads, and business automation providers on their real past work, then match you with one who fits. Same idea, applied to the work that happens on a screen instead of in your house.
Tell us about your project
Two minutes of your time. We read every one of these ourselves — this doesn't go to a call center, and your number doesn't get sold to anyone.
FREE FOR HOMEOWNERS