Unbiased. Nonprofit. No ads or money from businesses we rate.
Find, rate, and compare home-improvement contractors, health-care providers, repair shops, financial services, veterinarians, stores, dentists, and more than 100 other types of service providers.
Boston area
Chicago area
Delaware Valley area
Puget Sound area
San Francisco Bay Area
Twin Cities area
Washington, DC area
Ratings of Primary Care Doctors, Specialists, and Surgeons
Ratings of Hospitals
How to Find a Good Housecleaning Service
The first step in farming out your chores is to decide whether to hire a company or an individual. Hiring a company has one major advantage: You do not assume the responsibilities associated with the role of an employer, such as filling out paperwork and paying various taxes.
How to Hire an Individual Housecleaner
Many consumers prefer to hire an individual for housecleaning help, rather than a service. But doing your own hiring brings the responsibilities associated with the role of an employer, such as filling out paperwork and paying various taxes.
Guidelines for Managing Household Employees
The National Committee on Household Employment, before it closed its doors, developed a set of standards for employers and their household employees. The guidelines presented here are from its Code of Standards for Household Employment.
How to Spot the Best Carpet Cleaning Services
Even if you turn into "that host" who makes everyone leave their shoes inside the front door, there's no way to avoid it: You'll eventually need to have your carpet and rugs cleaned.
How to Save Money on Carpet Cleaning
Along with high-quality work, you want a good price. Pay close attention to cost. Some carpet cleaners will push services you don’t need, and prices for identical services can vary from company to company by more than 100 percent.
In-Plant Rug Cleaning
Cleaning rugs is more challenging than cleaning wall-to-wall carpet. And because rugs are cleaned at a plant, rather than in your home, you can’t supervise the work. You want an expert to clean your rugs, using proper methods.
How to Shop for Window Treatments
When it comes to decking out your windows, you’ll find so many choices, optional features, and price ranges that it’s easy to get blindsided by the process. Here’s our advice on how to buy the right stuff.
Which Window Treatment Is Right for Your Window?
Plantation shutters. Roman shades. Good ol’ curtains. There are so many ways to cover your windows that it’s tempting to just tape newspaper over the panes and be done with it. Here are the best options to block light, keep prying eyes at bay, or just dress up the joint.
Getting Good Prices on Window Treatments
For many types and brands of window treatments, it pays to shop around. We report here costs quoted to Checkbook’s undercover shoppers when they sought prices for several types of window treatments at a sampling of local stores and online outlets.
Window Shopping Guide
The type of windows you buy will affect your home’s appearance, the amount of light admitted, your comfort, and energy savings. Plus, some windows last longer than others.
Finding the Best Window Installers
We receive a disturbing number of complaints from consumers regarding window installation work, often about companies that advertise heavily. Many complaints are about sloppy work.
What to Get in Writing for Window Replacement Work
Whichever window company you choose, make sure you have a tight contract that includes all details on the product and installation, payment schedule, work schedule, and guarantees.