Pro Standards

As a condition of Little Birdie membership, every pro agrees to follow these standards on every job that comes to them through Little Birdie: a request sent from this site, a referral from a Little Birdie agent, or a customer who found them through Little Birdie ads.

Payment goes straight from you to the pro, so Little Birdie doesn't hold money or issue refunds, and isn't a party to your agreement with the pro. What we do: hold every pro to these standards, follow up on every problem you report, and remove pros who don't meet them.

What every trade pro agrees to

• Show up. Confirm every appointment in writing (a text or email is fine). Missing one without 24 hours' notice is a strike.
• Put the price in writing. Give a written estimate with the scope of work before taking any deposit or starting work.
• Fair deposits. Deposit terms go on the estimate. If work doesn't start on the agreed date and you cancel, any unused deposit is refunded within 10 business days.
• No surprise charges. Extra work needs your written OK before it's done. The final bill can't go more than 10% over the estimate without that OK, and invoices are itemized.
• Reply fast. Answer requests within one business day, or pause new requests with Busy mode.
• Stand behind the work. Honor any written warranty, and come back to fix their own mistakes within a reasonable time.
• Licensed and insured. Hold a current license where the trade needs one, pull required permits, and keep general liability insurance current (plus workers' compensation and disability coverage if they have employees). Little Birdie requires a current certificate before a pro's page goes live.
• Respect your home. Be courteous and clean up after the job.

Real estate and settlement pros

Title agents, lenders, settlement attorneys, inspectors and insurance members agree to reply within one business day, keep their licenses current, and never offer or accept any fee, kickback or thing of value for referrals.

If something goes wrong

1. Tell us with "Tell us" at the bottom of the pro's page.
2. A real person contacts you and the pro within one business day. The agent who vouched for the pro is told too.
3. The pro gets 5 business days to make it right.
4. We mark it resolved, or confirm the problem. Two missed appointments or confirmed problems in 12 months pause the pro's Birdie pick badge; three mean a review for removal from the network.

If anyone is in danger or there's an emergency, call 911 first.

Tips before you hire

• Get the estimate in writing, and keep texts and emails about the job.
• Don't pay in full up front.
• If your building needs a certificate of insurance, ask the pro to send it before work starts.