Tavlee opens to homeowners across Greater Boston: the city, the North Shore, and the South Shore. We've gathered over 10,000 local contractors across twenty-one trades, reading and scoring over 400,000 reviews and comments.
Why we built this
Hiring a contractor ranks among the most expensive decisions a homeowner makes, and the information behind it is scattered and easy to game. Our family recently bought our first house in the great state of Massachusetts, where we experienced this firsthand.
We searched on Google for contractors we could hire to refinish our floors, but the local pros rarely looked trustworthy — and that's who we wanted to hire. All the big brands gave us a quote the size of our down payment (kinda joking, but not really). And our friends had terrible experiences with all the other listing sites.
We built Tavlee to combat this madness. 5 star ratings without a single word. Businesses lying about their expired licenses and insurance. Contractors who came to our house and talked a strong game, but that's where it ended. Tavlee is where all of that stops, and where clarity on who to trust begins.
How the research works
For each contractor, Tavlee:
- Weighs every source. We rate every single comment from every platform against over 10 different dimensions, and then mix that into another 15+ factors.
- Comes up with a real rating. After rating every single comment, we then use super complicated math carefully vetted by our math-loving engineer on staff to make sure the overall rating for each contractor truly signifies how much homeowners can trust the profile.
- Is transparent about where the data came from. Every claim in a profile is based on data and links to the evidence behind it. No stone is left unturned. You can open the receipts.
- Displays the full update history. A rating is never a one-time verdict, so we keep re-checking and we keep a paper trail. Every time a profile changes in a way that matters, we log it right there on the profile: new comments, a license that got revoked or verified, and every rating update with the reason behind the change.
One rule holds the whole thing together: rankings can't be bought. Search results, ratings, and the overall summary reflect the evidence. Our north star: to always display the truth to the homeowner, so they can make the decision about who to hire (not us).
Where we are today
The pilot covers the Boston metro:
Or jump straight to a trade. All twenty-one:
- Inside the house: plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors, handymen, carpenters, flooring contractors, painters
- Remodels and additions: general contractors, kitchen remodelers, bathroom remodelers
- Roof, walls, and yard: roofers, window, siding, and gutter contractors, waterproofing contractors, fence contractors, landscapers
- Buying, moving, and maintaining: home inspectors, real estate agents, movers, exterminators, house cleaners, pool cleaners
Where we go next
Expansion follows demand. The areas homeowners ask for are the areas we research next. If Tavlee hasn't reached your town yet, request coverage. Leave your email and we'll make sure your area is next in line.
Welcome to Tavlee. Open the receipts.
