My Approvals
Compare competing contractor bids side-by-side. Review ratings, message contractors, and accept or reject bids to start projects. Master the 5-dimension review system to make confident hiring decisions.
Why Use My Approvals
Make confident hiring decisions based on contractor quality and fit
See competing quotes side-by-side — no guessing which contractor is the best fit
Read verified reviews from past clients — learn from others' experiences
5-dimension ratings give nuance — price isn't everything; communication and timeliness matter
Message contractors before deciding — ask clarifying questions, set expectations
Accept/reject in one click — once you decide, the project starts immediately, no delays
Automatic rejection of other bidders — professional courtesy and no ambiguity about who won
The 5-Step Approval Process
From viewing bids to hiring your contractor
View All Bids on a Work Order
See every contractor who submitted a quote
- Go to My Approvals. See all open work orders with competing quotes.
- Each row shows: work order title, status, number of bids received, deadline to decide.
- Filter by status: Open (awaiting decision), Accepted (you chose one), or Expired (deadline passed).
Compare Contractor Profiles & Pricing
Side-by-side contractor and quote comparison
- Click a work order to see all competing bids.
- Contractor cards show: name, rating (overall + 5-dimensions), verification tier, years in business, license type.
- Quote details show: total price, labor vs. material breakdown, timeline, payment terms, any special notes.
Review Contractor Ratings
Check the 5-dimension review system
- Overall: 1-5 stars (aggregate of all reviews).
- Quality: Does the work meet standards?
- Communication: Responsive and professional?
- Timeliness: Finish on schedule?
- Value: Fair pricing for the work?
- Click 'See Reviews' to read specific client feedback.
Message a Contractor (Optional)
Ask questions before deciding
- Have questions about the quote? Click 'Message' to chat with the contractor directly.
- Common questions: Can you start sooner? Is this price fixed or estimate? Can you provide references?
- Contractor responds within hours. Use chat to clarify before accepting.
Accept or Reject
Make your hiring decision
- Click 'Accept' on the contractor you choose. Immediately, a contract is created and the project begins.
- The chosen contractor is notified and can start work.
- Other contractors are auto-notified you chose someone else (professional courtesy).
- If no bids meet your needs, click 'Reject All' and edit your work order. Re-post to get new bids.
The 5-Dimension Review System
Understand contractor ratings beyond the overall score
Overall Rating
Meaning
Average of all 4 below. 1-5 stars.
What It Means for You
Quick impression: Good contractor (4-5 stars) vs. proceed with caution (1-2 stars)
Quality
Meaning
Does the work look good? Meets specifications?
What It Means for You
High quality = finishes are clean, details correct. Low quality = sloppy work, rework needed.
Communication
Meaning
Responsive to messages? Professional? Clear explanations?
What It Means for You
High = answers within hours, explains changes, keeps you informed. Low = radio silence, hard to reach.
Timeliness
Meaning
Finishes on schedule? Misses deadlines?
What It Means for You
High = consistently hits dates, proactive about delays. Low = chronically late, no communication about delays.
Value
Meaning
Fair price for the work quality provided?
What It Means for You
High = good quality at reasonable rate. Low = overpriced or cheap work.
Common Scenarios
Real approval decisions you'll face
You posted a kitchen remodel. 5 contractors bid. Prices range $15k–$25k. Hard to choose.
Look at the reviews. Contractor A is $18k but has 4.8 stars overall (4.9 quality, 5.0 timeliness). Contractor B is $15k but 3.2 stars (late, poor communication). Contractor C is $20k, 4.5 stars (reliable, good quality). C is likely the best value — you'll avoid the headache of contractor B's delays. Price is not the only decision factor.
The cheapest bid ($15k) looks tempting, but they have no reviews and 'unverified' status
Chat with them to ask: How long have you been in business? Can you provide references? Are you licensed? Unverified contractors CAN do good work, but there's risk. Do they seem professional and responsive? If yes, the lower price might be worth it. If they're evasive or slow to respond, that's a red flag.
Your top choice (highest rated, $18k) sends you a message asking to start 2 weeks earlier than your deadline
Respond: Yes, if the quality doesn't suffer. Discuss in chat. If they can accelerate, that's a bonus. Use the chat to align on expectations. Once you decide, accept. They see your response and know the new start date is locked in.
You approved a contractor. Now you're worried you chose wrong because you didn't read the reviews carefully.
Once accepted, you can still message them and discuss concerns before work starts. But it's too late to switch (breaking contract has friction). This is why reading reviews before accepting is critical. Take your time reviewing before clicking 'Accept.'
Contractor A and B are very close in price/rating. You can't decide.
Message both with the same question: 'Would you be willing to offer a 5% discount if we start next week?' See who responds and how. Use their responses and tone to inform your decision. Sometimes contractor responsiveness breaks ties better than a spreadsheet.
What to Watch Out For
Common approval mistakes
Choosing Based on Price Alone
The Problem
You pick the cheapest bid to save money. Contractor is 3 weeks late, quality is poor, you're frustrated. Total cost (time + rework) is now higher than if you'd hired the mid-priced, highly-rated contractor.
The Fix
Weight price, reviews, and communication equally. A $3k price difference might be worth it for a contractor with 4.8-star quality and 5.0-star timeliness.
Ignoring Communication Delays in the Chat
The Problem
You message a contractor a question. They take 2 days to respond. That slow response time is a preview of the project. If they're slow during the approval phase, they'll be slow during the job.
The Fix
Use the chat as a test. Do they respond within hours? Professional tone? If they're sluggish now, reconsider. Fast, clear communication is a green flag.
Not Reading Actual Reviews Before Accepting
The Problem
You see 4.5 stars and think 'good enough.' You accept. Then you read a detailed review: 'Showed up late 3 times, had to redo tile work.' You should have read that before accepting.
The Fix
Click 'See Reviews' before accepting. Read at least 2-3 recent reviews. Look for patterns: Do multiple reviews mention timeliness issues? Quality concerns? Red flags.
Accepting Without Locking in Price & Timeline
The Problem
You accept a quote. Contractor says mid-project, 'Prices changed, now it's $22k instead of $18k.' Dispute ensues.
The Fix
Before accepting, chat with the contractor and confirm: Is this price fixed or an estimate? What's the start date and expected finish? Get confirmation in writing (in the chat). When you accept, that becomes the contract terms.
Rejecting All Bids Without Feedback
The Problem
You reject all 5 bids. Contractors have no idea why (too expensive? Wrong timeline? Red flags?). You re-post without changes. You get the same 5 bids again.
The Fix
If you reject, leave a note for each contractor OR edit your work order and be specific: 'Increased budget to $20k' or 'Need to start 2 weeks sooner.' Help contractors understand what would have won the bid.
Start Reviewing Bids
Post a work order and watch contractor bids roll in. Use My Approvals to compare and choose the best fit.