Discover local tradespeople with context — start on the platform, learn from the community.
This section helps clients connect with the right professional — how to search TradeLink, what to look for, and peer recommendations after real work. It complements the marketplace; it does not replace browsing profiles, reviews, and hiring on the trade platform.
Vet before you commit: Before You Hire. Post-job stories: Reviews & Experiences. Ecosystem guide: How TradeLink Hub Works.
What this forum section is for
- How to find a pro — using TradeLink search, service area, profiles, and reviews.
- Recommend a pro — share a positive experience after completed work (with context).
- Trade and scope — “I need HVAC in this region” with enough detail for useful replies.
- What to look for — licensing talk (general), communication, specialty fit (residential vs commercial).
- Peer referrals — community members pointing others toward pros they personally hired.
- When forum + platform work together — narrow options here, verify and hire on the marketplace.
The fastest path to local pros on TradeLink:
- Sign in at TradeLink Hub.
- Open the live trade platform — HVAC today; more trades coming on the Hub.
- Browse businesses by service area — read profiles, review history, completion photos.
- Message a pro directly or post a job with photos for responses and bids where enabled.
- Hire, complete work, and leave an honest review — that helps the next person in this section.
Find a Pro vs other client sections
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Find a Pro / Recommend a Pro Before You Hire
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
“Who serves my area / trade?” “I have quotes — who looks right?”
How to search TradeLink Compare bids and red flags
Peer recommendations (after work) Due diligence before signing
Recommend a pro you hired Vet a pro you haven’t chosen yet
Find a Pro / Recommend a Pro Reviews & Experiences
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Finding and referring pros Full story and lessons learned
Shorter referral threads Platform review how-to included
- Search first — your area or trade may already have threads.
- General location only — city or region, not street address or neighborhood gate details.
- Name the trade — HVAC today; say trade clearly as more platforms launch.
- Describe scope briefly — service call vs full replacement changes who fits.
- One request per thread — “HVAC install in X” separate from “plumber for water heater.”
- For recommendations — only recommend pros you personally hired for real work; say when and what type of job.
Use when looking for a pro:
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[b]Trade:[/b] (e.g. HVAC)
[b]Location:[/b] (city / region — not street address)
[b]Type of work:[/b] (repair / maintenance / install / replacement / emergency)
[b]Timeline:[/b] (urgent / this week / planning ahead)
[b]Property:[/b] (single-family, condo, rental, light commercial — if relevant)
[b]What I’ve tried on TradeLink:[/b] (browsed profiles / posted job / messaged — or “haven’t yet”)
[b]What I’m looking for in a pro:[/b] (communication, specialty, etc.)
[b]My question:[/b]
Use when recommending someone you hired:
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[b]Trade:[/b]
[b]Location (general):[/b]
[b]Work completed:[/b] (scope — short)
[b]When:[/b] (rough — e.g. “spring 2026”)
[b]Hired via TradeLink?[/b] (yes / no — if yes, others can find their profile)
[b]What went well:[/b] (communication, quality, timeline, cleanup — specifics help)
[b]Good fit for:[/b] (e.g. residential replacements, service calls, mini-splits)
[b]Anything to know upfront:[/b] (optional — scheduling, specialty limits)
- Real experience only — no recommendations from spouses, employees, or “my buddy’s company.”
- Context beats hype — what job, how they communicated, would you hire again for the same scope.
- Prefer TradeLink hires — when you used the marketplace, others can verify review history on the profile.
- One pro per reply is fine — readers compare multiple replies across a thread.
- No paid referrals — disclose if you have a financial tie (rare; usually disqualifying).
For businesses reading this section
- Do not reply to every “find a pro” thread with “call us” — that reads as spam and may be removed.
- Do not recommend your own company in disguise.
- Build visibility through great platform work, reviews, completion photos, and helpful posts in trade and hiring forums.
- If a client tags you after a job, reply graciously once — don’t turn it into an ad campaign.
- Introduce your business once in New Member Introductions, then earn trust in public.
What moderators may remove
- Fake recommendations, review swaps, or coordinated promotion.
- Businesses carpet-bombing recommendation threads.
- Lists of phone numbers, “text me for the good guys” gatekeeping.
- Naming businesses to attack or sabotage competitors.
- Requests that skip the platform to avoid reviews after discovery on TradeLink.
- Full client addresses or contact info in public posts.
- Street addresses, gate codes, or “meet me at…” scheduling in public.
- “Who’s the cheapest?” without scope — use Before You Hire to compare quotes fairly.
- Active disputes — use platform job tools and support, not recommendation threads.
- Emergency hazards — gas, CO, electrical fire risk: emergency services first.
- Illegal or unlicensed work solicitations.
- Create account / Sign in
- HVAC marketplace — browse, message, post jobs
- Forum home
- Pinned: How TradeLink Hub Works
- Before You Hire — vet before you sign
- Reviews & Experiences — longer post-job stories
- Hiring Help & Questions — general hiring Q&A
- HVAC — technical trade discussion
- Completed Projects (Show & Tell) — visual proof of finished work
Start a new topic with the find or recommend template above. Search the marketplace first, learn from peers second, and hire through TradeLink so the next homeowner gets verified history — not just a forum username.
The best recommendations are repeatable: clear scope, professional communication, and work you’d trust on your own home again.
— TradeLink Hub Team