How we verify providers
A provider status on this directory always names three things: what was checked, which authority confirmed it, and the date it was confirmed. We do not use a single "verified" badge, because a licence check and a customer rating are not the same kind of evidence and should never look the same. Every status below expires and has to be checked again. Paying us never improves any of them.
What each status means
Public record
The business appears in an official public registry or licensing database, and we recorded where we found it and when.
It does not mean the business has claimed the profile, agreed to be listed, or been evaluated by us in any way.
Profile claimed
Someone at the business confirmed control of the profile and can keep its information current.
It does not mean we confirmed who that person is, or that any credential was reviewed.
Identity verified
We reviewed that the person managing the profile is an authorised representative of the business.
It does not mean we ran a background check on that person, and it says nothing about the quality of their work.
Business status verified
The legal entity exists and its status is active in the official business registry on the date we checked.
It does not mean the business holds any professional licence, or that a licence is even required for its category.
Licence verified
We confirmed a specific licence with the issuing authority. The profile shows the authority, the licence number, its current status and the date we checked it.
It does not mean the licence covers every service the provider offers, and it is not a judgement about the quality of the work.
Insurance verified
We reviewed insurance documentation and recorded the coverage type, its general status and its expiration date.
It does not mean the coverage limits fit your particular job, and it is not a guarantee that a claim would be paid. We never publish policy numbers or the certificate itself.
Reputation reviewed
We looked at the provider's presence on permitted external platforms and recorded the platform and the date we observed it.
It does not become a rating of ours. We do not merge scores from different platforms into a single number, and we do not republish review text.
Network tested
The provider has completed documented work through OwnerCare, and we have first-hand record of how it went.
It does not mean every future job will go the same way, and it is not a warranty on the work.
Three labels that are not verification
These describe a commercial or ownership relationship. They are shown in a visually distinct way, and they never affect where a provider appears in organic results.
Preferred partner
An operational or commercial relationship with Associates Realty.
It is not a verification status and carries no ranking benefit.
Affiliated provider
Common ownership, common management or a material financial relationship with Associates Realty.
It is disclosed wherever the provider is shown or compared. You are never obliged to use one.
Sponsored
Paid placement, shown in a separate labelled channel.
It never enters the organic ranking and never improves a verification status.
Verification is not permanent
A licence that was active last year tells you nothing today. Every check carries the date it was performed and, where it applies, the date it has to be repeated. When a licence or insurance record passes its expiration date on file, the status is downgraded automatically — it does not stay green until someone notices.
Where the directory stands right now
We are rebuilding the directory on this model, and we would rather say so than let the page imply the work is finished. Today, provider records sourced from the Florida DBPR carry a verified licence status with its authority, number and check date. Categories where we do not yet have enough qualified providers to give you a real choice are marked as not published rather than filled with thin listings. As categories reach that bar, they go live.
If something here is wrong
Providers can request a correction to any field on their profile, and owners can report something that looks inaccurate. Both go to a person, not to an automated process, and the outcome is recorded against the profile. We would rather leave a field blank than show a value we cannot support.
Questions owners ask about verification
Does Associates Realty guarantee the work of a verified provider?
No. Verification describes documents and registrations we checked on a specific date — a licence, an insurance certificate, an entity status. It is not a warranty on workmanship. If you hire a provider directly, the agreement is between you and that provider.
Can a provider pay to get verified or to rank higher?
No. Payment buys profile features and clearly labelled sponsored placement, and nothing else. Sponsored results appear in a separate labelled channel and never enter the organic ranking, and no payment changes a verification status.
Why do some providers show a rating and others do not?
Because a rating on this directory is always an observation from a specific outside platform on a specific date, not a score we produced. Where a provider has no permitted public presence we could observe, there is no rating to show. A missing rating is not a negative signal.
What does it mean when a licence is marked not applicable?
Some categories are not licensed at state level in Florida — cleaning and general handyman work below certain thresholds, for example. Not applicable means we reviewed that category and confirmed no professional licence is required, not that we skipped the check.
Are providers with an Associates Realty affiliation ranked higher?
No. An affiliated provider is one where there is common ownership, management or a material financial relationship. That relationship is disclosed wherever the provider appears, precisely so you can weigh it yourself. It carries no ranking benefit, and you are never obliged to use one.