Most marketplaces collapse everything into a single “verified” stamp. We do the opposite. Each badge on a KABLAY profile stands for one check we actually performed, with the limits of that check written next to it. That way the badges are useful to you rather than flattering to us.
Badges sit next to the specialist’s name. Tap one and it tells you what was checked and when. A profile with three badges is not “less trustworthy” than one with six — it means fewer things have been confirmed, and you now know which.
Anything in the second list simply has not been checked. Ask for it directly before work starts.
The baseline. It says nothing about skill — only that there is an identifiable human behind the profile.
Our team spoke with the specialist about their experience, the services they offer, their travel radius and the job types they accept.
The number on the profile was confirmed by the specialist or checked by a KABLAY admin, so messages and calls reach the right person.
An identity document was checked and tied to the real person behind the profile.
This is the group that matters most for regulated trades, and the one people most often assume is covered by a generic “verified” label.
For applicable construction work we check the WA contractor registration; for plumbing and electrical work we check the relevant license or certification against the state record.
The specialist supplied insurance documentation where it exists and applies to their type of work.
Evidence you can weigh yourself, kept deliberately separate from anything we verified.
We looked through the work photos or albums the specialist supplied when joining.
Reviews carrying this label can only be left after a task that was actually assigned or completed through KABLAY.
Ratings a specialist has collected elsewhere are shown under their own label so you can see where each number came from.
Not every job needs the same paperwork. Washington regulates some trades tightly and leaves others open, so the sensible bar moves with the work.
| Job | Worth confirming | Usually not required |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning, move-out, post-construction | Insurance if they work unattended; a clear scope and price | Contractor registration |
| Handyman work, small repairs | Registration once the job crosses into home improvement; a written estimate | Trade licensing for minor non-regulated tasks |
| Plumbing | The relevant WA plumbing credential; insurance; permit responsibility in writing | — |
| Electrical | The relevant WA electrical license or certificate; permit and inspection responsibility | — |
| Fences, drywall, tiling, painting, renovation | WA contractor registration where applicable; bond and insurance status; warranty terms | Trade licensing specific to plumbing or electrical |
Badges narrow the field. These steps are what actually protects the job.
Open each badge on the profile and note what it says was checked. Treat anything absent as unchecked, not as unimportant.
Registration and license numbers are public. Look the specialist up in the state record yourself — it takes under a minute and it is the only version that counts.
Materials, timeline, what happens to debris, what counts as done. Ambiguity here is where nearly every dispute starts.
For regulated work, decide explicitly whether the specialist or you are responsible for permits and inspection, and write it down.
How long, what it covers, and how to reach them if something fails. A specialist who answers this clearly is telling you a lot.
No. Identity verification and professional licensing are separate checks with separate badges. A verified ID confirms who someone is, not what they are permitted to do.
No. The specialist you choose performs the work and is responsible for it. KABLAY helps you find, compare and contact them, and shows what has been checked.
For ordinary cleaning and some minor work it may not be required at all. For applicable construction work confirm the WA contractor registration; for plumbing or electrical work confirm the relevant trade credential before any work begins.
No. Badges reflect checks that were performed. Paid placement, where it exists, is labeled as such and never changes what a verification badge says.
Credentials expire. The state record is always the current truth — check it directly, and tell us if what you find does not match the profile.
Fix the facts first: what was agreed, what was delivered, what was paid. Then bring it to us. We can contact the specialist, review the task history and, where a credential turns out to be wrong, correct or remove the badge.
Complaints and dispute supportDescribe the job and compare specialists whose badges you can now read properly.