For homeowners
Your home.Your ideas.Real prices.
Tell us about the project you have in mind, or draw it to scale with the drawing tools in your account. Local contractors bid on it, PAC reviews every bid, and you compare them side by side before you choose.
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Your house in 3D · 2 floors
ExampleStart with an idea
What are you dreaming about?
Big or small, post it the same way. Each of these can be drawn to scale, so the contractors bidding see exactly what you have in mind.
A new kitchen
The island you always wanted, a pantry wall, the sink under the window.
Place the cabinetsA bathroom redo
A walk-in shower, a double vanity, a tub to soak in.
Place the fixturesA deck out back
Room for the grill, the table and a few chairs, with steps down to the yard.
Design the deckA finished basement
A family room, a guest room, a place for the kids to spread out.
Draw the floorAn addition
The extra bedroom or the sunroom you keep talking about.
Add the roomsRoof, siding and windows
A new roof before winter, fresh siding and windows that keep the heat in.
Draw the roofLights, TV and Wi-Fi
Recessed lights, the TV on the wall and Wi-Fi that reaches the backyard.
Mark where they goPatios, fences and driveways
A patio for summer nights, a fence for the dog, a smooth new driveway.
Size the yard workHow it works for you
You post it once. We handle the back-and-forth.
Describe it or draw it
A short guided form asks what matters for your kind of project. Add photos, and sketch it with the drawing tools if you like.
Local contractors bid
PAC reviews your project before contractors see it. Pre-screened contractors in your area bid on it, and PAC checks every bid before you see it.
Compare and choose
See the price, start date, ratings and past work side by side. Choose at your own pace. Your name and address stay private until you do.
PAC next to the lead sellers
Most "find a contractor" sites sell your phone number. PAC sends you bids.
Fill in a form on many home-service sites and your name, address and phone number are sold to contractors as a "lead". Here is how that compares with posting a project on Pick A Contractor.
| Lead-selling services | Pick A Contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Your name and phone number | Sold to several contractors, often within minutes of you asking. | Kept private. A contractor receives your name, address and phone number once you choose their bid and PAC confirms it. |
| What you get back | Phone calls, texts and sales visits. | Complete written bids, side by side, with each contractor's ratings and past work. |
| Comparing prices | Each contractor measures and describes the job their own way, so the prices are hard to line up. | Every contractor prices the same written scope. |
| Who checks the details | A job type and a ZIP code from a web form are passed straight along. | PAC reviews your project before contractors see it, and reviews every bid before you do. |
| Pressure to decide | Each contractor has paid for your name and wants a signature before the next one arrives. | Decide at your own pace. On an open bid, contractors learn who you are after you choose. |
| Who is paying | Free to you, because your contact details are the product being sold. | You are the member. Membership is normally $59 and is free for a limited time. |
How lead-selling services commonly work. Details vary from one company to the next.
Optional layout & measure service
Want a pro to measure and write it up?
A PAC pro visits, measures, photographs and writes up the scope, and contractors bid on that write-up. It has a separate, non-refundable layout fee, apart from the price of the job, and we confirm the amount before anything is charged.
Available in select areas today. Every area is open for posting jobs and for contractors' tools. The layout visit comes to an area once enough neighbors join, and you'll already be in. Want it in your area? Say so when you post, and we'll let you know when it arrives.
Good for
- Complex jobsKitchens, additions, multi-room or multi-trade work, and anything structural.
- Not sure where to beginA pro helps you work out what the job needs and what your choices are.
- Expert adviceGet guidance on scope, materials and the order of work.
- Busy or far awayIdeal for busy, out-of-town and rental-property owners who can't meet several contractors.
What you get
- Bids that line upEvery contractor bids on the same measured scope, so bids compare line for line.
- One visitOne visit from PAC instead of hosting every contractor at the house.
- Fewer surprisesAccurate measurements mean tighter bids and fewer surprises once work starts.
- More and better bidsA professional write-up with photos and sketches draws more and better bids.
Questions
What homeowners ask us
What does Pick A Contractor do?
Pick A Contractor is a bidding service for construction projects, from home improvement to commercial work. You post your project with a description and photos, plus any measurements, drawings and documents you have. PAC reviews it before contractors see it, and pre-screened contractors bid on it.
In areas where PAC has a local team, you can also have a PAC pro visit to measure, photograph and write up the job for you. That is the optional layout and measure service.
You compare the bids side by side and approve the one you want. PAC doesn't do the construction, so our whole job is getting you clear, comparable bids and straight answers.
Can I draw my project?
Yes. The drawing tools let you sketch your rooms, floors, roof and outdoor areas to scale, place kitchen and bath fixtures, design a deck, mark where you want lights, outlets, TV and Wi-Fi, and see the house in 3D. Contractors see the plan with your project and price what you drew. They are included with your customer account at no extra charge.
What does it cost me?
Customer membership is normally $59. Right now it is free for a limited time, and you don't need a card to post a project.
Posting your project is all most jobs need. If you choose the optional layout and measure service, it has its own layout fee, separate from the price of the job. Your local office confirms the amount before charging anything, and the layout fee is non-refundable.
What is the layout and measure service?
It is an optional service where PAC has a local team. A PAC pro meets you at the property, measures the work areas, takes photos and writes up the scope in plain language. Any drawings or documents you already have are added to the job. Contractors bid on that write-up, so each price covers the same measured work.
Do I need the layout service?
Most projects can be posted on your own: describe the work, add photos and any measurements you have, and PAC reviews it before contractors see it.
The layout service is worth it for complex jobs like kitchens, additions, multi-room or multi-trade work, and anything structural. It also helps when you are not sure where to begin or what your choices are, or when you want expert advice on scope, materials and the order of work.
Every contractor bids on the same measured scope, so bids compare line for line. You host one visit instead of every contractor, accurate measurements mean tighter bids and fewer surprises, and a professional write-up with photos and sketches draws more and better bids. It is ideal for busy, out-of-town and rental-property owners who can't meet several contractors.
Is the layout service available in my area?
It is available in select areas today, and comes to more areas as they launch. Other areas get it as they launch. When you post, tell us you would like it, and we will let you know when it arrives.
Every area is open for posting projects and getting bids in the meantime.
Who sees my name and address?
Contractors see the job details, photos and measurements, without your name or address. You see each bid by letter (Contractor A, B, C) along with ratings and past work. Once you choose a bid and PAC confirms it, we introduce you to each other.
How do I compare the bids?
PAC reviews every bid before it reaches you to make sure it covers the written scope and is complete. You then see the bids side by side: price, start date, how long the work will take, and each contractor's ratings, showcased projects, licenses and insurance.
Can I approve just part of a project?
Yes. A bigger job can be split into parts, for example the roof, the siding and the gutters. You can approve one contractor for one part and a different contractor for another, or approve one part now and decide on the rest later.
What happens after I approve a bid?
PAC confirms your choice and introduces you to the contractor. The contractor sends a contract for you to review and sign, and you agree on a start date and payment schedule. Your local office stays available if questions come up, and you can rate the contractor when the work is done.
Do you work in my area?
Yes. PAC is organized into local areas across the country, and you join your area when you sign up with your ZIP code. Every area is open for posting projects, getting bids and contractor tools.
The PAC layout and measure visit comes to an area once enough neighbors join, and you will already be in.
Real people · since 2006
A real office and a local team
People at the local PAC office review your project and each bid before you see it. Where the layout service is offered, the pro who measures your job is part of that same team.