How we research and select
How Toronto Select researches each list: what a business specializes in, what its customers report, whether its details are current and where it works.
Research comes before any ranking on Toronto Select. Each list goes through these steps.
Survey the field
We gather every business with a public presence in Toronto for that category and note what each one specializes in. A general renovator who occasionally waterproofs basements is not compared with a waterproofing specialist.
Study the reviews
Average ratings are read against the number of reviews behind them, and the comments themselves tell us about punctuality, clear estimates and how disputes were resolved.
Verify the details
We confirm the street address, phone number, hours and website. A business that appears closed or cannot be reached is set aside.
Select and order
The research decides who is listed and in what position. Some topics have a full list; others have only a few names that held up.
Revisit
We return to lists to remove businesses that closed or slipped, and to add ones that have since proved themselves.
Worth checking yourself
Ask for a written estimate and the contractor’s WSIB clearance, make sure electrical work is done by a contractor licensed with Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority, and look up lawyers and paralegals in the Law Society of Ontario directory.