Why Trust Us?

Fair Question. There’s no doubt there are dozens of companies that offer some type of award to businesses, but how many are legitimate?

Ask Yourself…
Can you name one company in the nation that fairly, accurately and independently evaluates swimming pool and spa businesses?

When you really think about it, it’s hard the come up with a list. That’s our point. How do you know who’s good, who’s bad and who’s in it just for the money? The internet has complicated the situation even more with new sites popping up everyday that claim to be the authority on everything from pest control to purchasing a swimming pool.

TradeCertified is uniquely qualified to help you find best pool or spa companies in the world.

For 19 years we owned and operated four industry magazines: SpaRetailer, PoolPro, Spasearch and Poolsearch.

To further distance ourselves from any perceived conflict of interest, all four publications were sold to Kendrick Content & Consulting based In Norman, Oklahoma in 2018. We have no ownership stake in these businesses.

Welcome

Hello, my name is David Wood, I’m the founder and publisher for Bigfish Publications which owns and operates the Trade Certified endorsement program.

I would like to thank you for taking time to visit TradeCertified.com. We are very blessed and humbled that we are growing quickly and take great pride in pairing thousands of families with Trade Certified local pool & spa professionals throughout the United States and Canada.

David T. Wood, Publisher, Editor in Chief
Trade Certified Certifications

Frequently Asked Questions.

Are these endorsements really independent?

Absolutely.

Our entire business is based on our ability to say with certainty that our local endorsement is won without regard to fees paid or advertising consideration. Our team works to identify pool and spa businesses that qualify for the ultimate third-party recommendation and then we help them collect the documents necessary to be reviewed by an independent third-party accounting firm.

These third-party CPA, audit and market research firms are not owned by us, nor does anyone on our staff have any financial interest or influence in who wins and who does not win. TradeCertified is merely a facilitator to help the local business obtain an independent review based on merit and publish the results for consumers to make their own conclusions.

How is our service different than the Better Business Bureau (BBB)?

The BBB is a terrific resource for consumers and we highly recommend using them to identify the major players in your local market. However, our service goes a step further.

Industry Expertise: The BBB supports millions of amazing businesses in every category ranging from to pest control and carpet cleaning to restaurants and dog groomers. TradeCertifed works exclusively in the pool & spa industry

Narrow the Search: We work extensively to identify the best of the best in a market based on pre-determined requirements unique to the pool & spa industry. For example, a recent web search of the keyword ‘pools’ found 69 BBB accredited businesses and 27 organizations with the keyword ‘spas’ for the city of Phoenix. Can you imagine getting bids from 96 businesses? We try to narrow the search down to three to five players.

Copyright notices: Better Business Bureau, BBB, BBB AUTO LINE, BBBOnLine, and BBB logos are service marks owned by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. Survey results conducted on March 28, 2018.

How long have the endorsements been around?

Eighteen years. 2001 was the first year we begin certifying businesses. Initially, we focused on auditing swimming pool and spa manufacturers, then suppliers. Over the years we have continued to expand into new categories related to the pool in spa industry. In 2007, we added local pool and spa dealers.

How Do I Verify a Business is Certified?

The easiest way to verify certification is to conduct an online search of a local small business, professional or service center. This database is uploaded on a daily basis so be sure to check the directory frequently as businesses are added and removed continuously. THERE IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE. IF A BUSINESS IS NOT LISTED THEY ARE NOT CERTIFIED, HAVE LET THEIR CERTIFICATION EXPIRE OR HAVE BEEN DECLINED.

How long are the audits valid?

Each audit is valid for 12 months. It is very important to verify the local small business, professional or service center has won their certification.

How do you find dealers?

We can save you a ton of time. We know most families have a limited amount of time to individually evaluate every local pool or spa professional who services your zip code. Some Internet sites list up to 700 firms in a local market. We are not simply a directory. Our team works diligently to identify the premier dealers, suppliers and manufacturers and want to get our TradeCertified professional on your radar without wasting your time. We never profile more than five local businesses in a zip code. That should give you a good variety of quality choices without forcing you to quit your day job just to research local pros.

Do You guarantee TradeCertified™ Professionals?

The simple answer is no. However, we work diligently to do much of the leg work on your behalf and have found a strong correlation between superior customer satisfaction and businesses that follow a proven set of best practices guidelines. That being said, there is no sure thing when hiring any business. It is your responsibility to hire the most qualified business for your family. It is your responsibility to select a contractor and to negotiate the terms for any work performed, not that of TradeCertified.com. You should consult with appropriate expert advisers to assist in your home improvements or construction, including a lawyer regarding contracts, permits and other necessary job documentation, and an insurance professional regarding the contractor’s and your own insurance coverage requirements.

TradeCertified™ only performs initial screening of information provided by contractors or their agents based upon specified objective criteria. Further, due to the inherent time delay in the data gathering process, pending actions or other issues affecting a contractor’s record may have occurred which were not captured by the third-party data sources used.

Who is Eligible to Participate?

Any local dealership selling /servicing swimming pools, hot tubs or swim spas in the United States and Canada. Additionally all pool and spa manufacturers, suppliers and distributors are also eligible.

What our customers say.

“I’ve purchased two spas: One for my primary residence and one for our vacation rental. I found both dealers on Trade Certified and I have been so impressed with their service.”

Michelle K.Columbus, Ohio

“A neighbor told me about Trade Certifed when we were looking for a local pool builder. I called the dealer and was immediately impressed with their responsiveness and professionalism.”

Thomas B.The Villages, Florida

“I was recently attending the LA County fair looking for a new swim spa. I was able to check out the dealers who were Trade Certified before I even arrived. A huge time savings!”

Allan W.Orange County, California

“I live outside Dallas, Texas where there are hundreds of pool builders. Trade Certified save me so much time researching the best pool builders in town. I would highly recommend them.”

Martin T.Dallas, Texas

“I love this service! I ‘ve moved three times in the last 6 years and have used them in every new city. I gotta have my nightly soak.”

HectorLong Island, NY

Why Trust Us?

Welcome

Frequently Asked Questions.

What our customers say.

As Seen In: Consumer & Trade Publications

Links

TRADECERTIFIED

DEALER INQUIRIES