Anyone had any luck with local contractors recently? Looking for recommendations.

I'm compiling a list of local tradespeople for various projects around the house, but it's hard to know who's actually good and who's just good at marketing. I especially need a roofer, a plumber, and an electrician, but referrals seem thin on the ground recently. Has anyone had any luck with local contractors recently? Looking for recommendations - positive or negative! It feels like every time I ask someone for a recommendation, they end up being unreliable or overpriced, so any help is appreciated.

It is interesting how the quality of service can vary so widely, even within the same trade. You might get one contractor who is incredibly professional and detail-oriented, and another who is sloppy and unreliable. It makes you wonder what accounts for those differences and how you sort the good from the bad. Is it just experience, or does attitude and work ethic play a bigger role?

I just had some work done by a few professionals, and only one I would recommend. It is all referral based, too. Before the job, I did a search for Roofing Contractors in Duncan, BC to get some options, and found some companies to avoid simply based on reviews left by other people. I have a friend who’s had good experiences lately with a local electrician, but I'd suggest doing your own research before hiring anyone. Good luck navigating everything.