How we check listings
Written by the editor, dated, and kept current. Every number on this site traces back to one of the steps below.
1. Where the listings come from
I started with public business records for the swimming-pool-contractor category across Arizona in October 2026: 280 businesses after removing duplicates (same phone and address), confirmed closures and listings whose records had not been touched in over a year and could not be re-confirmed. Businesses whose primary category is cleaning, repair, plastering, decking, covers or supply are shown in a separate "services near you" band on city pages and are not checked against the register.
2. The license check
Each business name and address was matched against the Arizona Registrar of Contractors public register on October 14, 2026. A listing shows "Licensed & bonded" only when an active license matched with high confidence. The profile then shows every license number, its classification, status, the date first issued, the bond on record, and the count of open complaints and disciplinary actions. 140 of 280 builders currently carry the label.
"License not verified" is a statement about our match, not about the company. Many legitimate businesses operate under a different legal name, as a branch of a licensed parent, or as service firms that need no contracting license. Confirm the current status yourself at roc.az.gov before signing; licenses change between our checks.
3. Service facts from the company's own website
For each business with a website, I read the home page and up to six internal pages and recorded 16 yes/no facts — builds new pools, pool remodeling & resurfacing, spas & spools, gunite / shotcrete pools, fiberglass pools, water features, outdoor living (kitchens, fire, shade), decking & pavers, 3d design, financing offered, warranty stated, commercial pools, equipment & automation, license stated on site, also offers pool cleaning & maintenance, also repairs pools & equipment. "Yes" means the site describes it. "No" means the site rules it out. "Not confirmed" means the site did not say. 1,878 facts were resolved this way. The short description on each profile is written from the same pages and contains no claims the site does not make, no prices and no ratings.
4. What gets indexed
Profiles with fewer than five confirmed facts, no website, or a "No" on the core service stay visible but are marked for search engines not to index until the business verifies the listing. That keeps thin pages out of search results without hiding real businesses from readers.
Labels
| Licensed & bonded · ROC # | Active license matched on the check date shown. |
|---|---|
| License not verified | No active license matched the name and address on that date. Not an accusation — confirm at roc.az.gov. |
| Verified by the business | Someone at the company confirmed the listing by email from a company address. |
| Premium | The business pays for an enhanced profile (photos, links, hours). It does not change position in the main list. |
| Sponsored band | Paid featured cards. Always labeled, always separate from the main list. |
| branch / owner-builder service | Context labels added where the records show a multi-location company or a design-only service. |
Corrections
Email editor@localguidepress.com or use the "Verify or correct" form on any profile. I reply within five business days and note material corrections on the profile. Refresh cadence: the license register is re-checked quarterly; business records are re-pulled twice a year; a verified business can update its own facts at any time.