You want the work done right. And if you can, you'd like the money to stay in the neighborhood. The trouble is that the big contractor sites don't tell you who actually owns the business, and "top rated" doesn't mean anyone checked a license. The Renovation Room was built to fix both problems: a vetted network of local Pros, rooted in Chicago's communities, with a mission of economic empowerment for Black- and Brown-owned contractors.
A contractor network that started in the community
The Renovation Room began as a Facebook community where Chicagoland homeowners and contractors could actually talk to each other. Today that community is 42,000+ members strong, and it is the foundation of a vetted contractor network serving Chicago, the suburbs, Northwest Indiana, and Southern Wisconsin.
Homeowners submit 100+ project requests a month — for free — and get matched with local Pros who have been reviewed by the people they have worked for.
How every Pro gets vetted
Every contractor in our paid membership network is verified for licensing (when the trade requires it), insurance, references, and experience before they are listed. Listings carry reviews from real homeowners.
And because Pros pay a flat membership — $99 a month or $990 a year — instead of paying per lead the way the big platforms charge, a Renovation Room Pro isn't competing to buy your contact information. They are competing on their work and their reviews. That is the difference between a directory and a community.
Finding Black-owned and minority-owned Pros
Many of the contractors on The Renovation Room are Black-owned and minority-owned businesses from the South Side, the West Side, and the south suburbs — the communities this network grew out of. Two ways to find them:
- Browse the directory — in the Renovation Room app, Pro profiles show the Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and Family-Owned badges Pros add to their listings.
- Or post your project — it is free — and mention your preference in the description. Pros see that when they decide whether to respond.
Why it matters
When you hire a Black-owned or minority-owned contractor who lives and works in the community, the money from your project circulates close to home — it pays local crews, buys from local suppliers, and helps a neighbor's business grow.
That is the whole idea behind The Renovation Room: homeowners get work they can trust, and contractors from our own communities get a fair shot at the jobs. Our nonprofit arm, the Renovation Room Network, carries the same idea into workforce training and mentorship for the next generation of tradespeople.
Questions homeowners and contractors ask
Are all contractors on The Renovation Room Black-owned?
No, and that is on purpose. The Renovation Room is an open network — any qualified contractor serving Chicagoland can apply, and every one is vetted the same way. What makes us different is where we come from: the network grew out of a 42,000+ member community rooted in Chicago's South and West Side neighborhoods, our mission is economic empowerment for Black- and Brown-owned contractors, and many of our Pros are Black-owned and minority-owned businesses.
Look for the Minority-Owned badge on a Pro's profile in the app, or mention your preference when you post a project.
How does The Renovation Room vet contractors?
We verify licensing (when applicable), insurance, references, and experience for every contractor in our paid membership network. Listings also show reviews from real homeowners.
"When applicable" is doing real work in that sentence: Illinois licenses roofers and plumbers at the state level, while most other trades are licensed by the city or village. So we check the license the law actually requires for that trade and that location — Chicago's general contractor license, for example — rather than a one-size-fits-all box.
Is The Renovation Room free for homeowners?
Yes. Submitting a project, browsing the directory, and getting matched cost nothing. Contractors pay a flat membership — $99 a month or $990 a year — not a per-lead fee.
That flat model is deliberate. On pay-per-lead platforms, contractors typically pay for each request that is sent to them whether or not the homeowner hires anyone. Here, you only ever pay the contractor you choose, for the work you agree to.
What areas does The Renovation Room serve?
Chicago and the South, Southwest, West, North, and Northwest suburbs; Northwest Indiana; Southern Wisconsin; and the Kankakee area.
Each Pro's listing shows the specific areas they cover, so you can see at a glance who works near you.
How do I find a minority-owned or woman-owned contractor for my project?
Two ways. Browse the directory — in the Renovation Room app, Pro profiles show the Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, or Family-Owned badges Pros add to their listings. Or post your project for free and mention your preference in the description — Pros see that when they decide whether to respond.
I am a Black-owned or minority-owned contractor. How do I join The Renovation Room?
Apply through Pro Signup. Membership is a flat $99 a month or $990 a year, and it includes a public directory listing with reviews, access to homeowner project requests across Chicagoland, and a community of 42,000+ members.
Every applicant goes through the same vetting — licensing where the trade requires it, insurance, references, and experience.
See: Pro Signup
Every Pro on The Renovation Room is vetted the same way regardless of who owns the business. Ownership badges are self-reported by Pros on their own listings. Last reviewed: September 2026.