Money-blind, never pay-to-play
Businesses cannot buy their way to the top of Servhom. Not with an ad budget, not for any price. Here is how we decide who appears first. Three things determine the order, in plain terms, and they matter in the order below.
We check public NYC records to confirm a provider's license. If we cannot verify it, we do not present it as verified. When a business gives us license details we cannot independently confirm, we label them clearly as self-reported, so you always know the difference between what we checked and what the business told us.
We look at whether a provider has a working phone number, a website, a defined service area, listed hours, and specific services. A complete profile signals that the business is active and easy to reach. A sparse one is a warning sign, and we weigh it accordingly.
We give priority to providers who actually cover your area. A capable plumber in the Bronx should not outrank one near you in Brooklyn, so service area is part of the order as well.
When we have review data from sources we trust, we show it, clearly labeled with its source. Reviews are not a ranking factor, but they can help you make your own decision.
We do not use clicks, profile views, or call counts as ranking signals. A popular provider is not necessarily a good one. We would rather direct you to a licensed, complete profile with fewer views than a prominent one with nothing verified behind it.
Three factors, in order, and a short list of things we refuse to do. No secret formula, and no pay-to-play. When a provider appears first on Servhom, it earned that position.