Finding the Right Company, Part 1: What TV Doesn’t Show You
Finding the right company begins with knowing that television rarely shows the whole story. We’ve all watched home improvement shows for ideas. They’re great inspiration, but they rarely show the real process, the real timelines, or the real professionalism behind quality work.
Unrealistic expectations cause a lot of frustration, not because the project failed, but because the expectations were never grounded in reality. So let’s change the channel: start with knowledge, and finish with confidence.
Tonight’s episode: the right company, from the first call to the final walk-through.
TV vs. Reality: Six Scenes From the Right Company
Tap each screen to see what really happens when you hire the right company, and what it looks like when you don’t.
About that flannel stereotype: it’s been pushed for years, and it’s simply inaccurate. Many professionals wear polos or button-downs to the office and are level-headed enough to handle surprises calmly. Weather changes, materials shift, and surprises happen. Professionals expect that, and it’s a big part of what makes the right company the right company.
Research Is How You Find the Right Company
The first real step is homework. Check off each one as you research a contractor and watch the signal get stronger.
Useful starting points: the Ohio Attorney General’s tips for checking complaints, the FTC’s guide to avoiding home improvement scams, and the Better Business Bureau. You can see our own record on our BBB profile.
Six Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Reviews tell you what other homeowners experienced. The first conversation tells you how a company thinks. Bring these questions to every estimate appointment and listen to how each answer is given, not just what is said.
The FTC also recommends getting a written contract, asking for references, and avoiding anyone who pressures you to decide on the spot or asks you to pay the full amount up front. A confident company welcomes questions because it has good answers.
If a contractor gets defensive, vague, or rushed when you ask about warranties, timelines, or who answers the phone later, that tells you something too. Calm, specific answers are a strong sign you are talking with professionals.
Longevity Is Part of the Right Company
Staying in business is hard. Of U.S. businesses that opened in March 1994, here’s the share still open over time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The year Wilbur Thrush started
Three generations later, W. Allen Thrush owns the company and Corey Thrush is the third generation. Read 65 years strong and who we are.
A homeowner once came into our design center frustrated. She had hired a contractor who had been in business only three years, and he couldn’t resolve a simple product issue. Online reviews had warned customers to proceed with caution, but she hadn’t taken the time to check them. Finding the right company means doing your homework before you sign.
The Right Company Earns Your Trust
Trust isn’t automatic; it’s earned. Hiring the right company means trusting a professional to take your vision and carry it out correctly, and letting experience guide the process. Without trust, projects feel stressful. With it, they feel organized, transparent, and steady. Hear it from a homeowner in our real testimony.
Thrush & Son®, On the Air Since 1960
- A+Better Business Bureau rating
- 3Generations of the Thrush family
- 31,000+Homeowners in the audience
- GAFPresident’s Club Contractor
Ratings you can verify yourself. No laugh track required.
Awards That Point to the Right Company
Awards aren’t the reason to hire anyone, but they’re evidence that other people, from industry groups to Dayton voters, have checked the work. We’re a GAF President’s Club Contractor and proud of our Best of Dayton recognition.
We serve Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Warren counties from Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon with roofing, siding, windows, doors, and gutters. See the project gallery, homeowner reviews, and the reasons homeowners choose us.
Also worth a look: our list of signs and red flags in the right contractor, and how to compare roofing estimates.
The Right Company: Your Questions, Answered
How do I find the right company for my home improvement project?
Start with research: recent reviews, BBB rating, years in business, complaint history, and consistency. Then compare written estimates and choose the company you trust to stand behind the work.
Why does a company’s age matter?
Because longevity is evidence. Of U.S. businesses that opened in March 1994, only about half were still open five years later and 18% after 23 years, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A long track record means a company has handled problems and stayed accountable.
Where can I check complaints in Ohio?
The Ohio Attorney General suggests checking complaints with its office and the Better Business Bureau, and verifying the business with the Ohio Secretary of State.
Is the lowest estimate a red flag?
Not always, but the FTC advises against automatically choosing the lowest bidder and recommends asking why prices differ. Compare scope and products line by line; Part 2 shows how.
Should I trust what I see on home improvement TV shows?
Use them for inspiration, not expectations. TV compresses timelines and skips permits, lead times, and cleanup. The right company will give you a realistic plan.
What does Thrush & Son put in writing?
The products, scope, price, schedule, and warranty, before work begins, with no pressure.
Where is Part 2?
Read Part 2: read the label before you buy for budgeting, comparing quotes, and checking products.
See What the Right Company Looks Like
Meet us at your home or in our Exterior Design Center. We’ll inspect, explain your options, and give you a written estimate with the products, scope, and warranty spelled out, with no pressure. Ask about financing.
Call 937-833-5136 · Office: Mon–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–2 · Michelle, our AI assistant, answers 24/7
Follow Along
Tune in for projects, tips, and BooBoo’s unscripted cameos.
