What "Shmooze Certified" means

The five standards

Every applicant is reviewed against the same five standards:

1. Pride in the work. The quality holds up, and the business stands behind it.
2. Integrity and accountability. They do what they said, and they make it right when something slips.
3. Reliability and communication. They show up, they answer, and you are not left guessing.
4. Commitment to Atlanta. They are part of this city, not passing through it.
5. Real participation in the community. They are known to the 17,700-member Shmooze community, not a name nobody can vouch for.

The 4.0 rule

On top of the five standards, a Shmooze Certified business is rated 4.0 or better by its own customers. The registry holds to 4.0 because that promise is the reason Atlanta homeowners trust it. A rating under 4.0 is a fixable problem, not a permanent one, and the Shmooze works with businesses to get back over the line.

How a business earns the badge

1. Apply. Applying is free. A business does not pay to be reviewed.
2. Get reviewed. The community and the Shmooze check the business against the five standards and its real customer rating.
3. Earn the badge. A business that meets the bar becomes Shmooze Certified and is listed in the directory, where Atlanta homeowners can find it.

Membership keeps a certified business listed and promoted, at 25, 50 or 100 dollars a month depending on the level. The review itself is free. The badge is earned, not bought.

What it means for you

When you see Shmooze Certified next to a business, it means real people in Atlanta have vouched for it, it holds a 4.0 or better rating, and it met all five standards. You get a vetted pro without doing the vetting yourself.

Common questions