Looking For Vendors For A Specific Project

[Brennan Harms]

How does everyone choose vendors for home projects? I have a few projects I am looking to do and I do work in real estate as an agent. So I have some good contacts but they mostly work in Orange County. The projects I have are not big enough for the large developers I work with anyways.

What are some good ways to find for example:

1. Plumber;

2. Electrician;

3. Carpenter; and 

4. Handyman

It seems that there are not too many great review sites and it is mostly by word of mouth. I looked into Angie's List, etc., and found that I am now being relentlessly called by third-party agents trying to connect me with the vendors I need. The issue is I have no way of reviewing these people or knowing the quality of their work at all.  Any recommendations would be appreciated, both for how to find and also vendors if you know anyone good!