Where do you look for contractors in the Bay Area (Oakland in particular)

[Ivan Zlatev]

After hiring many contractors for various jobs, I still don't have a good contact list, probably because my standards are too high and I rarely like their work.

I see tons of construction trucks on the freeway. Where do they advertise?

I've tried Craigslist, Yelp and Porch.com, but the selection is very limited.

Am I looking at the wrong place?

Ideally I want to hire individuals (not general contractors) who specialize in their work (e.g. a framer) and speak some English.

Thanks,

- Ivan