Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on financing, costs, contractors, and how Yellow Tape works — no runaround.
About Yellow Tape
What is Yellow Tape?
Yellow Tape is a financing-first home improvement platform. You design your project, see realistic cost ranges and your financing options, and then get matched with a vetted local contractor — in that order. By the time a contractor shows up, your project is already defined and funded.
How is Yellow Tape different from Angi or Thumbtack?
Most lead marketplaces share your contact with several contractors the moment you show interest, then leave you to figure out budget and financing on your own. Yellow Tape flips the sequence: you get design direction, real cost ranges, and financing options first, so the contractor you meet is matched to a project that is already clear and funded.
Financing
What does "pre-qualified" mean, and is it the same as pre-approved?
Pre-qualified means an early, estimated look at your financing options based on a soft credit check — it does not affect your credit score and is not a commitment to lend. It is not the same as pre-approved or approved, which are firmer steps a lender takes after reviewing your finances in more detail.