Professionals are:

1. business persons who do what they do for a living
2. consistently update their trade knowledge, skills, and equipment - products, new trends, new technology, new tools, etc.
3. law abiding - eg. license, insurance, etc.
4. respected since they maintain a certain level of ethics with regard to what they do

It is almost impossible to meet someone the 1st time and be able to determine whether they are pros or not. Until there are better legislations like the ways doctors and lawyers are certified, the best way to get professional renovators is through referral.

Being a very frustrated professional renovator for 10 years, I totally understand that there are people in the industry just there for the $$. Perhaps one day a true referral network will be created and let the true professionals stand a bloody chance to survive.