Winnipeggers in the process of renovating their homes can check a local website to see how contractors and tradespeople stack up.

Ratetrades.ca allows users to search through the approximately 2,500 contractors and trades workers currently registered on the site.

Users can read and post reviews from others who have hired that tradesperson or contractor.

"Something like this, that allows people to search for trades [and] get feedback on who's used who, is extremely beneficial," said Allister Penner, who checked the site as he prepared for some home renovations.

Ratetrades.ca is the brainchild of Sarah De Klein, who created the website after finding there was little information online about contractors in the city.

"There's obviously a yawning gap in the information field," she said.

De Klein said the website aims to empower consumers and give contractors feedback.

"Reviews on ratetrades allow contractors to, you know, take the temperature of how they're doing in business," she said.

Contractors like Keith Bowie, vice-president of Ecologic Spray Foam, say the website helps set standards for others in the industry.

"It's one other way of putting our reputation out there, as a source of why people want to do business with us," he said.

Ratetrades.ca has been online for about a year. Currently it reviews Winnipeg contractors only, but De Klein said she is looking to expand to Vancouver later this year.