The Virginia Promise is an initiative led by the Virginia-based nonprofit Virginia Consumer, dedicated to strengthening consumer rights for individuals purchasing new homes or undertaking major residential renovations. Through education, transparency, and advocacy, we will help Virginians make informed decisions before purchases are made and ensure accountability when problems arise.

We will educate homeowners on their rights, the risks involved in major residential projects, and the rules that govern construction and renovation in Virginia. We will maintain an independent, publicly searchable record of contractor conduct, including violations, complaints, and relevant associations, free from industry or lobbying influence. We also advocate for common-sense protections, reasonable accountability, and restitution for consumers who have been wronged.

The Virginia Promise exists to protect homeowners from bad actors, restore confidence in the residential construction market, and ensure Virginians have the information and resources needed to protect themselves, up to and including the ability to avoid high-risk purchases altogether.

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The Virginia Promise was formed based on the documented experiences of Martin and Andrea Driffill in Chesterfield County, Virginia.  

In 2020, the Driffills contracted with Virginia based Gregoire Development Corp DBA Covenant Building and Design, to construct a new home in Midlothian, Virginia.  The aftermath was a flurry of missed deadlines, repairs not made, system failures, mold remediations, unauthorized material downgrades, unlicensed contracting, and more.

All these issues were amplified by legal abuse and regulatory failings, often involving interlocking parties of attorneys, legislators, regulators, and developers.  When the Driffills informed those in the regulatory hierarchy of the conflicts and asked for basic accountability, they were ignored and were placed on a constituent tracking list.  

The Driffill’s experience is not an anomaly; it represents a system that promotes low regulation as the best means to achieve economic benefits for the contractor and consumer alike.  That system has resulted in millions of dollars in homeowner losses due to regulatory loopholes according to the DPOR Director, Brian Wolford, in a recent memo to the Attorney General’s office.  A Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC Report) highlighted many regulatory failings and an inability to protect the health and safety of the public due to the need for a system that could accurately track licensing information and violations in 2018.

DPOR has reported investing in such upgrades to spend down reserve funds but abandoned the effort in 2024 with no advancement on the project, but the money is still spent. The 2025 Inspector General’s Audit confirmed outdated systems, lost information, incorrect findings, delays, and staff created excel sheets that further complicated regulation without the ability to cross reference cases and information.

‍The cost savings of this system are not enjoyed by the taxpayer, the customer, or the broader economy, they are restricted to a subset of protected contractors who can fail to meet their contractual obligations without facing substantive penalties.  This is because the barriers to consumer protections are simply too great to overcome, regardless of the evidence, terms of the contract, or even the regulatory rules in place.  Bringing these issues to the attention of the American public, federal authorities, and the industries impacted by poor construction such as insurance and lending, is only the path to an equitable and accountable system for all.

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The Virginia Promise is not anti-business.

Sustainable investment depends on trust, and trust requires accountability. When systemic failures go unaddressed, consumer confidence erodes and responsible businesses suffer alongside the public.

The Virginia Promise is not anti-contractor. Ethical contractors benefit from a marketplace that protects consumers from bad actors who undercut legitimate bids, fail to meet contractual obligations, or exploit unlicensed or trafficked labor. Transparency rewards professionalism and integrity.

The Virginia Promise does not seek excessive regulation. Our focus is on upholding the rule of law, equal justice, and ensuring that no individual or entity evades legitimate accountability through corporate shielding or regulatory loopholes.

The Virginia Promise does not replace government agencies or official enforcement functions. We operate as an advocate and information resource that strengthens transparency for consumers and ethical contractors alike. Existing institutions remain essential and should be reinforced, not displaced.

At its core, the Virginia Promise advances common-sense consumer protections, equal justice under the law, and a permanent, independent record of contractor conduct, so Virginians can make informed decisions and invest with confidence, knowing lawful contracts are respected and enforced within the Commonwealth.