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The best home service lead generation companies are:
Using lead generation companies offers significant benefits for home service businesses. These providers connect business owners with a steady stream of potential customers who are actively seeking their services. The best lead gen companies utilize advanced marketing strategies and data analytics to target and attract high-quality leads. This approach not only helps business owners save time and resources, but also an increase in marketing efficiency and higher revenue.
Citing LSA, the Invoca Blog shares that over 55% of home service consumers are likely to use search engines before scheduling an appointment. This highlights the importance of online visibility. The website further reports that the average consumers spend $84 to $4,589 when they convert as actual paying clients.
On Reddit, HVAC contractor FuzzyPickLE530 shares that pricing and lead quality often deters them from using lead gen services. "I'm not going to pay $30+ to answer a question," writes the Redditor. "I will for a good lead though, even though $30 is quite a bit honestly."
Meanwhile, jarvatar says it's important for home service businesses to determine their average sale and whatt hey're wilkling to pay per lead. "Thumbtack and Porch will offer low quality, low priced leads," says the Reddit user."I don't like Houzz's contract basis, I don't think there's enough value. Angi leads are expensive, but you can get refunds on them if you're vigilant."
While traditional lead generation companies offer various benefits, Snapps.ai takes it a step further by combining a powerful AI-driven website builder with robust lead generation tools. This unique combination allows you to create a professional, high-performing website that not only attracts visitors but also converts them into quality leads.
In this article, we’ll explore the features of ten leading home service lead generation platforms, along with their pros and cons, to help you decide which platform might be best for your business.
Snapps.ai is an AI-powered website builder that goes beyond just creating a website; it helps you generate high-quality leads for your home service business. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, Snapps.ai enables you to design a professional website tailored to attract and convert leads. It integrates advanced SEO tools, analytics, and lead management systems, ensuring that your site doesn't just look good but performs exceptionally well in driving business growth.
Snapps.ai offers these key features:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
AI-driven customization | Initial learning curve |
Integrated SEO tools | Limited customization options |
Built-in lead management | |
User-friendly interface | |
Responsive design | |
Analytics & insights | |
Industry-specific templates | |
24/7 support |
Homeowners like Snapps.ai for a few reasons:
Snapps.ai is highly recommended for contractors looking to establish a strong online presence and consistently generate leads. Its AI-driven tools ensure that your website is not only attractive but also highly functional in capturing and managing leads. With Snapps.ai, you get a comprehensive solution that covers both website design and lead generation, making it an ideal choice for growing your business.
Phyxter was founded in Vernon, British Columbia by Jake Gibson in 2017. Today, the tech company aims to “provide top-tier home service solutions with a focus on community and integrity.” Phyxter markets itself as a “nationally recognized yet locally focused home service company.” They connect homeowners with local contractors specializing in specific services, such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and smart home automation.
Phyxter assures customers that by using their site, they get to “support local businesses and enjoy top-notch service.”
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Modern quoting technology | Not as popular as competitor platforms |
User-friendly mobile app | Reach is limited to US and Canada |
Free quoting and invoicing system for contractors | |
Risk-free (contractors only pay a fee after completing a job) | |
Backgrounds and credentials of technicians are checked by third-party security agency |
Homeowners like Phyxter because:
Phyxter is worth it, according to reviews on Google. People praise the company for its professional service and affordable costs. Currently, Phyxter has 65 reviews and a 5-star rating on Google. In addition to lead generation, the company also offers digital marketing services, such as:
HomeAdvisor was initially known as ServiceMagic when it was founded in 1998. Angie’s List eventually acquired the pioneering digital marketplace. HomeAdvisor has since expanded to having over 500 home improvement categories. Popular categories in HomeAdvisor include:
On TrustPilot, customer Rose Gazarek says HomeAdvisor helped her find the right service “the same day at a reasonable price.” However, the platform also gets negative feedback for selling the same leads to multiple contractors.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Can be a good way to establish your business presence online | Cutthroat competition, unless you are a sole service provider |
Gets your company in front of a wide target market | Leads are sold to multiple contractors |
Option to pause listings | You have to pay for leads even if you don’t get the job |
Receive credits for cancellations or duplicate leads |
Homeowners Like HomeAdvisor for a few reasons:
However, homeowners should also be aware of a few less than stellar traits. For example, a client’s contact information is sold to multiple service providers. This means homeowners are likely to receive a lot of calls from different businesses.
HomeAdvisor is worth it for contractors. The site generally has positive reviews from users online. In fact, it has a high 4.1 star-rating and over 22k reviews on TrustPilot. WebFX also says HomeAdvisor can help businesses find paying customers, although it can be potentially costly.
Meanwhile, some contractors also criticize HomeAdvisor for fake reviews and fake leads. On SiteJabber, Joshua K describes HomeAdvisor’s practices as fraudulent and unethical.
It is also worth noting that in January 2023, the US Federal Trade Commission ordered HomeAdvisor to pay up to $7.2 million. The said amount serves as a compensation for “defrauded home service providers.”
Thumbtack was founded in 2008 by Marco Zappacosta, Jeremy Tunnell, Jonathan Swanson, and Sander Daniels. The technology company now has over 10 million users. According to their website, Thumbtack helps customers “confidently care for and improve their homes” by connecting them to service professionals who provide small fixes, routine home maintenance, and major house improvements.
In addition, Thumbtack also covers other niches including:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Favored by homeowners | Competitive because leads are sent to 5 contractors |
Free to join and no monthly subscription | Records of poor customer service |
Only pay for leads when customers contact you | You don't know what a lead will cost you until you're charged |
Option to upgrade to a paid subscription (buy leads automatically at a 20% discount) | You pay for communicating with potential customers - not leads |
Unexplained fees and rise in rates |
Homeowners like Thumbtack because of the following:
In some cases, Thumbtack offers a money-back guarantee amounting up to $1,000.
Thumbtack has 6.1k reviews and a 4.1-star rating on TrustPilot. However, some customers are also claiming they’ve had unsatisfactory experiences. For example, JM writes that Thumbtack does not do thorough background checks for contractors.
Thumbtack is worth it for contractors, according to its positive online reviews. Reddit user Jay_Thompson11 says he spends around $100 and earns $400 to $1,100 per week using Thumbtack.
He also encourages other contractors to set up their “targeting preferences right” and to be strategic in naming their businesses.
Meanwhile, some Redditors dislike the platform’s lead quality. For example, royal_friendly says Facebook or Google Ads are better. DeadMansPizzaParty stopped using Thumbtack after encountering “too many lowballers and tire kickers.”
Matt Ehrlichman established Porch in 2012. The platform currently hosts over 300,000 professionals in more than 160 niches. The home improvement network promises to deliver “quality leads on your terms.”
Some of the services offered by professionals on Porch are:
Meanwhile, professionals can choose:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Contractors only pay for the type of leads they prefer | Customer service isn’t the best |
Has a massive database of contractors and service niches | Aggressive upselling from sales reps |
Reward system for contractors | Has low ratings online |
Homeowners are into Porch because of the following:
That said, Porch has plenty of negative feedback online. On TrustPilot, Porch is rated poor with only 2.7 stars out of 1.4k reviews. Mary Beltran, for example, said the company “won’t help you” if you encounter any issues with your chosen pros.
Porch is not worth it for contractors, based on its low ratings on several online platforms. On Better Business Bureau, the company has a low 1.03 star rating out of 40 customer reviews.
For instance, a business owner who goes by Nick S shares their experience with Porch “has been far from satisfactory.” Their main problem with the platform is the “vague and inaccurate lead information.”
Porch also has a rating of 2.7 stars out of 837 reviews on Consumer Affairs.
Houzz was founded in Palo Alto, California by Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen in 2009. The couple faced challenges while remodeling their home and decided to build Houzz as a solution. Their website places heavy emphasis on the use of beautiful home photos.
Today, Houzz is known as a marketplace, online community, and software provider. The company offers tools and resources for homeowners and professionals to have “the best experience for home renovation and design.” The platform also works as a marketing solution for tradespeople in the home improvement industry.
Popular professional services on Houzz include:
Houzz has a worldwide reach that includes Asia, Australia, Europe, and more.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Profiles are free to set up | Getting listed at the top will cost you additional money |
Online exposure & access to an extensive audience | Without advertising, your listings may not be seen by homeowners |
Option to pay to rank higher on the site | Images need to be high quality and professional |
Homeowners like Houzz because of its benefits like:
You can check out Houzz’ Inspiration Boards to get ideas for your next home improvement project.
Houzz has over 15k reviews and a rating of 3.9 stars on TrustPilot. Customer Lynda Lynn praises the platform for the user-friendly experience. According to her, the products are “easy to sort”, plus the site shows “similar items that could be of interest.”
Houzz is worth it for contractors because of its flexible payment structure. You don't pay per lead like you do with HomeAdvisor. Also, the service has been around longer than platforms like Phyxter and Porch. However, competition can be a challenge. This is because Houzz has a network of over 2.5 million professionals in almost every home improvement niche imaginable.
Angi was founded by Angie Hicks and William S. Oesterle in 1995. Initially known as Angie’s List, Angi is one of the oldest home service websites in the US. The company started out as an online directory listing reviews of local contractors. Today, Angi connects homeowners with service professionals in the country and internationally.
Over the years, the brand emphasizes that their focus has always been on “helping people love where they live.” Among Angi's top home improvement categories are:
So far, the platform has helped over 150 million homeowners in their home improvement projects.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
They have a massive online following | Low conversion rates |
Option to pay for additional visibility | Can be extra competitive because of the massive contractor database |
Same lead pool as HomeAdvisor (so if you utilize both platforms you could pay for the same lead twice) often means low conversion rates |
Homeowners are into Angi because:
Angi may not be worth it for contractors, especially if you’re already using HomeAdvisor or other effective lead generation strategies. YouTuber Chuck The Contractor cites the decline in lead quality and increase in costs as the main reasons for him to stop using the platform. Today, he mainly relies on attracting organic traffic on Google by way of website and Google Maps optimization.
Angi may not be worth it for contractors, especially if you’re already using HomeAdvisor or other effective lead generation strategies. YouTuber Chuck The Contractor cites the decline in lead quality and increase in costs as the main reasons for him to stop using the platform. Today, he mainly relies on attracting organic traffic on Google by way of website and Google Maps optimization.
Angi also has an average TrustPilot rating, with 3.2 stars and 5.4k reviews.
A common issue is that some contractors spend money that may not result in actual leads. Case in point, a former customer complains about receiving “bogus leads,” adding that their customer service “is a joke.”
Yelp was founded in 2004 by former PayPal employees Russel Simmons and Jeremy Stoppleman. The platform is an online directory for finding local businesses. Top services listed on their website and app include:
According to Statista, Yelp attracts over 60 million mobile web visitors and 36 million desktop visitors per month. Meanwhile, Enterprise App Today also mentions that 4 of 5 Yelp users “are ready to buy” when browsing the page.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Yelp’s massive range can lead to online exposure | You pay per view - not per click |
Can be a way to establish credibility | Self-service advertising means minimal control over spending/no way to track metrics |
Free to create a profile | Yelp has plenty of fake reviews. According to WiserNotify, Yelp blocks about 25% of them. |
Pay to advertise = your company at the top of the list of service providers | Sales associates often try to encourage contractors to spend on paid ads |
There are a few reasons homeowners like Yelp. These reasons are:
Yelp is worth it for contractors looking to establish their presence online for free. You can claim your business and get reviews from customers. In short, it can be a tool for marketing your brand.
However, using Yelp also has its drawbacks. Yelp has an overwhelmingly negative review. 84% of users gave it a 1-star rating. Business owner Marion Bradley complains that Yelp removes real reviews from customers.
On Reddit, AdmiralFractionalCFO also rants that Yelp’s business model “presents a conflict of interest.”
Meanwhile, other contractors say Yelp’s pay-per-click is misleading. Business owners may have to pay people to view their information - and not all of them turn into leads. Also, using paid ads can get pricey really fast.
Bark was founded in 2014 by Andrew Michael and Kai Feller. Today, Bark has offices in the UK, USA, Australia, France, Germany, and India. The company also has a network of “180k active suppliers across 8 sectors.” Each year, they bring together over 4.5 million consumers and service professionals.
Bark promises homeowners that they’ll easily find the best local service providers “fast and free.” Their platform offers access to different business niches, such as:
By using Bark, contractors can get local or nationwide leads, depending on their preferences.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Bark is reliable and has been around since 2014 | Some customers complain about receiving too many calls and emails from the Bark team |
The site offers lead opportunities for professionals from different niches | Lead quality may not be consistently satisfactory |
Prompt customer support |
Homeowners are fond of Bark because:
Bark is worth it for contractors looking to expand their reach. The platform has 94.9k reviews and a 4.2 star rating on TrustPilot. For example, CHROmosome Consulting & IT Sol writes that Bark’s lead quality has “substantially improved.” The user also praises the Bark Team for their fast response time..
Meanwhile, Martin James gave Bark 3 stars saying their experience with the brand “has been average.” According to the business owner, the low conversion rate can be a challenge. “We have had hires but at £25 per lead on average, it’s not really a long-term solution for getting new customers,” he adds.
HomeStars was founded in 2006 by Nancy Peterson, with its head office in Toronto, Ontario. The company describes itself as the largest online marketplace in Canada, with some considering it as the country's equivalent of Angi.
HomeStars has an active online community of consumers who publish reviews about various home improvement professionals. The platform features various home improvement categories such as:
In 2017, HomeStars was acquired by HomeAdvisor in a bid to “build a dominant global business and brand.”
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
8 million users visit HomeStars per year | HomeStars can downgrade/terminate memberships at their discretion |
Free basic listing can lead to more online exposure | Basic listing limits you to one service area/one category |
User-friendly mobile app | Upgrading your profile can be costly |
Professionals can earn the 'Best of Awards' label | Requesting a membership refund may be hard if you decide to cancel |
Can upgrade to paid listing & advertising | |
Earn 'Star Scores' (based on review rating-reputation-and responsiveness) | |
Can respond to quotes using any device |
Homeowners love HomeStars because:
HomeStars is worth it for contractors looking forward to building an online presence. You can attract interest and exposure for your business by listing it on the platform. However, you’d have to be prepared to put some effort into creating your profile and listings. Plus, you’d have to deal with some potential disadvantages.
On Google, Gavin White says HomeStars offers expensive leads and poor customer support. According to his review, they only closed 12 qualified leads in a year’s time. Canceling an account was also a hassle.
Leveraging Google can help your home improvement business get better leads. Google users have high search intent. This means they’re often actively looking for solutions when they go online. Implementing the right strategies can bring a higher ROI than paying third-party platforms. You won’t have to spend so much on leads before you can make any money when you have a prominent Google presence.
In choosing the best lead generation platform for your home service business, Snapps.ai emerges as the top choice. Its AI-driven approach to website design and lead generation offers a comprehensive solution that combines the best of both worlds—creating a professional, high-performing website while also effectively capturing and managing leads.
For contractors looking to establish a strong online presence and consistently generate high-quality leads, Snapps.ai provides the tools and flexibility needed to grow your business. While other platforms like Phyxter and HomeAdvisor offer broad reach, Snapps.ai's integrated approach makes it the superior option for those seeking both a website builder and a powerful lead generation tool.
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