HomeAdvisor is a very useful tool for all homeowners that are on the lookout for contractors in the industry of home services. With this website, a homeowner simply needs to submit the project they want to complete and HomeAdvisor’s patented system locates any relevant professionals for that particular job.

 

Their technology searches through the available contractors using filters for their availability, location, preferences and types of service provided in order to locate the best match for that job. Once it does, that homeowner’s information is sent out to the contractor in the form of a lead.

 

However, it’s important to mention that just like any other advertising channel, it has its pros and cons and some might find it hard to identify if it’s worth it. Today, we’ll share both so you can determine if HomeAdvisor is worth it for you.

So, How Does Homeadvisor Work for Contractors

As we mentioned before there are pros and cons to HomeAdvisor that we need to list in order to understand how it works for you. Let’s start by listing out the pros:

 

  • It’s effective. It wouldn’t be in business if it wasn’t. The internet has become one of the best tools for people to find service providers in their area. This means that making sure you have an online presence is a must and if it’s in an industry-related website, even better.
  • It’s a great way to build your client base. This is particularly useful if your business is new since it can easily get your business up and running before you get to building a client base through referrals. You can also reach potential customers that you wouldn’t have known about before.
  • It’s simple. Once your account is up, you’re pretty much done. You’ll receive leads when they’re available and you can even choose whether to keep them on or turn them off.

 

As always, even great services have their downsides, as listed below:

 

  • You give up some rights to your business. They won’t be able to steal it from you. However, some contractors have mentioned that the terms of service include that Homeadvisor can use information from your profile to direct links back to their site. This is, of course, meant to be used for advertising but some might consider this a bit unethical.
  • It can get expensive. You’re not charged for the service overall, instead, you’re charged for every new lead, even if it doesn’t convert into a customer. Some leads might not be worth your time while others might end up going to other contractors. So, if you constantly receive leads but they don’t convert into customers then you’re simply spending money instead of investing. Some leads for bigger jobs can sometimes cost more than $50 so if you’re starting out, you may not be able to spend this kind of money.

Will it work for you?

If you’re just starting out and need to start building up your client base, HomeAdvisor will definitely work for you. It can also be very helpful if you’re currently going through a low and slow season and need some additional business to cover up your expenses.

 

The main evident downside is the costs you’ll have to take in order to get leads, especially since they don’t actually represent customers and might end up just taking up your time by going to another contractor.

 

However, we consider that the positive benefits heavily outweigh the disadvantages. By following the following simple steps, you can make the most out of your leads:

 

  • Make sure you call your leads right away. Many customers have voiced out that they tend to choose the first person who calls. So, make sure you call first and 99% of the time, you’ll get their business.
  • Choose the small job leads. As we mentioned before, big job leads are expensive so it’s better to sign up for jobs under $15 to get the best return on your investment. Some leads might be price shoppers so it’s better to stay on the budget-end most of the time to avoid losing too much.
  • Get rid of leads that don’t convert. After some time using the service, you’ll be able to identify which categories get you the best return on investment and which ones aren’t worth your time at all. So, once you get the hang of it, run a quick 80/20 analysis and only continue to pay for leads that convert into customers.

author avatar