For contractors comparing lead sources
Exclusive contractor leads vs shared leads
Lead sites like Angi, HomeAdvisor and Thumbtack can send the same homeowner to several contractors. Then it can turn into a race to call first.
Here is what exclusive contractor leads should mean, and what to ask before you pay anyone.
- One contractor per area
- Never shared with anyone else
- Booked onto your calendar
How do shared leads compare to our appointments?
Every lead site works a little differently. This is how shared leads can work.
| Shared leads | AutoGen | |
|---|---|---|
| Who else gets it | Can go to several contractors | Nobody. We work with one contractor per area. |
| What you get | A phone number or email to chase | A time booked on your calendar |
| What they answer first | Depends on the site | Budget, timeline, location and your own questions |
| Whose name is on the ad | Depends on the site | Yours, with your logo and colors |
| Who calls them first | Can be whoever is fastest | You. Nobody from AutoGen calls them. |
| Who chases them | You do | You just call to confirm. They already picked the time. |
Who else gets it
Shared leads: Can go to several contractors
AutoGen: Nobody. We work with one contractor per area.
What you get
Shared leads: A phone number or email to chase
AutoGen: A time booked on your calendar
What they answer first
Shared leads: Depends on the site
AutoGen: Budget, timeline, location and your own questions
Whose name is on the ad
Shared leads: Depends on the site
AutoGen: Yours, with your logo and colors
Who calls them first
Shared leads: Can be whoever is fastest
AutoGen: You. Nobody from AutoGen calls them.
Who chases them
Shared leads: You do
AutoGen: You just call to confirm. They already picked the time.
What's the difference between a lead and an appointment?
A lead is a phone number or an email. You still have to reach the homeowner and set up the visit yourself.
An appointment is further along. The homeowner saw your ad and answered your questions. Then they picked a time on your calendar.
That's why we say appointments, not leads. Your part starts with one phone call to confirm. See every step.
Call before you drive out. Some people still book just to get a price. Here is how to qualify a lead.
What a booking looks like
A text thread between us and a client. A homeowner answered the questions and was booked for 4pm the next day. He had already seen the new lead in his CRM.
What should exclusive contractor leads mean?
Exclusive should mean one thing. The homeowner goes to one contractor, not a list of them.
Here is how we do it. We work with one contractor per area. The ads run under your company's name. We don't share the appointment with anyone else.
That changes the first call. You can sell on your work, not on who called first.
Jesse Sawyer runs DS Custom Built, a kitchen remodeling company in Eugene, Oregon. He was very skeptical at first, too. Read his story.
Exclusive doesn't mean every appointment sells. In about four months, Jesse sold 13 jobs from about 43 in-home appointments.
Questions to ask any lead company before you pay
Ask these before you sign with anyone. Ask us too, on the call.
- What does exclusive mean to you, and how big is my area?
- Does anyone else get the same homeowner?
- What counts as an appointment?
- Who calls the homeowner first?
- Can I call a real client and ask how it went?
- Who owns the ad account and the Facebook page?
- How long is the contract, and how do I cancel?
- If there's a guarantee, what does it cover?
Some of our answers are on this site already. See our guarantee.
Your questions about exclusive leads
What is an exclusive lead?
A homeowner who goes to one contractor only. With us, that's you.
Do I pay per lead?
We don't charge per lead. We go over the cost on the call.
What if a contractor in my area already works with you?
Then we won't take a second one there. We work with one contractor per area.
See if your area is still open
We only work with one contractor per area. Answer 3 quick questions, then pick a time for your free strategy call.