HomeÁdvisor Pro reviews and complaints state overall that it's worth using for lead generation. However, it's worth-noting that aside from positive reviews, there are also many negative feedbacks, as well as a fraud lawsuit.
While HomeAdvisor Pro is one of the highest-rated lead generation marketplaces for home service professionals, it's definitely not without its flaws and controversies. In this article, we’ll share what business owners have written about HomeAdvisor Pro so you can tell if it’s worth your time and money.
Using the best lead generation company can help you take your business to the next level. That’s why you need to make sure you’re working with the right one. Another option, of course, is to learn lead generation skills yourself. With SEO strategies in place, you can gain organic traffic and not have to worry about paying a third-party provider for every lead.What do reviews and complaints say about HomeAdvisor Pro?
HomeAdvisor Pro, a.k.a. Angi Pro Leads, has numerous customer reviews and complaints online. We browsed different platforms to see what people have to say about the service.
HomeAdvisor Pro reviews and complaints on the App Store
App Store users gave Angi Pro Leads a 3.9 rating and over 27.8k reviews. Here are some reviews left by some of the actual users of the software:
A life-changing platform for home service owners
"Amazing...drastically changed my life connecting my company with individuals that are simply looking to get home services.”
Bad customer support
“HomeAdvisor is a great tool, but a poor customer service tool. Many times you may receive great leads, but majority of them will not be worth the money.”
Don't bother with this company
“After we joined charge after charge was applied even without use of the app even if you ‘pause’ it... I recommend that you don’t bother with this company. It’s been a horrible experience and just a flat out head ache.”
HomeAdvisor Pro reviews and complaints on Google Play Store
The Angi Pro Leads app has 17.7k reviews and an overall rating of 3.2 stars on Google Play - and users also have mixed feelings about the service.
Can help you grow a business
“The app really helps us find customers... Support is very helpful, many of the leads are productive, and the service is really helping my business grow.”
“So done with this service.”
“I turned my leads off but somehow they kept magically turning back on… I am so done with this service.”
Free advertisement is better
“Out of the 20+ leads I paid for (well over $1200) I got one job. Not worth it!! Better off with free advertisement. Same results = less money.”
HomeAdvisor Pro reviews and complaints on Trustpilot
Customers gave Angie Leads/HomeAdvisor a 4.1 rating and over 36,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Here's what some business owners say about the solution:
A life-changing platform for home service owners
“One of the reasons I became a big success with my business is because of Angie leads.”
Huge waste of money
“Huge waste of money. Beware! I had a 500 dollar monthly budget set. After a few weeks I was charged $740. This was after the 280 $ to sign up. Most of these leads were dead end leads. Half went to voicemail, half didn't need any work done.”
HomeAdvisor Pro reviews and complaints on Reddit
Several threads on Reddit also show us what some business owners experienced while using the platform:
Angi will keep you busy
“Your experience of Angi will vary depending on your market. I have been using Angi for 10 months. Angi has kept me busy and it has got me in front of quite a number of realtors in a non pushy salesman way.”
“Dishonest and misleading”
“DO not sign up with them or give them your credit card information. They make it sound like you only pay for leads for jobs that you want to pursue, but they send you a bunch of crappy little jobs and charge you anyway. Dishonest and misleading.”
HomeAdvisor Pro reviews and complaints on YouTube
Entrepreneurs on YouTube also have varying reactions about using HomeAdvisor Pro. Here are two notable videos we've spotted:
Costly but worth it
Based in Minnesota, YouTuber and G&M Outdoor Services co-owner Garrett Williams posted a HomeAdvisor review on his channel. His video has attracted over 26,000 views.
According to Garrett, their landscaping business started in 2017 when they had zero leads and limited connections. He later heard about HomeAdvisor and used his credit card to pay $500 a year for the service.
“Right away, leads started coming in,” he said. Garrett and his company immediately had customers spending $5,000 to $7,000 on landscaping jobs. Fast forward to the present, their company continues to grow.
“We probably won’t be where we are now without HomeAdvisor,” reflected Garrett. “Yes, we spent a lot of money there but you gotta do what you gotta do to get work.”
The platform sells the same leads to up to 6 companies
Chuck the Contractor had a different experience. A HomeAdvisor user for 10 years, the professional contractor shared why he later stopped using the service provider.
Chuck looked back on how the platform initially benefited his business years ago, sharing:
“We were spending less than a hundred bucks per job we were getting, which was great because most of our jobs profit in the thousands.”
However, things changed over the years and HomeAdvisor started charging them higher, even for low quality leads. “We were getting people's names and phone numbers but when we called, no one would answer,” said Chuck. “Or we would call or look up their number and find out it's actually another contracting company.”
Worse, he later found out that multiple contractors were calling the prospective customers at the same time. Frustrated with the experience, he called up a representative who confirmed that Home Advisor does sell the same leads to “5 other companies.”
Now Chuck’s Home Advisor Pro review has been viewed over 16,000 times on YouTube, attracting many comments with similar sentiments about the platform.
Other websites
Dan Perry, professional handyman and owner of HandyManStartup.com, wrote in his HomeAdvisor Pro Review:
“In my first year of business, I spent $1,152 advertising with HA and gained $4,425 in business directly from leads received… However, I don’t agree with some of their business practices, namely how they use a company’s name to direct leads back to their website.”
He no longer uses the service today. In the same blog, he mentioned several issues people have with HomeAdvisor, namely:
Finance Buzz also posted a HomeAdvisor review, saying individual service pros, small owners and others “can open up a whole new world of possible business” when they sign up with HomeAdvisor Pro.
What is HomeAdvisor now called?
HomeAdvisor is now called Home Advisor Powered by Angi, while Home Advisor Pro has updated its name to Angi Leads. As you can see in the screenshot below, the company continues to use the Home Advisor name in its apps, websites, marketing and transactions to date.
HomeAdvisor was formerly known as Service Magic when it was originally launched in December 1998 by founders Rodney Rice and Michael Beaudoin. Based in Denver, Colorado, the digital marketplace was eventually acquired by Angies List (later renamed ANGIE Home Services) in October 2017.
Is HomeAdvisor free?
HomeAdvisor is a free online marketplace that homeowners can use to find reliable, customer-rated home service professionals. The platform has a massive network of experts, ranging from electricians, general contractors, landscapers, maid services, plumbers, professional movers, repairers, and more.
Service professionals, however, pay to be part of the database and to get leads for their businesses. Home Advisor matches interested homeowners with local service companies. “Simply choose the services you offer and the locations you serve,” their website reads. “We'll match you with homeowners looking to start projects in those areas.” They do this by providing businesses with people’s names and contact information.
How much does HomeAdvisor Pro cost?
A HomeAdvisor Pro membership can cost $300 per year or higher. In addition to the annual fee, companies usually have to spend $15 to $100 for every lead they receive. The exact cost depends on the business’ location, market, and industry.
As mentioned, Home Advisor forwards homeowner’s names and contact details to the service businesses for a fee. The platform, however, clarifies they do not “provide or guarantee jobs,” adding businesses “will be charged for each lead (they) receive,” whether or not they win the job.
So yes, a home improvement business will have to pay each time HomeAdvisor sends them information from a potential customer. Despite this, some businesses consider membership on the platform as a worthwhile investment, because it allows them to promote their brand and find quality leads that hire them for high-priced projects or fixed price services.
3 important things you need to know before signing up with HomeAdvisor
Before signing up with HomeAdvisor, you need to be aware of these 3 things:
1. Top-performers get awarded with 6 types of badges
The company rewards top-performing businesses with badges to help them rise above their competitors and market their services more effectively.
2. HomeAdvisor background checks everyone joining their network
For consumer protection purposes, HomeAdvisor “uses an extensive screening process to screen businesses and business owners/principals.” This is done when new professionals and companies join the platform.
HomeAdvisor hires a third-party provider to run background checks to find out if any business owners or principals have any existing criminal records. “We're committed to maintaining a network of trusted home service businesses,” the HomeAdvisor also adds. “Those who don't meet our criteria will be rejected or promptly removed from our network.”
Meanwhile, the company clarifies that they do not run background checks for every individual employee that works under these businesses. That said, customers are encouraged to do their own research first before hiring anyone.
3. They’ve been sued for fraud
In 2020, the company made headlines after over 1,300 contractors accused them of fraud and sought to join a class-action lawsuit against them.
According to ABC 6 Action News, the lawsuit claims HomeAdvisor's business model is “defective, deceptive and fraudulent.” The contractors complained they were given fake leads, their lead budgets were “blatantly disregarded,” and existing procedures made it impossible to claim refunds.
In March 2022, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an administrative complaint against the company. According to the agency, HomeAdvisor allegedly used “deceptive and misleading tactics in selling home improvement project leads to service providers, including small business people operating in the ‘gig’ economy.”
Meanwhile, a TechCrunch report shared an official statement from HomeAdvisor, denying the allegations and saying:
“We’ve been in business for over 20 years and do not and would not deceive anyone, let alone customers. The FTC’s announcement was about a settlement agreement — one that does not admit nor find any wrongdoing.”
FTC eventually ended up ordering HomeAdvisor to pay up as much as $7.2 million last January 2023. In a press release, FTC further said:
“The administrative order also bars HomeAdvisor from the deceptive conduct detailed in the Commission’s complaint against the company, which the complaint alleged occurred over many years, and sets up two redress funds to provide money to defrauded service providers.”
Is HomeAdvisor worth using?
For many businesses, HomeAdvisor is worth using as a lead generation method. It helps them grow their companies by providing them with quality leads. No wonder, the platform remains to get positive reviews and high ratings from service professionals.
However, as we’ve shared here, HomeAdvisor also has a lot of negative feedback and a fraud lawsuit to boot. These could be understandable reasons why some service providers may think twice about doing any business with them.
As with other professional marketplaces, HomeAdvisor Pro has its shares of advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, it’s up to a service professional to decide whether or not they want to give it a try.
Conclusion
In case you’re hesitant about using HomeAdvisor Pro, there are plenty of similar lead generation services out there such as Houzz, Porch, TalkLocal, Thumbtack, Yelp, and more.
Other than online marketplaces, another efficient way to find interested customers for your business is through local lead generation. Besides, most potential customers today use Google to search for local home service providers.
As you rank your website organically through local lead generation, you get to outrank competitors in your area. When you make it to the first page of search engine results, you get to establish greater credibility, boost brand awareness and get free organic traffic leads. In other words, dominating your local niche will allow you to increase your revenue potential.
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