Home Improvement: FINDING YOUR CONTRACTOR THROUGH AN ONLINE SERVICE – SCAM OR NOT? – Part 2

Home Improvement

Online Contractor Referrals: The Hidden Truth – Part 2

Online contractor referral services are really pay to play... Just you may not pay directly.

Online contractor referral services are really pay to play… Just you may not pay directly! They are even willing to sue one another to get your and other contractor’s business.

Online Contractor Referral Sites Are A Big Business

Yesterday, I wrote an article about how online contractor referral services have hidden costs for you, and in many cases do not vet contractors.  Contractors pay a fee for every lead that they receive, and these costs are hidden costs of your remodeling project.

Home Improvement Referral Services Face Off In Court

Two Internet giants are heading to court. According Pool & Spa News, Angie’s List is suing Amazon for 11 infractions, including stealing trade secrets.

A lawsuit filed June 19, 2015, in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, alleges Amazon stole proprietary information to establish the home services business it launches earlier this year.

The article shows how important these companies regard their contractors and potential consumers, not because they are helping consumers like you find reputable, local contractors, but because they are concerned about increasing their bottom line.

The Better Business Bureau and Contractor Referral Services

Contractor referral services that do not vet contractors properly, require contractors to pay to be listed and don’t identify that a contractor’s ranking is based on the price they pay give you, misleads home improvement consumers like you.  It is no different than the false sense of security you get when researching a company on the Better Business Bureau site and find an “A” rating doesn’t guarantee that a company is reputable. 

Best Way to Find A Trustworthy Contractor

In reality, the best way for you to find a trustworthy contractor online is to visit contractors’ websites and watch videos from, and talk to, their clients. Consumers can and should vet a contractor (such as checking for licenses, insurance, references, etc.), but testimonials from past clients are priceless.
These lead generation companies don’t understand how the industry works; they just want to make money off it.  They don’t realize that remodeling and specialty contractors don’t provide a commodity, they provide a service.  Having repairs done, or a bookcase built, isn’t like buying a book or a dress or a pair of shoes that can be returned.

Home Remodeling Done One House At A Time

The home remodeling industry hasn’t moved online and you shouldn’t choose a contractor without first interviewing him.  Home improvement projects should still be done one home at a time, one project at a time, using the hands of craftsmen who know their trade and do it well.
You already know a trustworthy contractor – Leading Edge Homes.  Whenever a project comes up, please call us at 561-795-2551 and we will be happy to complete it for you.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.