Reliable Remodler Thinking Of Using Them?

olligator

I've been using RR and SM for about 6 mos. now. Hands down RR has been much easier to work with than SM. SM has been dropping good leads on me as of late, but you need to watch your spend targets with them, 'cause they'll bill you any chance they get. You have to stay on top of them for that reason alone. I must have gotten the one good rep at RR, 'cause he's been real easy to work with. A big thing with them (RR) is being able to see the zipcodes on the leads before purchasing them, and if I'm not sure about a lead, I call my rep and find out how many people have already bought the lead. If 8 GCs have already bought that kitchen remodel lead, are you sure you want to get into that mix? You need to evaluate the all the leads from both services or you're really going to spend more than you should. So far the strategy has worked, keeping the total advertising/lead budget to ~$300/mo.

**on SM leads in particular, call the cust ASAP when you get that lead in your email. An overwhelming majority of customers are extremely impressed when they get a phone call from the contractor the same day or next morning.

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bernie123

My reply may be a little late, but hopefully helpful. I read an interesting article on lead generation especially for residential general contractors at (it's a long one) contractorleadgeneration.com/contractormarketingstrategy.htm

You may find it enlightening.

Bernie

margs

I just signed with HGTVPro's new directory and lead service. They say they verify each lead by phone and sell to only 3 contractors per lead. It's a grand for the year but this is for a directory on four or five hgtv sites.

Barry__M

Bernie,

Thanks for posting that article link. It's was really informative. Did you sign up with them yet? If so, how's it coming along? Their process for working with contractors to get leads definitely isn't the standard, throw a few leads out there to a bunch of contractors and 'let the fight begin." I note that their leads are exclusive and they verify them? How's it working for you?

Barry

Barry__M

I forgot to mention that I stumbled across the really funny thread on that company's website. I always get emails from friends and even family warning me of stupid stuff, like smelling perfume from strangers that really ether, checking for change in the payphone where someone has left an hyperdermic needle ... stuff like that.

But at this link, you'll discover a new scam:
"Subject: Be Aware.... New Scam in Gas Station Parking Lots"

You've gotta check this one out:
contractorleadgeneration.com/sellingunderwear.htm

Greg Di

I tried RR, bought one lead for $40. The lead is a deadbeat and now I can't get them to cancel my account. I sensed trouble immediately, so I filed a dispute with my CC and told RR that they could either give me back my $29.99 willingly (because I never authorized it--I was on a trial basis) or the credit card company can intervene. Either way I get my money back. One way, they get publicly bashed on the internet...hmmm....

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Gunther66

I have been working with a lead service for about 6 months now, they are newer but was started by a contractor who had bought leads for years. What is great about them is I pay 399.00 a month for unlimited leads they quarantee 25, but I am getting close to 40 each month, and alot of bigger projects. There are the bad ones here and there but getting so many I am usually bidding more work than I can handle. Also not once have I heard the home owner say they have had 20 calls, the service says they only give to 3 contractors and so far I believe them.

Mellison

Registered User
Trade: Home Improvement General Contractor

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 15

My Photos

I used these guys for a about a two months last winter. The experience was absolutely horrible.
I do not believe they screen the H O at all.
It got to the point (after about 10 leads) that I was suprised when a HO actually returned my call.
There was a clear difference between a referal from a previous customer and a referal frrom RR.
The RR referals (when I actually met them) just had a different attitude than other potential customers. Almost like they were surprised to be contacted.
They advertise as selling leads from H O who are "ready to begin work"
Nothing can be further from the truth.
Do not waste your $.
The result be different depending on the area but in the NYC area it was awfull.
I have to believe that someone looking to have work done to their home can find someone who can refer a contractor. A co-worker, friend, boss etc.
Have I made my point? These guys SUCK

Sportioli

I ditched RR last week. Most of the leads were bogus.

I will say this though, they did credit me for the bogus leads. My biggest beef with them was that the homeowners never call back or answer there phone.

One of them that did answer told me that they already had their paint, and would be doing the work themselves. They wanted to get pricing from reliable remodeler because they were actually renters, and the landlord was going to apply my numbers against their up coming rent payments. RR credited me for the lead.

Will they stay out of my account with their monthly charges now that I've canceled them? We'll see if they do. Bid Clerk kept right on billing me when I canceled them, and I had to call them and and remind them I'd canceled. They credited me too. But now I have to check every month to make sure they're not billing me again.

Kenny K

i agree rrm pretty weak. they also like to keep the montlhy fee going. even though it's 29.95/mo it adds up. this is where they make the bucks with a lot of members that don't use service and forgets about it or waits for that legitimate lead. yay right

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dougchips

No offense but every lead company says what you just said. Why are they all full of BS while you have something to offer?

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Gunther66

Give this one a try I am still happy, at least for an internet lead service. I have landed enough jobs that I am getting a return on my investment--

professionalcontractorsassociation dot com

tin man

stay away from RR no good.rip offs

marc

We've been using Reliable Remodeler for a couple of years now.
We dumped for good yesterday due to a dispute over a $70.00 credit.
We had switched banks and told them the new CC numbers but they still hit the old account.
When I called to tell them the mistake they proptly hit the new CC for another $70.00
This was approx. 1 month ago and we have still not been credited for the payment that they made on the wrong account.
If I can talk just 1 person into dumping them or not setting up with them I will be happy.
I really wanted to keep using them although the leads have sucked from them this year.
How bad do they suck............this year we have paid for over 70 leads...set 14 and sold 2
I get a lot of.........we signed up over a month ago or sorry, we already hired a contractor or the job is already done.
I asked them numerous times to credit my account and we will still use you and I even told them that if I don't recieve my credit I will go onto every contractor forum I can find and post my experience with them in hopes of saving another contractor from going through the same BAD experience. My rep wouldn't even let me talk to his boss and ended up hanging up on me.

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Marc

marc

Sorry, Double posting

silvertree

They called me today, asked if I ever heard of them. I was a customer once and had to cancel my credit card to quit them.
They told me they have a great new program, I told them to hit the road.
Do not ever believe the lead companies, you can get leads, but be careful. Dishonest business practices.

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Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
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Brock

Used to lead companies in '06 and part of '07. Sold one job. Estimated about 4 or 5 out of about 40 leads.

This is how it works. Nothing on television. Wife tells husband he should look into getting that sinking front porch column fixed. Husbands fires up the computer and does a search for column fixing construction estimates. Immediately he finds S/M,R/R,R/E right there on page 1 of google. He enters his info to request a quote. All this takes about 15 minutes. Wife hollers that she found a good movie to watch on the Lifetime channel. This is the last time either one of them gives the sinking porch another thought until a few days later some contractor calls and begs for a meeting. H/O is sorry but he thinks they will hold off on the job for awhile but will call when they win the lottery. 5 months later you are driving by and low and behold there is the sinking porch. Nothing has been done other than some desperate contractors spending money to get the lead.

silvertree

Allright Brock, Where can I get a tie like the one in your avatar?

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

lospoto

I have used their services in the past and present. They are slimy so becareful on what leads you choose. I have gotten work out of them but the will sell you dead leads and act like they don't know anything about it. What they tell you is that they will credit you on their account and not your credit card. I used them in the past and I got a $10,000 job out of it but it cost me about $800.00 in leads. More than half their leads are dead. I had one that when I called the phone number it just rang. Then I e-mailed that same lead and it bounced back! I then went to the physical address and it didn't exist! Than there were leads were I actually got a person and they would say they didn't need an estimate. I have been using them for the past 2 months and they have sent me 5 dead leads and one good. They said they will give me credit for all of these but it seems as if the credit they owe me is piling up. My advice- stick to a !0 mile radius so your not driving around too much, stick to the type of work that you specialize in, and don't buy too many leads. Make sure they credit you or when you quit have them reimburse your account.

lapkus

i have tried reliable and they are a big scam like most of them,they send you 20 leads and you may get a hold of maybe one person,and that person isnt even interested in having work done, they kinda stick, its a huge waiste of money,they took me for a lot and there promises. Oh boy there promises. You dont get nothing but a big headach