Urban Referrals - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

ottagosoon · 02-05-2009, 09:31 PM

Here is another service for us all Urban Referrals. Has anybody dealt with them or heard of them? They have two addresses one Washington DC and Denver

http://www.urbanreferrals.com/index.htm

rbsremodeling · 02-05-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottagosoon

Here is another service for us all Urban Referrals. Has anybody dealt with them or heard of them? They have two addresses one Washington DC and Denver

http://www.urbanreferrals.com/index.htm

Yes. they do a good job. Fees are hire than most lead services but well screened referrals.

simplejack · 02-05-2009, 11:00 PM

Urban refferals... sounds UN-appealing, kind of like Used Contractors.com ([a made up name] if you think about it Used in this case, means you have experience) but it seems to have a bad connotation associated with the word.

Site looks nice though...

rbsremodeling · 02-05-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplejack

Urban refferals... sounds UN-appealing, kind of like Used Contractors.com ([a made up name] if you think about it Used in this case, means you have experience) but it seems to have a bad connotation associated with the word.

Site looks nice though...

they sent my ex partner 800k in contracts last year. He likes them

simplejack · 02-05-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

they sent my ex partner 800k in contracts last year. He likes them

Dang! I'm moving to DC!!

rbsremodeling · 02-05-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplejack

Dang! I'm moving to DC!!

total of 7 jobs

ottagosoon · 02-06-2009, 04:10 PM

and the cost of this great service?

rbsremodeling · 02-06-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottagosoon

and the cost of this great service?

It varies. They charge fees and percentages. Its not cheap. But worth it IMHO.

They screen the contractors well. If you goof up your gone. The screen the homeowners well. Its worth the call.

I think he paid 3% of contract cost. his average bathroom was 30-50K average kitchen was 50-75K.

They usually deal with the affluent crowd and they prepare them for realistic budgets, You did not pay unless you got the job. He said it has changed a bit recently.

Mike(VA) · 02-06-2009, 04:58 PM

Rory, are you part of the network? If not, why not? I just sent in the form and should have contact with them next week. I guess I figure what do I have to lose? Going after the Project Rescues part may set me apart from the rest. We'll see.

HandymanMasters · 02-07-2009, 01:21 PM

i highly recommend urban referrals for contractors.
i have been signed up with them for over 5 years now in d.c. by far they have supplied me with the highest quality leads. the response i get from customers referred by urban refferals is far and away better than anything i have ever recieved from my own marketing efforts. they have a sliding scale pay system which is reasonable for the quality leads they supply

rbsremodeling · 02-07-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike(VA)

Rory, are you part of the network? If not, why not? I just sent in the form and should have contact with them next week. I guess I figure what do I have to lose? Going after the Project Rescues part may set me apart from the rest. We'll see.

Conflict of interest my old business partner Found them first and we share the same office space, secretary etc. So it would be unfair to him for the most part..

It really is a good system. I have been seen how he operates with it and it is hands down the best external lead system I have seen to date

Mike(VA) · 02-07-2009, 03:09 PM

Thanks guys. I am expecting a call from them w/i 2 business days. I will start a thread on the expprience if anyone is interested. Let you know what they ask etc.

rbsremodeling · 02-07-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike(VA)

Thanks guys. I am expecting a call from them w/i 2 business days. I will start a thread on the expprience if anyone is interested. Let you know what they ask etc.

I might have the application form somewhere I will see if I can dig it up. It was not too bad.

They do check your references and keep an eye on the companies they use.

They will cut you out of the system if you get complaints

simplejack · 02-07-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

They do check your references and keep an eye on the companies they use.

They will cut you out of the system if you get complaints

I like this part...but taking 3% seems like they get a bit too involved, are they liable for anything? meaning if the contractor flakes out do they step in? If so, it sounds like a real good deal for the Home owner...and not too bad for the Contractor...

SLSTech · 02-07-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplejack

I like this part...but taking 3% seems like they get a bit too involved, are they liable for anything? meaning if the contractor flakes out do they step in? If so, it sounds like a real good deal for the Home owner...and not too bad for the Contractor...

3% is not bad - how much of a commision / or his regular pay goes to a sales person? Whats your average spent on advertising as a percentage? Besides you add it into the cost.

rbsremodeling · 02-07-2009, 10:49 PM

Its been awhile since I have seen the fees. I was maybe 2-3 years ago. So I might be wrong. But 3% is manageable for the types of jobs I do.

20K kitchen $600 that surely do able. It might be more or less. I could not find the forms they sent. I probably dumped them after I did not sign up.

I think for smaller projects there was a flat fee charge. Hopefully Mike will have some info for you guys soon.