Almost two decades have passed since the launch of ServiceMagic, the first online marketplace dedicated to home service businesses.
In 2004, InterActiveCorp (IAC) acquired the company; by 2012, it had expanded to the point where it needed a new name and logo. The new name was HomeAdvisor.
To better serve their customers, HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List partnered in 2017 to form ANGI Homeservices Inc.
However, as with any successful concept, imitations abound, so remember that not all the following businesses are solely committed home service providers.
To help you locate services providers and specialists in the home services industry possible, I’ve compiled a list of the best HomeAdvisor alternatives.
HomeAdvisor Alternatives teaches you an online business model known as “lead generation.” In my personal opinion, this is probably the top business model out there.
While HomeAdvisor Alternatives has its merits, it’s NOT my top recommendation if you’re interested in Lead Generation.
My top program in the lead generation category is going to be Josh Osborne & Sean Kochel’s Digital Rental Method program.
The thing is: there’s a good way and a bad way to run a lead generation business.
The bad way is using outdated SEO tactics and sketchy “black-hat” Google My Business listings to send phone calls to local businesses.
This leaves you at the mercy of Google’s search algorithm updates, which has a history of ruining lead generation empires in a single day.
I have friends that have gone from $50K/mo in passive income down to nearly $0 because their listings got suspended (and they never got them back!)
Every guru out there has “their secret method” to “ensure” Google doesn’t slap you down with a huge penalty. Well, to that, I say good luck fighting a $200 billion per year tech giant.
The good way to do lead generation, is building assets that YOU own, while playing by the rules and giving companies like Google and Facebook what they desire most – relevancy.
In this model, you build high-converting digital assets (like a landing page) and push high-quality customers through them. You then flip these customers to a client that’s willing to take them, and charge a fee for making the connection.
You’re kind of like a… lead dealer.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that I recommend this lead generation program because it helps my boyfriend and I personally make over $20,000/mo on autopilot.
The cool part is that it shows you pretty much exactly what to do to create a recurring revenue stream, that can bring you anywhere from a few thousand, to $10,000+ per month.
I really like how you can build it in only an hour or two each day, and you can grow it as big (or small) as you want to.
If that sounds interesting to you, check out The Digital Rental Method program here
That being said, let’s continue on to the HomeAdvisor Alternatives review.
What Is HomeAdvisor?
HomeAdvisor is a website that connects people looking for home improvement professionals with those offering their services in their region.
Despite being free of charge and offering a free lead-generation service to consumers, this service is not for the faint of heart among home repair experts.
Before joining the team, prospective members must undergo a rigorous screening process.
You must have the following requirements to pass the screening:
- Valid Business License
- Business Background Check
- Criminal Background Check
- Complete Bankrupcies And Credit Report
It might appear to be a lot of labor upfront, but remember that nothing of value is ever free.
Supporters will only appreciate what they truly believe in. Because of this, HomeAdvisor is among the ideal lead generation services available.
Is It Worth Trying?
HomeAdvisor is a dominant participant in the U.S. industry for lead generation and online directories of home service professionals.
The organization, once known as Service Magic, currently employs over 100,000 service professionals who are specialists in 500 different areas.
Perhaps at first appearance, but every coin has two sides. HomeAdvisor has more available positions than many of its rivals because of its large client base of 10,370 users.
However, this creates a situation where local service providers in a certain field are competing with a much wider group, like little fish in a huge pond.
There’s a lot of competition since everyone desires to take advantage of the prosperous consumer network and come out on top.
Another issue is that they sell your personal information to multiple contractors. Generating leads is just one way they earn money.
How Much Does It Cost?
Annual listing fees on HomeAdvisor are $350.
HomeAdvisor leads cost between $15 and $100. Potential clients may be sent to your mailbox once a week or once a month.
Since HomeAdvisor’s service experts pay per lead, the platform compensates for no-shows, faulty leads, and duplicates compared to other lead generation websites.
What Are The Other Services To Pinch-Hit HomeAdvisor?
Alternative #1. Angie’s List
Since its inception 25 years ago, Angie’s List has become an indispensable tool for 6 million households throughout the United States.
Originally including only “roofers,” “plumbers,” “handymen,” and “other contractors,” the list has expanded to include many more specialized service providers.
Even while the team at Angie’s List diligently monitors the site, there may still be the occasional sneaky advertisement for a business hidden amongst the reviews left by actual customers.
The issue here is that they have poor customer service, and you pay for advertisements, not leads.
Alternative #2. Google My Business
Making a Google My Business account won’t cost you anything. To increase brand awareness and generate leads, sign up for a free Google account and use the company’s various offerings, like Search and Maps.
You can read the evaluations that your customers have written for you and answer them. It can help you demonstrate your partaking and focus on the consumer’s needs.
Make reservations without leaving your Google My Business profile at any time. Make doing business with you as simple and painless as possible for other people.
Since Google My Business relies on your real business address, one of the main drawbacks is that you can only have one location listed.
Due to location, it might be challenging for HVAC business owners based in smaller communities to expand their customer base.
Alternative #3. Google Local Services
If you have a local business, you may reach individuals actively seeking the services you provide using Google’s Local Services Ads. Local users will be exposed to your Google Ads at no cost unless and until they generate a conversion (i.e., make contact with you).
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising models like Google Ads require payment each time an ad is viewed, regardless of whether the viewer contacts the advertiser.
Local Service Ads (LSAs) are different from standard PPC ads in that you only have to pay when a potential client actually makes contact with you through the ad rather than every time someone clicks on it.
However, as it’s highly automated, there is minimal room for optimization, and the majority of leads are unqualified. In addition, it is not as capable of optimizing for the entire client experience.
The most disappointing thing is the tough application process to get Google Screened.
Alternative #4. Homeflock
To facilitate the completion of home improvement projects, Homeflock serves as a digital marketplace connecting homeowners with professionals in the building trades, such as plumbers, electricians, remodelers, handypersons, and general contractors.
Customers get access to the portfolios of all home service providers that have worked in their area and are now bidding on their projects.
This data was compiled from a variety of sources, including official governmental and federal licensing agencies.
Alternative #5. Pro Referral
Pro Referral, powered by Home Depot, is about spending money to connect you to homeowners with service providers for home services companies.
The app eliminates the hassle of finding a reliable house professional by eliminating the need to read through many reviews.
There are several requirements that professionals must meet before they can join, such as carrying general liability insurance and forking up $39.99 every other year for a background check.
Service professionals have access to the store’s customer information and a network of local leads when they match the criteria. Pro Referral doesn’t have a per-lead fee like most lead creation platforms.
In other words, they’re totally free! However, one cannot expect something for anything.
Are There Alternatives To HomeAdvisor?
Yes, there are plenty of other business models to choose from if you want to pursue this making money online. Here are just a few:
Is HomeAdvisor Alternatives A Scam?
Alright, time for the $1,000,000 question: is HomeAdvisor Alternatives actually a scam?
No, it’s not a scam, technically speaking. They aren’t going to take your money and run off, leaving you empty-handed. It’s actually a halfway decent lead generation course.
It’s just not my top choice.
The Digital Rental Method program is unique. They give you over 30 proven templates (ad copy, targeting, keywords, exact landing pages, etc.) so that you can hit the ground running.
The people that run the program actually have an agency that does 7-figures per year, which is a major advantage over most other lead generation courses.
Think about it: what if you could put in a few hours of work each day (whenever you feel like it), and you were rewarded with a recurring $500-$2,000 payment for each site you put up?
And what if it only took you a week or two to get that first payment?
And what if you could double or triple that payment over the following month or two?
That’s what you get when you’re a Digital Landlord.
All you really need is a laptop and some internet.
Some of my friends are Digital Rental Method that run their 6-figure businesses from:
- Camping trips at national parks
- Beachfront in Hawaii
- On the road in a camper van (with a pet pig!)
They focus on living an enjoyable life first, and focus on income second. All thanks to this program.
They can take weeks or months off, and money keeps rolling in.
Living happily is the top priority.
Read Our In Depth Breakdown Of The Top 5 OppLead Generation Courses For 2024
If the thought of living perpetually at your dream vacation spot interests you, using the Digital Rental Method might be for you!
What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money From Home In 2023?
I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:
- I have an actual lead generation business
- I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
- I’ve drop-shipped a toilet bowl putting green on Shopify
- I’ve sold women’s health supplements via Clickbank affiliate marketing
And I made money with all of them, so trust me when I say: there is no “perfect” business model.
That being said, my #1 recommendation for making real money online is, hands-down: being a Digital Landlord
Whether you’re a complete newbie, or you’ve been around the block before but have never had that “big win” to propel you forward, using the Digital Rental Method is for you.
Why?
1)Time commitment: If you have an hour or two per day, you can do this. Even if you want to drop everything and commit fully, that works too.
You don’t have to be constantly working to make money. The income you generate is recurring.
Imagine taking off for a month to places like Hawaii, Paris, National Parks, & other spots people only dream about – all while collecting dozens of little $500-$2,000 checks. It’s like a dream come true.
But it’s only possible to do it when you’ve separated your income from your time.
2) Complete control: You completely control everything, which means no one can take your business away from you. This is a huge difference from other lead generation models, where Google can end you at the snap of a finger.
3) It’s Effectively Copy-Paste: Here’s my favorite part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up, you can literally copy-paste another version of it and find another willing “renter” in a few days. DOUBLING your income doesn’t get much easier than that…
4) Great Margins:
using the Digital Rental Method, your profit margin is nearly 100%. Watch here to learn how.
Just a reminder: these Digital Rental Properties are worth (at a minimum) $500/mo in semi-passive income. And each time you create another one, your income increases, and the effort put into creating the next property decreases.
Best-case scenario, you have properties bringing in over $3,000+/mo on auto-pilot.
5) You’re Helping REAL People: With the Digital Rental Method, you’re helping solve REAL problems that people are ASKING for help with:
Small local businesses around the world need one thing: customers. Without them, their business would fall apart. If you can provide those customers, they’re going to be really happy – and they’re going to pay you for it.
You’re helping a struggling mother or father put food on the table for their families, put their kids through college, or simply live life a little bit more comfortably.
Having this type of impact on the world is what will help you sleep soundly at night.
So, the rest is up to you. You could keep looking at other lead generation programs like HomeAdvisor Alternatives, which might work out.
You could keep researching and researching for the next few months (or few years), never making a concrete decision.
OR, you can look deep inside, think about those dreams, hopes, & desires, and make the decision to ACTUALLY make it happen, just like it has for thousands of other students before you.
Making a fortune while actually helping real people that need it.
If this sounds like you, click here to see how it all works.
