The complaints are consistent: leads resold to four competitors, tire-kickers and wrong numbers, credits that are hard to dispute, rising prices. If you are a Michigan contractor looking for something better, here are the real alternatives — and where each one fits.
Why contractors leave Angi, Thumbtack and HomeAdvisor
- Shared leads. The same homeowner form goes to multiple pros; you are racing on price from the first call.
- Lead quality. A meaningful share never had budget or intent.
- Cost creep. Per-lead prices climb, and “spend more to rank higher” pressure is constant.
- No ownership. Stop paying and the pipeline stops instantly.
Alternative 1 — Building permit data (best for exclusivity)
Instead of buying a shared inquiry, you work from the public record that a real project is happening. Permits give you the address, the scope, and often the value, and most competitors are not looking at them. Cost: DIY, or a service like Build Siren from about $99/month for a whole trade and metro. Trade-off: you do the outreach.
Alternative 2 — Google Local Services Ads (best inbound, pay-per-lead)
“Google Guaranteed” badge, top-of-page placement, charged per lead — but leads are not shared the way Angi’s are, and disputes for off-target leads are straightforward.
Alternative 3 — Your own Google Business Profile and local SEO
Own the asset. Rank for “[trade] [city],” collect reviews, publish city and service pages. Slow, but the leads are free at the margin and compound.
Alternative 4 — Nextdoor and local Facebook groups
Neighborhood recommendation threads convert well because they are pre-vetted by a neighbor.
Alternative 5 — Referral and past-customer systems
The highest close rate and lowest cost. A written follow-up cadence and a referral incentive turn this into a channel.
Alternative 6 — Supplier and GC relationships
Supply houses and active general contractors both refer work. For subs, getting on GC bid lists — identified from new-construction permits — is the most reliable pipeline there is.
Comparison
| Channel | Lead type | Shared? | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angi / Thumbtack | Inbound form | Yes | $30–$150/lead |
| Permit data | Outbound target | No | ~$99/mo flat |
| Google LSA | Inbound call | No | Per-lead |
| GBP / local SEO | Inbound | No | Time / retainer |
| Referrals | Warm inbound | No | Low |
What most Michigan contractors should do
Keep one pay-per-lead channel for slow weeks if you want, but build the base on owned and permit-based sources: Google Business Profile for inbound, permit monitoring for a daily outbound pipeline you control.
FAQ
Is there a lead service that does not share leads?
Google Local Services Ads does not share the way Angi does. Permit-monitoring services are not “leads” in the shared sense at all — they are public project data you act on first.
Does permit data work for HVAC and plumbing, not just roofing?
Yes — see HVAC and plumbing leads.
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Request access to Build Siren — daily permit leads for Southeast Michigan contractors, from $99/month. Call (248) 290-8979.