Contractors Who Left Angi
and Never Looked Back.

What was your situation with Angi before you found AI Advantaged?

Honestly, frustrating. I had been in roofing for 11 years and was still relying on referrals and word of mouth. I tried Angi for about eight months. Some months were okay, most were a waste. The problem was I would get a lead and then find out three other roofers got the exact same phone number. By the time I called, the homeowner had already talked to two of them. I was not losing because of my work — I was losing because I could not get to people fast enough.

What made you look for an Angi alternative?

I was paying Angi around $800 a month and probably closing one out of every six or seven leads. The math just did not add up anymore. A buddy mentioned he heard about a service where leads go to one contractor only. That caught my attention immediately because that was the thing I hated most about Angi — competing for the same customer I just paid for.

What happened in your first weeks with AI Advantaged?

The first call came in about four days after we set everything up. A homeowner in Northwest Gainesville with storm damage on her roof. I was the only roofer she talked to. Quoted it, got the job. That was an $11,000 job and it felt completely different from any Angi lead I had ever gotten. She was not comparing me to anyone. She just needed a roofer and I showed up.

How does the lead quality compare to Angi?

Night and day. With Angi the leads were people who filled out a form and wanted to get some quotes. They were shopping. These people are calling because they need a roofer now. I close a much higher percentage because I am not fighting for attention from the jump.

What would you tell another roofer thinking about leaving Angi?

Stop splitting leads. Seriously. If you are good at your job and can close a conversation, all you need is to be the only person they call. That is what this gives you. I stopped using Angi entirely after my second month.

How were you trying to get new customers before?

Mostly door knocking, yard signs, and Facebook groups. It worked okay when I was starting out but it hit a ceiling fast. I was getting maybe four or five new inquiries a month. I tried Thumbtack for a while but pool service leads on there were all price shoppers. They would get four quotes and pick the cheapest one. I was not able to compete on price and maintain the quality of service I wanted to provide.

How quickly did things change after you stopped using Thumbtack and switched to AI Advantaged?

The first week I got three calls. Three. I was used to getting that in a month. Two of them converted to weekly maintenance contracts right away. By the end of the first month I had more recurring clients than I knew what to do with. I had to call my brother-in-law and ask if he wanted to pick up some pool route work.

What is the biggest difference in the leads compared to Thumbtack?

These people have already decided they want a pool service. They are not browsing. They found a listing, they called, they want to know my schedule and my price. Half of them do not even ask me for a quote — they just ask when I can start. That never happened with Thumbtack.

Is there much work involved on your end?

Almost nothing. They asked for some photos of my work and my license info early on — and then it was basically just waiting for the phone to ring. My job is to answer the phone and show up. That is it.

Any advice for other pool service owners thinking about switching from Thumbtack?

Make sure you can actually handle the volume before you sign up. I say that seriously. I was not ready for how many calls came in. Have a plan for how you will cover the work. Other than that, just do it. I wish I had started sooner.

What was your experience with Angi and HomeAdvisor before this?

I tried Angi twice over the years and both times I quit. The leads were terrible quality — people getting three quotes trying to find the cheapest guy. My average job is $40,000. I cannot be chasing budget shoppers and writing free estimates for people who were never going to hire me at a fair price. HomeAdvisor was the same story — paying for leads that went to four other GCs at the same time.

What made you decide to try an Angi alternative?

I had been burned before so I was skeptical. The thing that got me was the pricing model. I was not paying a retainer or a membership fee upfront. I was only going to pay 10–15% of the job revenue on work I actually close. That felt a lot more honest than pay us $2,000 a month and maybe your phone rings.

How have the remodeling leads been different from Angi?

Completely different buyer. The people calling me have already decided they are doing a remodel. They are not shopping for the best price — they are looking for someone they can trust to do the work right. I have had people call and say I want to do my kitchen, can you come take a look this week. That is it. No three-quote competition, no lowball pressure.

Is there anything about the setup other remodeling contractors should know?

They asked for my contractor license to put on their site — I thought that was actually a good sign. Legitimate buyers care about licensing. It made me feel like the leads were going to be serious people, not someone who found a random form online.

Would you recommend it to other GCs who are tired of Angi?

If you do quality work and you know how to close a conversation, yes absolutely. The customers calling are not price shoppers. They want the best person for the job. Be that person and you will do well.