What BuildZoom says about itself
“Find local general contractors near you for free”
“Every project gets a dedicated project consultant.”
“Contractors will reach out to schedule meetings so they can put together formal estimates for your project.”
“Fill out a quick form to help us understand your goals, budget, and personal preferences.”
“Get bids from the top-rated contractors in your area.”
Roofers weighing lead sources usually find two very different models. This page describes Poach.rr using only what we can state about it. It describes the other platform only through lines quoted from its public homepage, fetched on the date shown in our records. Read the source yourself before you decide anything.
How Poach.rr works
Poach.rr is a marketplace of roofing, solar and HVAC prospects built from public building-permit records. You pick a state and county, filter by permit age, and buy a prospect either exclusively or shared with other contractors.
For HVAC, a prospect is a home whose last HVAC permit on record is 12 or more years old, or a home with no HVAC permit since it was built. Each is scored from permit history. Homeowner contact details are looked up on demand after you buy. Numbers flagged on do-not-call lists are marked.
Data is swept daily from public permit portals. Coverage depends on which jurisdictions publish permits, so some counties will be thin or missing. All figures on our pages describe recorded permits in our dataset, not every permit in a county.
What the BuildZoom homepage says about itself
The BuildZoom homepage headline reads “Find local general contractors near you for free”. That wording is addressed to a property owner looking to hire, not to a contractor shopping for prospects.
The BuildZoom page describes its process in homeowner terms: “Fill out a quick form to help us understand your goals, budget, and personal preferences.” It also says “Every project gets a dedicated project consultant.”
On the contractor side, the BuildZoom page says “Contractors will reach out to schedule meetings so they can put together formal estimates for your project.” It also promises homeowners they can “Get bids from the top-rated contractors in your area.”
We cannot see from that page how contractors are selected, how many contractors receive a given request, or what a contractor pays to take part. We make no claim about any of it.
The two models side by side
| Question | Poach.rr | Model described on the other homepage |
|---|---|---|
| Who starts the process? | You search a county and choose prospects from permit records. | A homeowner fills out “a quick form” and a consultant handles matching. |
| How do you reach the homeowner? | Contact details are looked up on demand after purchase. | “Contractors will reach out to schedule meetings” after an introduction. |
| Exclusivity | You choose exclusive or shared when you buy. | The quoted homepage text does not say. |
| Trade focus | Roofing, solar and HVAC. | The headline says “Find local general contractors near you for free”. |
What to ask any lead vendor
These questions work for Poach.rr, for the other platform and for anyone else selling you work. Get the answers in writing.
- Where does the lead come from? A permit record, a form a homeowner filled out, a call, an ad click? Each has different intent and different age.
- Is it exclusive or shared? If shared, ask how many other contractors get the same contact.
- How fresh is the data? Ask how often it is updated and what the lag is between an event and its appearance.
- Which counties are covered? Ask for coverage in the exact areas you serve, and what happens where public sources are thin.
- How is contact information obtained and checked? Ask whether do-not-call status is flagged before you dial.
- What does a bad lead cost you? Ask what happens with wrong numbers, duplicates and homeowners who never wanted a quote.
- Can you try before you commit? Ask for a small test in your own territory.
Which model fits which roofer
If you want to choose your own targets by county and permit age, and you are comfortable calling homeowners who have not asked for a quote, a permit-based marketplace fits that workflow. You see the age of the last permit on record before you buy, and you decide how many contractors share the contact.
If you prefer homeowners who have already raised their hand, a request-based platform fits better. The BuildZoom homepage frames that around a form and a consultant: “Every project gets a dedicated project consultant.” Whether the projects that come through match roofing or solar work is something to ask directly.
Many contractors use both kinds of source. The practical test is a small trial in one county, tracked by source, so your own booked jobs tell you which one earns its place.
Trying Poach.rr
New Poach.rr accounts get free prospects to try the marketplace, no card required. Pick a county you already work in and check the permit ages against what you know of those neighborhoods. That shows quickly whether the coverage is good enough for your area.
Frequently asked questions
Is Poach.rr a lead generator like BuildZoom?
Not in the same way. Poach.rr is a marketplace of prospects built from public building-permit records that you search by state and county. The BuildZoom homepage describes a process where a homeowner fills out “a quick form” and is matched through a consultant.
Can I buy exclusive leads on Poach.rr?
Yes. You can buy a prospect exclusively or shared with other contractors. The BuildZoom homepage text we reviewed, “Find local general contractors near you for free”, does not say how requests are shared.
Does Poach.rr cover every county?
No. Data is swept daily from public permit portals, and coverage depends on which jurisdictions publish permits. Counts are recorded permits in our dataset, not every permit in a county.
How do I get homeowner contact details on Poach.rr?
Contact details are looked up on demand after you buy a prospect. Numbers flagged on do-not-call lists are marked.
Can I try Poach.rr before paying?
New accounts get free prospects to try the marketplace, no card required. The BuildZoom homepage line “Find a contractor you can trust, for free” is addressed to homeowners, so ask that vendor directly what a contractor trial involves.
Sources
Statements about BuildZoom are quoted from its public website as retrieved on the date shown above; check their site for current terms. Statements about Poach.rr describe the product as of October 14, 2026. This page is refreshed monthly.