Poach.rr vs Modernize: Roofing Lead Source Comparison

Picking a lead source is mostly a choice between models. Some vendors sell homeowner inquiries. Others, like Poach.rr, start from property records. This page compares the two approaches for a roofer. Poach.rr is described only from what we know about it. The other vendor is described only through its own public page, and we have not tested its product.

How Poach.rr works

Poach.rr is a marketplace of roofing, solar and HVAC prospects built from public building-permit records. Every prospect comes from recorded permits in our dataset, which is collected from public permit portals. It is not a complete list of every permit in a county.

• Pick a place. You choose a state and county.
• Filter by permit age. You narrow prospects by how old the permit history is.
• Choose how you buy. You can buy a prospect exclusively, or shared with other contractors.
• Contact details come after purchase. Homeowner contact details are looked up on demand once you buy. Numbers flagged on do-not-call lists are marked.
• Daily sweeps. Data is swept daily from public permit portals.

HVAC prospects are homes with an old last HVAC permit on record, or no HVAC permit since the home was built. They are scored from permit history.

There is one real limit. Coverage depends on which jurisdictions publish permits. If your county does not publish them, there is nothing for us to sweep there. New accounts get free prospects to try the marketplace, and no card is required.

What the other vendor says about itself

Everything below comes from the vendor’s own page, not from our testing. On that page, the company states: “Modernize is the data-driven lead generation partner for home improvement professionals”

On the type of homeowner it targets, the page says: “We connect contractors with homeowners who are actively planning and ready to start projects”

On products, the page lists “Generate high-quality leads for your business” under its marketplace offer. It also describes reaching buyers “Through high-intent leads, branded programs, and performance-optimized calls” as the way it works. A separate financing product is described with the wording “Offer instant homeowner financing solutions to win more jobs”

These are marketing statements. They tell you what the vendor wants you to believe about its product. They do not tell you how many leads you would get in your county, how many contractors receive each one, or how well they close.

Where the models differ

• Starting point. Poach.rr starts from a property’s permit history. The other page starts from homeowners it describes as “actively planning and ready to start projects” Those are different signals, and they may suit different sales styles.
• Scope. Poach.rr covers roofing, solar and HVAC. The other page describes a wider offer that includes financing, in its line “Offer instant homeowner financing solutions to win more jobs”
• Buying control. With Poach.rr you choose the county, filter by permit age and decide between exclusive and shared. Ask any other vendor how much of that control you get.
• Geography risk. Poach.rr depends on local permit publishing. A lead platform may have a different kind of coverage gap. Ask about it.

What to ask any lead vendor

These questions work for Poach.rr, for the vendor above and for anyone else who wants your budget.

1. Where does each lead come from? A public record, a web form, a call or a purchased list each behaves differently.
2. Is the lead exclusive or shared? If shared, ask how many other contractors get it.
3. How is contact information obtained and checked? Ask when it is looked up and whether it is current.
4. How are do-not-call numbers handled? You want them marked before you dial, not after a complaint.
5. What is covered in my county? Ask for a specific answer for your service area, not a national claim.
6. How fresh is the data? Ask how often it updates and how late-arriving records are handled.
7. Can I try it before committing? A trial tells you more than a sales call.
8. What happens with a bad lead? Get the policy before you buy.

Which fits a roofer

If you want to choose a county, see property history and decide whether to share or buy exclusively, a permit-based marketplace fits that workflow. Its limit is coverage, which depends on local permit portals. If you want a vendor that also bundles financing, the other page’s line “Offer instant homeowner financing solutions to win more jobs” shows that is part of its pitch. Many contractors will test more than one source and compare cost per booked job on their own numbers.

Whatever you test, keep the trial small, track every lead to an outcome and judge on your own books.