Poach.rr vs Thumbtack: A Lead Source Guide for Roofers

The short version

These two sources start from different places. Poach.rr is a marketplace of roofing, solar and HVAC prospects built from public building-permit records. Thumbtack’s pro page says “Customers choose pros directly”, which is a different starting point from a list of homes scored on permit history. Neither approach is right for every roofer, so this page lays out what each source says about itself and leaves the decision to you.

How Poach.rr works

Everything below comes from how Poach.rr describes its own product.

• Prospects are built from public building-permit records, and the counts reflect recorded permits in our dataset, not every permit in a county.
• HVAC prospects are homes whose last HVAC permit on record is old, or homes with no HVAC permit since they were built. They are scored from permit history.
• You pick a state and county, filter by permit age, and buy a prospect exclusively or shared with other contractors.
• Homeowner contact details are looked up on demand after purchase. Numbers flagged on do-not-call lists are marked.
• Data is swept daily from public permit portals.
• New accounts get free prospects to try the marketplace, with no card required.

One limit matters for planning. Coverage depends on which jurisdictions publish permits. If your county does not publish permits online, there is less for Poach.rr to work with there.

What the other vendor’s page says

We describe the other vendor only through the text on its pro sign-up page, and we quote it directly so you can judge the wording yourself.

• On cost of joining, the page says “No subscription cost”, and it adds that there is no charge to join.
• On how leads are controlled, the page says “You control your pricing and budget for leads, which determines how many leads you get.”
• On lead quality, the page says “You ll receive leads from customers that choose you, with high intent to hire.”
• On competition, the page lists “Limited competition per lead” as one of its features.

These are the vendor’s claims, not our findings. We have not tested them. The page also carries a footnote saying that actual earnings depend on various factors, so read any projection on it as an estimate.

Where the two models differ

Where the lead comes from

With Poach.rr, the lead is a home identified from permit records. Nobody has necessarily asked for a roofer. The pitch is that permit age points to homes where work may be due. With Thumbtack, the page’s line “Customers choose pros directly” suggests the contact starts with a customer choosing a pro. A roofer who wants to reach homes before the owner starts shopping may lean toward permit data. A roofer who wants to respond to people already shopping may lean toward the other model.

How you control volume

Poach.rr lets you narrow by state, county and permit age, then buy prospects one at a time. Thumbtack’s page says “You control your pricing and budget for leads, which determines how many leads you get.” In the first case you choose the geography and the age filter. In the second the page ties volume to your pricing and budget settings.

Exclusive or shared

Poach.rr offers both options on each prospect: exclusive, or shared with other contractors. Thumbtack’s page highlights “Limited competition per lead”, without saying in the text we reviewed how many pros receive a given lead. That detail is worth asking about.

Trying it first

Poach.rr gives new accounts free prospects with no card required. Thumbtack’s page says “No subscription cost” and invites you to sign up for free. Both let you look before committing, though what “free” covers differs, so read the terms on each.

What to ask any lead vendor

These questions apply to any source you are weighing, Poach.rr included.

1. Where does each lead come from? Ask whether it is a person who asked for a quote, a record from a public database, or something else.
2. How many contractors get the same lead? Ask whether you can buy it exclusively, and what “limited” means in numbers.
3. What is the coverage in my county? Ask for a sample of what is available where you work, not a national claim.
4. How fresh is the data? Ask how often it updates and how late filings are handled.
5. How are contact details verified? Ask whether phone numbers are checked against do-not-call lists and how that is shown.
6. What happens to a bad lead? Ask for the replacement or refund policy in writing before you buy.
7. What are all the fees? Ask for a full list of charges, including any that apply per lead, per job or per month.
8. Can I test with a small batch? Run a few leads, track your own contact and close rates, and compare sources on your numbers.

Which fits a roofer?

If your best jobs come from older roofs on homes where nobody has called yet, a permit-based list is worth a trial. Poach.rr’s free prospects let you test that in your own county. If you prefer to answer people who are already looking, the model Thumbtack describes with “Customers choose pros directly” may suit you better. Plenty of contractors will want to try both and keep the one that closes.

Whichever you try, track results yourself. Count the contacts, the booked inspections and the signed jobs per source, and let those numbers settle it.