How to Get Residential Construction Leads | 4 Affordable Strategies That Work

To get residential construction leads:

• Join community Facebook groups
• Create a website and Google Business Profile
• Run retargeting ads
• Encourage word-of-mouth

Home improvement and construction are common topics in Facebook community groups. Homeowners often go there to find residential contractors. These are free leads looking for your services. So share helpful advice and showcase your expertise to get hired. 

A website and Google Business Profile lets homeowners find you for construction work. Each month, 500+ people search for ‘residential construction companies near me’ on Google. If your website and business profile appear at the top, around 1.9% of those who see it will reach out. One Reddit user says they get 10 to 15 calls per day from their Google Business Profile.

Retargeted ads show up for homeowners who looked at your services but didn’t contact you. Since it works as a reminder, retargeting brings in up to 150% more calls for a quote. Word-of-mouth, whether online or offline, builds trust and a strong reputation. ServiceTitan reports that 71% of residential contractors get clients from referrals. 

This article covers how to master these 4 strategies for residential construction leads. We give you tips, tricks, costs, and success stories. We also look into what residential construction leads look for and the number one strategy to work on.

1. Join Facebook Groups to Connect With Homeowners Seeking Construction Services – Free

Joining Facebook groups lets you reach homeowners in your area asking about contractors. If you’re not there, you’re missing out on free, high-quality leads. Since residential construction is a major investment, homeowners want a contractor they trust. Facebook groups allow you to build trust and credibility within the community. According to Persuasion Nation, posts in Facebook groups have a 25% higher conversion rate than regular posts. Here are important tips when getting leads from local Facebook groups:

• Find the right local group. Join local community and neighborhood groups, homeowner and DIY groups, buy/sell/trade groups, real estate groups, etc… These are where people actively look for construction services.
• Join 1 to 3 groups. Many think that the more groups you join, the more leads you get. However, focusing on a few lets you engage consistently and build stronger connections.
• Provide value. Don’t just promote your services whenever someone asks for construction recommendations. That won’t work. You have to be a real help to the members. Comment on posts, answer questions, and provide helpful insights. Post valuable, engaging content, too, without pitching your service. 
• Befriend group members and admins. If they like and trust you, they may recommend you when someone needs construction work. Knowing admins also avoids getting kicked out when you eventually share your services.
• Have an engagement strategy. It takes time to build trust and connections in groups. So you must dedicate certain days to responding to posts and answering questions. It’s also good to post something engaging at least once a week to stay visible in the community. Maybe you post about a construction project you finished and love how it turned out.
• Create a professional and updated Facebook page. If people are interested in your services, they will most likely check out your page. There, they should see your construction projects, testimonials, licenses, contact details, and more. This will push them even more to give you a call.

Mady and Danny Barrera, founders of the home improvement marketing agency Contractor Click, use this strategy for their clients. They post their clients’ completed projects in community Facebook groups. By posting regularly and engaging with members, they get around 10 leads per month. If these 10 leads turn into clients, their contractors secure steady, high-paying projects. They don’t have to rely on expensive ads.

2. Create a Residential Construction Website and Google Business Profile – $10 to $50 Per Month

Creating a website and Google Business Profile makes you visible online. Invoca reports that 65% of homeowners search Google for building or remodeling contractors. These people are ready to hire, as 39% make a call right after searching. To get those calls, you need a website and Google Business Profile (GBP) that show up among the first results.

Local SEO (search engine optimization) improves your website and GBP ranking on Google. Here are some local SEO tips for beginners:

• Create your own website. If you want to keep it cheap, don’t splurge your money on a web designer. Creating your own basic website costs $10 to $50 per month for a domain and hosting. You don’t need anything fancy – just a simple site with all the important information. As for a Google Business Profile, it’s free if you do it yourself. 
• Use a website builder. Building a website is overwhelming, but a website builder like Snapps.ai makes it easy. It has drag-and-drop tools and pre-made construction templates. It also ensures fast loading, a clean design, and mobile-friendliness. You won’t have to worry about the technical side. 
• Verify your Google Business Profile. This confirms your location and builds trust with leads. To verify it, you must enter the verification code Google sends through mail, phone, or video. If mail, expect a postcard to arrive within 2 to 3 weeks. 
• Provide all your details. This includes services, contact details, service area, availability, personal story, licenses, and business description. These are what people look for, so make sure it’s easy to spot. 
• Add client reviews or testimonials. A PowerReviews survey found that 98% of people say reviews help with hiring decisions. So ask previous clients to leave online reviews for you. This ranks you higher, builds trust, and attracts more clients. 
• Keep your NAP (name, address, and phone number) consistent. It should be the same everywhere – your website, GBP, and directory listings. Even small differences (like “St.” vs. “Street”) can confuse Google and hurt your rankings.
• Use high-volume, low-competition keywords. Check Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to see what people search for. If many look for ‘residential construction in [your city]’, add this term to your titles, services pages, image captions, meta descriptions, and other areas. This way, you show up in these types of searches. 
• Upload high-quality images. According to Google, businesses with photos get more clicks and calls. Post pictures of before-and-after construction projects, you in action, and you with clients. You can even upload videos now. 
• Create local landing pages for each service you offer. For example, if you do home remodeling and home building, make a separate page for each. The same goes for locations – if you serve both Houston and San Antonio, create a page for each city. This way, the page focuses on that specific service and location and makes it easier for people to find. 
• Encourage engagement. Reply to reviews, answer questions, and post updates. Google rewards active profiles.
• Write a blog. A blog lets you answer common homeowner questions and showcase your expertise. If people are searching for ‘DIY home remodeling ideas’ or ‘how to choose a general contractor,’ write about them. This boosts your website higher, builds trust, and keeps your business top of mind when they’re ready to hire.
• Track results and adjust. Use Google Search Console and GBP Insights to see how people are finding you. Are they clicking on your website? Are your business profile views increasing? If something isn’t working, adjust your keywords, add more photos, or post fresh content.

One Reddit user says that after 6 months of doing local SEO, expect your calendar to be fully booked. They know this from experience with their father’s and uncle’s home remodeling business. They filled out fields, listed all their services, uploaded images and videos, and asked every client to leave reviews. With this, they were able to turn it into a full blown business.

3. Run Retargeting Ads to Convert Interested Construction Leads – $0.50 to $10 Per Click

Running retargeting ads increases lead conversion rates. In home renovation, this is especially important as clients need time to make big decisions. However, since they visited, you know they’re interested. Retargeted ads appear to these people while they browse Google, Facebook, or Instagram. If your ad is convincing, it will push these interested leads into giving you a call. According to Content First, retargeting brings back around 30% of site visitors. Here are some tips to make sure your retargeted ads work:

• Choose a platform. Google Ads retargeting costs $0.66-$1.23 per click. These ads are displayed on YouTube, other websites, mobile apps, and Google search. Facebook and Instagram retargeting costs $0.50-$2 per click and shows up on all Meta platforms.
• Add the Facebook Pixel and Google Remarketing Code to your website. These tools track who visits your website so you can show them ads again later. Snapps.ai makes this easy by giving you a simple way to add tracking codes. 
• Focus on high-intent visitors. Spend more on those who visit your contact or pricing pages rather than just your homepage. These are the ones who are really considering a residential construction contractor.  
• Make contacting you super easy. Every ad should have a big, clear button with links to your phone number, Facebook Messenger, or a simple form. 
• Start small to test your retargeting. Begin with a small daily budget, like $5 to $10, and see what works. If one retargeting ad gets more clicks or clients, put more budget into it and pause the weaker ones.
• Use “we noticed” messages to personalize the ad. Example: “We noticed you were checking out our residential construction services! Need a free estimate? Click here to schedule in seconds.” This makes them feel noticed and more likely to book a call.
• Show before and after images and video walkthroughs to grab attention. People love seeing home transformations, especially those who are already thinking about it. With this, they’ll be able to visualize their home getting the same look or upgrade.
• Add client reviews to build trust. Remember, a happy client’s words are more convincing than anything you say yourself. 
• Create urgency to get them to act now. Homeowners often delay big decisions. Push them to take action. “Only 3 openings left for fall renovations! Get your dream extra bedroom before the holidays.” Or, run a limited-time special offer like discounts or deals. Even a small incentive can be the push they need to finally call you. 
• Rotate ads to stay interesting. Instead of showing the same ad over and over, create a series of ads that change weekly. For one week, you can say “Thinking about a home addition? Get a free consultation – no commitment!”, while the next week will be “Need more space? Ask about our financing options for home renovations – no upfront cost!” One of these may connect with your leads.
• Don’t run ads 24/7. Schedule your ads to show during high-response hours. Evenings and weekends are usually when homeowners have time to browse. Also, limit how often they see your ad as you don’t want to annoy them. Say around 3 to 5 times per week.  

One Reddit user runs a 3 to 5 minute video ad to showcase their work and personality. They then put out retargeting ads to the people who watched 25% of the video. They know that these are the most interested potential clients. Now, their retargeted ads are usually 60-second reels. They include an invite to comment or DM for quotes, discounts, or free gifts. This was their advice in a Reddit thread on best ways to get residential construction leads.

4. Encourage Word of Mouth From Happy Residential Construction Clients – Free to $100 Per Referral

Encouraging word-of-mouth is very powerful – 92% of people trust referrals more than any ad. You get high-converting leads if your clients refer you to friends and family who need your service. To go beyond friends and family, encourage clients to leave online reviews. This is a type of word-of-mouth marketing as 97% check local service reviews before hiring. This shows they trust reviews to share honest experiences about your construction work. Here is how to encourage word-of-mouth and online reviews:

• Ask satisfied clients directly. Sometimes, simply asking is good enough. If they’re happy with your work, they’ll do it. However, it’s easy for them to forget, which is why you must make it easy. Provide your business card or send a direct link to your Google or Facebook review page.
• Give them something in return. This includes a home decor or hardware gift card, a free minor upgrade, or a 5-10% discount for future service. 
• Post client testimonials. Seeing others share their experiences encourages more clients to do the same. 
• Stay in touch. Remind past clients about your service by following up through email or social media. Send them thank-you messages, check in with their homes, or give maintenance tips. This helps people remember your construction service when referring others to you. 
• Run a referral program. Offer $100 cash bonuses or free service upgrades to clients who refer new homeowners. You won’t lose money because a new client brings in much more than your reward. So promote it after every project, in follow-up emails, and on your website and social media. 
• Get clients to share photos on social media. And make sure they tag you. If they love their new home, they’ll naturally want to show it off to family and friends. People will see the post, love the results, and want the same for their own homes. They’ll ask the homeowner about the project, and that’s when your name comes up.

A Redditor shared that 90% of their home building business was from word-of-mouth. To start out, he did cheap projects for family and friends. Even though he wasn’t earning much, he made sure his building standards were quality. His friends and family then referred him to their friends, family, and neighbors. Now, he has a lot of construction job offers that he can decide which ones he wants to do and doesn’t want to do.

What Do Residential Construction Leads Look for Before Hiring?

• Quality and reliability. Homeowners look for construction contractors with a strong reputation and proven work. This is why it’s crucial to have referrals, online reviews, before and after images, and videos. 
• Licensing and insurance. Homeowners want a contractor who is qualified, insured, and compliant with local regulations. Without these, they risk liability issues and poor workmanship. So display your license and insurance details on your website, social media, and ads. 
• Good communication and responsiveness. Your potential clients value clear pricing, timelines, and expectations for big house projects. Offering free quotes is a great way to show transparency and attract leads. Plus, if you’re quick to respond, you’ll have a better chance of winning the job before they look elsewhere.
• Strong online presence. A GoDaddy report found that 4 out of 5 people check a business website to see if it’s legit. Without one, potential leads will likely turn to a competitor who does. So even if it’s not your main lead source, you still need a solid construction website.
• Project timelines and availability. Delays are a major deal-breaker for time-sensitive projects like renovations or home additions. To win more leads, be upfront about your availability, provide realistic timelines, and stick to your deadlines. Finishing on time sets you apart from those who overpromise and underdeliver.
• Value and expertise. Homeowners aren’t just hiring a contractor – they’re trusting an expert to guide them. You can show your knowledge through blog posts. Talk about common construction challenges, offer solutions, and share insights on materials, designs, etc… Proving your expertise builds confidence and makes you the go-to choice.

What Are the Best Website Builders for Construction Companies?

The best website builders for construction companies are:

• Snapps.ai. The cheapest package costs $19 per month or $179.88 per year. That already includes pre-built templates specifically for construction company websites. You only need to drag and drop to customize the layout. It also has an online scheduler, a photo gallery, and SEO optimization to rank higher on Google. Snapps.ai is more than just a website builder – it has many tools to capture leads and improve site visibility. 
• WordPress. Its business package has a monthly fee of $40 and a yearly fee of $300 (billed $25/month). It gives you complete control and unlimited customization. It’s a good choice if you have a specific design in mind for your construction website. There are lots of easy-to-install plug-ins, such as WPForms (simple contact forms) and Yoast SEO (optimized for local searches). However, WordPress has a learning curve and requires maintenance. You need to put a little more effort into it. 
• Wix. Its business packages start at $36 per month. This creates a simple, quick, and effective construction website. Nothing fancy. But if you’re a new contractor or short on time, Wix gets your site up fast. It gets the job done – showcase your services, business details, and credibility.
• Squarespace. The cost of its business plan is $14 per month. It’s known for beautiful, modern website designs with high-quality image galleries. This is good as construction images are important to attract more leads. You also get built-in marketing tools like email campaigns. Send targeted emails to leads and past clients for more construction jobs.