The checklist
Shared appointments cost less because the vendor sells the same homeowner more than once. Ask what "exclusive" covers, and how many contractors the vendor runs in your area.
Get the definition line by line: owner, stated project, verified address and phone, on your calendar, confirmed.
You pay anyway, it is replaced, it is credited, or it is "reviewed case by case." Each is a different deal.
A renter, a wrong address, no real project. Ask whether you are billed.
Ask about retainers, setup fees, minimum terms, cancellation notice, and unused prepaid funds. Setup fees, long contracts and cancellation penalties are standard items on vendor-review checklists (ProLine).
If it is theirs, ask what you keep when you leave. If it is yours, ask who pays the platform and what their fee covers.
Some vendors bundle it, some bill it on top. A low fee with a separate ad bill is a different number.
Ask for a realistic window from signed to first appointment, not a best case.
Who texts or calls, how many reminders. That decides whether they answer the door.
Ask for something checkable: a live walk-through, a sample appointment record, references you can call. A website claim is not proof.
How to score the answers
Stop at the first vague answer. Good answers are specific, written down, and cost the vendor something if broken. "No-shows are replaced" is a promise. "We work with you to make it right" is a sentiment.
Then run the price through the math on the cost page.
Starweb's answers
| Question | Starweb |
|---|---|
| Shared? | Never shared or resold. A limited number of contractors per area. |
| What counts | Owner, stated project, verified address and phone, on your calendar, confirmed. See the standard. |
| No-show | Does not count, gets replaced. |
| Unqualified | Does not count, gets replaced. |
| Contract | No retainer, no long-term contract. Prepaid blocks. |
| Ad account | Block model: we run the ads, under your brand or ours. Account model: your own account, at cost, lower per-appointment fee. |
| Ad spend | Block model: not billed separately. Account model: at cost. |
| Speed | Typically within 7 business days of launch. |
| Confirmation | Confirmation and reminder texts are handled. |
FAQ
What counts as an appointment. Every other term depends on it.
Source: ProLine, "7 best roofing lead generation services", retrieved October 2026.