Pattern A2 directories for local services: the complete current roster

The Pattern A2 directory roster for local services — painting contractors, roofers, HVAC, plumbers, electricians, restoration, landscaping, general contractors — is the most stable AEO/GEO directory roster of any vertical. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Gemini cite Angi, HomeAdvisor, Houzz, Thumbtack, Yelp, and Google Business Profile consistently across virtually all "best [service] in [city]" queries. The roster has held stable since 2023 with minor entries from Nextdoor and Porch and stronger emphasis on Houzz for interior services. Local-services contractors absent from the top 5 of this roster are systematically undercited regardless of years in business, review count, or service quality. Most painting contractors, roofers, and plumbers we audit baseline at 35-55/100 on Check 3 of the 10-Point AI Citation Framework because they've claimed a Yelp profile but skipped Angi, HomeAdvisor, Houzz, and Thumbtack. The 30-day fix is one of the highest-ROI AEO actions available for the category.

What's the complete local-services Pattern A2 roster?

The current roster, in citation-frequency order across mid-2026:

Claiming the top 6 (GBP + Angi + HomeAdvisor + Yelp + Houzz + Thumbtack) typically lifts Check 3 from 4-5 to 9-10 within 30 days, with cross-LLM citation rate lift of 12-20 points.

Why is Google Business Profile the highest priority?

GBP carries disproportionate weight for local services because of Local Pack integration with Gemini and Google AI Overviews. Gemini-cited buyer queries about local services pull from Local Pack listings + GBP data directly. A complete, active GBP with high review velocity gets cited in Gemini responses far more than equivalent contractors with neglected GBPs.

The GBP completeness checklist for local services:

Basic identity:

• Verified business name, address, phone (matching state contractor license)
• Service area for service-area businesses
• Primary category (e.g., "Painter", "Roofer", "Plumber", "HVAC Contractor")
• Secondary categories (specific service types)
• Hours including emergency-service indication
• Business description with target keywords woven in naturally

Services list:

• 5-10+ services with brief descriptions
• Pricing range where shown
• Service area specifics

Visual:

• 30-50+ photos: exterior storefront, interior office (if applicable), team, in-progress work, before/after of completed projects
• Photo refresh monthly

Posts:

• Weekly posts featuring recent projects, seasonal services, promotions
• Each post 500-1500 characters with target keywords

Reviews:

• Reply to every review within 48 hours
• Maintain 4.5+ aggregate rating
• 4+ new reviews per month

Q&A:

• Owner-answered Q&A populated

Complete GBP for local services contractors typically lifts Gemini score by 5-12 points within 30-60 days as Google's local pack indexing absorbs the updates.

How important is Angi (and why?)

Angi is the highest-cited non-Google local-services directory because the platform's content structure aligns with how ChatGPT extracts contractor-recommendation content. Angi profiles contain ratings, transaction records, service categories, and reviews in structured formats — exactly the geometry AI assistants prefer.

Angi Pro tier (typically $50-300/month depending on market) elevates contractors in ChatGPT's preferred-source roster more aggressively than the free tier. For most local-services contractors with average ticket above $1,500, Angi Pro pays back within 30-60 days through both direct lead generation and AI citation lift.

The complete Angi profile checklist:

• Business name + canonical NAP
• Contractor license number prominently displayed
• 5-10 service categories
• Service area definition (cities + zip codes)
• 300-500 word business description
• 10+ photos of completed work
• BBB accreditation badge if applicable
• Insurance documentation
• Manufacturer certifications (Sherwin-Williams Pro, Benjamin Moore Authorized, Carrier Factory Authorized, etc.)
• 4+ reviews per month with active replies

Apply at angi.com/business or homeadvisor.com/spa (the two platforms share onboarding for many contractors).

What about HomeAdvisor specifically?

HomeAdvisor is technically owned by Angi Inc but maintains a separate citation roster. Contractors get cited on HomeAdvisor for "best [service]" queries even when their Angi profile is identical. The platform's matching algorithm produces ranked contractor recommendations that AI assistants extract directly.

HomeAdvisor's specific advantages:

• Verified ratings. HomeAdvisor verifies contractor reviews and ratings against transaction history.
• Pro Finder algorithm. Contractors ranked by HomeAdvisor's algorithm appear in ChatGPT responses as "HomeAdvisor's top-ranked [service] providers in [city]."
• Lead-distribution credibility. HomeAdvisor's lead distribution serves as authority signal.

Maintain Angi + HomeAdvisor as separate complete profiles. Don't assume profile parity transfers automatically — verify each.

What about Houzz for interior services?

Houzz is the dominant Pattern A2 directory for interior-focused services: interior painting, kitchen remodels, bath remodels, interior design, custom finishes. ChatGPT cites Houzz disproportionately for "best interior painter" / "best bath remodel contractor" / "best kitchen designer" queries.

Houzz's specific advantages:

• Project portfolio focus. Houzz profiles emphasize photo portfolios over text descriptions — ideal for contractors whose work is visual.
• Ideabook ecosystem. Houzz users save contractor photos to their ideabooks; the engagement metric contributes to citation ranking.
• Designer ecosystem. Houzz is heavily used by interior designers who recommend contractors directly through the platform.

Contractors doing residential interior work should prioritize Houzz at the same tier as Angi. Contractors doing exclusively exterior or commercial work can deprioritize Houzz.

What about Thumbtack?

Thumbtack occupies a different niche — lower-price-point services with strong recent-review emphasis. ChatGPT cites Thumbtack for "affordable [service]" queries and for queries where buyers emphasize recency ("recommended painter in San Diego last year").

Thumbtack's specific position:

• Stronger for sub-$1,000 ticket sizes than the other directories
• Recent review velocity matters more than lifetime review count
• Lower premium-tier ROI than Angi for higher-price-point services

Maintain a complete Thumbtack profile but don't over-invest in Thumbtack promotion if your average ticket is $5,000+. Focus higher-ticket investment on Angi + Houzz + GBP.

What about Yelp?

Yelp is universally cited but with lower weight than vertical-specific directories. Maintain a complete Yelp profile with active review response. Don't over-invest in Yelp-specific promotion (Yelp Ads typically produce weak ROI for local services contractors compared to Angi/HomeAdvisor leads).

What's the 30-day claim sequence?

The priority sequence for a contractor starting from baseline (only Yelp claimed):

Days 1-7: Claim and complete GBP. This is the highest-leverage single action. Add 30+ photos. Set up Posts cadence. Begin review request workflow with completed clients.

Days 8-14: Claim Angi + HomeAdvisor. Complete profile maximally. Consider Pro tier upgrade for both (paid tier produces measurable AI citation lift).

Days 15-21: Claim Houzz (if residential interior work) + Thumbtack. Add photos. Set up service categories.

Days 22-30: Claim Nextdoor + BBB. Verify NAP consistency across all profiles. Document any inconsistencies for cleanup.

Expected lift after 30 days: 12-20 points across the 10-Point Framework, driven primarily by Check 3 (Directory) and Check 1 / Check 6 (NAP consistency).

Frequently asked questions

Should I pay for Angi Pro or HomeAdvisor's premium tier?

For most local-services contractors with average ticket above $1,500, yes. The paid tiers produce measurable AI citation lift through promotion mechanisms plus direct lead-gen ROI. The cost typically pays back within 30-60 days. Below $1,500 average ticket, the math is tighter; test the free tier first.

What about Nextdoor for residential services?

Worth claiming. Nextdoor citation rate is growing as the platform's content surfaces increasingly in Gemini Local Pack queries. Don't over-invest, but maintain a complete Nextdoor profile with active engagement.

How does seasonality affect local-services AI Visibility?

Different services peak at different times. Painting peaks spring/early summer + late fall. Roofing peaks after storm season. HVAC peaks summer + winter extremes. Maintain consistent posting and review velocity year-round to smooth seasonality and keep AI citation signals fresh.

Do paid leads from these directories indirectly help AI Visibility?

Yes. Customers who find a contractor via Angi-paid lead and become satisfied clients often leave reviews on multiple platforms, contribute to brand mention frequency, and refer additional clients. The compound effect over 12-24 months is meaningful.

What if I'm in a service category outside the typical home-services categories?

The roster shifts. Specialty categories — restoration, water damage, fire damage, mold remediation — have their own Pattern A2 sub-rosters. The general home-services directories (Angi, HomeAdvisor, Yelp) still matter but with lower citation weight than category-specific platforms (RestorationLocal, IICRC contractor directory, etc.).

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Companion guides: AI Visibility for painting contractors · The Pattern A2 directory playbook · NAP consistency and split-brain · Google Knowledge Graph eligibility · The 10-Point AI Citation Framework.