Searching for a Home service contractor: Google vs Claude vs ChatGPT
In this walkthrough, I run a simple experiment:
Search for “best cabinet painter in NYC” across three platforms (Google, Claude, and ChatGPT) and compare what each one returns.
Video breakdown:
Takeaways
1. What Google Shows (The Traditional Layout)
Nothing shocking here. Google gives you:
- Paid ads on top
- A Google Maps 3-pack
- More ads
- Organic listings
- Reddit threads
- “People Also Ask” questions
- Additional service websites
It’s the same formula Google has been using for years:
Ads → Maps → Trusted Sites → Content → Websites
And it works.
Google still leans heavily on:
- Google Ads
- Google Business Profiles
- Reviews
- Local relevance
- Clear service pages
- Website authority
2. What Claude Shows (AI Acting Like a Research Assistant)
Claude searches the web, but not exactly the way a human would.
When asked for “best cabinet painter in NYC,” it:
- Slightly changes the query (adds an “s” → “painters”)
- Gave me 5 options suggesting I get quotes from multiple painters not just one.
- Chooses companies based on:
- Strong reviews
- Clear cabinet-painting specialization
- Service pages
- Detailed photos
- Real testimonials
- NYC relevance
- Did make one mistake
- It gave me George Apap Painting as a result but that company doesn’t service NYC (New York City)
- They are based in upstate New York and service the counties north of NYC
Claude openly says it looks for proof — not just generic “painting” content.
What does it ignore?
- Social media
- Likes and followers
- Viral videos
- Instagram content
Claude doesn’t care about trends.
It cares about your website, your reviews, and your service pages. Keep in mind it made a mistake looking at service location for one of the results.
3. What ChatGPT Shows
ChatGPT gave me:
- Pull a single “best match” when I use singular language – it showed me one painter result because I typed in “best cabinet painter in nyc”
- Pull multiple companies when you ask for plural
- Weigh:
- Reviews (leads with Google reviews)
- Specialization
- Process explanation
- High-end finishes
- Before/after photos
- Google Business Profile data
- Third-party directories (Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack)
ChatGPT even explains why it chose each company, often referencing specific service pages, galleries, or reviews pulled from the contractor’s website.
One company (NYCA Contractors) appeared in all three searches, across Google, Claude, and ChatGPT.
Why?
Because they have everything AI wants:
- Cabinet-specific service pages
- Before/after galleries
- Google reviews
- Local NYC relevance
- Verifiable business info
4. The Big Lesson for Home Service Businesses
AI is changing how people search.
But it’s not changing what matters when they do.
Across Google, Claude, and ChatGPT, the ranking signals are pretty much the same:
- Clear service pages (e.g., cabinet painting, not just “painting”)
- High-quality reviews
- Google Business Profile
- Before/after photos
- Local signals – proof you work/based in the area
- A website that proves you actually do the work
None of the three mentioned:
- Social media followers
- Viral content
- Fancy branding
Bottom Line
AI is pulling from your website and your reviews—exactly like Google.
Search is evolving, but the foundation hasn’t changed (yet).
Build the foundation right, and you’re prepared to show up everywhere Google, ChatGPT, Claude, and whatever comes next.
