Original research
Houston AI Search Study
What ChatGPT and Google AI showed for 12 Houston trades on November 1, 2026.
By Robert, PageClub founder. Published Nov 1, 2026
Study at a glance
- Date
- November 1, 2026
- Tools
- ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
- Trades
- 12 Houston home services trades
- Prompts
- 24, one per trade per tool
- Main finding
- Listings, ratings and reviews shaped every answer
What did the Houston AI search study test?
The Houston AI search study is PageClub’s test of what AI tools show when a homeowner asks for the best contractor in Houston. On November 1, 2026, PageClub asked ChatGPT “Who are the best [trade] in Houston, TX?” for 12 home services trades and ran the same question in Google, where an AI Overview appeared above the results.
ChatGPT ran in a temporary, unpersonalized chat so saved memory could not shape the answers. We logged every business named, the star ratings and review counts shown, the sources cited and the domains Google linked.
What did ChatGPT and Google AI show for Houston contractors?
Both tools leaned on business listings, star ratings and review sites. Three patterns held across the 12 trades.
ChatGPT showed a Houston map card in 11 of 12 answers
On Nov 1, 2026, every trade but roofing got a map.
ChatGPT's Houston picks had a median of 141 reviews
Nov 1, 2026 range: 21 to 9,000+ reviews; 15 of 51 under 100.
Google showed an AI Overview on all 12 Houston searches
Google led every Nov 1, 2026 contractor search with AI first.
Which sources did Google cite for Houston contractors?
Yelp appeared among the first 10 linked domains for 11 of 12 trades. Reddit appeared for 7, Angi for 6, and Thumbtack, Best Pick Reports and DownToBid for 5 each.
A contractor’s own website was among the first sources in 7 of 12 AI Overviews. Third-party sources such as the Houston Chronicle, Yelp, Thumbtack, Houzz and Reddit led in 7, with two trades showing both.
Domains Google linked most
| Domain | Trades |
|---|---|
| Yelp | 11 of 12 |
| 7 of 12 | |
| Angi | 6 of 12 |
| Thumbtack | 5 of 12 |
| Best Pick Reports | 5 of 12 |
| DownToBid | 5 of 12 |
| Booking pages (ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber, Workiz) | 5 of 12 |
| Houzz | 4 of 12 |
| BBB | 3 of 12 |
First 10 linked domains per search, November 1, 2026.
How did ChatGPT answer for each Houston trade?
ChatGPT named 4 to 8 businesses per trade and showed star ratings with review counts for 10 of the 12. The table shows what each answer included.
| Trade | Businesses named | Map card | Review counts | Details ChatGPT mentioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | 6 | Yes | 130 to 9,000+ | State plumbing license check, years in business |
| HVAC | 6 | Yes | 338 to 878 | State license check, service areas |
| Roofing | 6 | No | Not shown | Manufacturer certifications, storm and insurance work |
| Electricians | 6 | Yes | 75 to 608 | State license check, street addresses |
| Painting | 6 | Yes | 36 to 371 | Warranty, Houston sub-areas |
| Handyman | 5 | Yes | 136 to 742 | Task lists, directory sources |
| Flooring | 5 | Yes | 97 to 387 | Materials, veteran-owned |
| Remodeling | 6 | Yes | 59 to 176 | Years of experience, permits |
| Fence | 7 | Yes | Not shown | Founding year, materials |
| Concrete | 6 | Yes | 57 to 96 | Job types such as driveways |
| Landscaping | 8 | Yes | 104 to 468 | Drainage and turf services |
| Home builders | 4 | Yes | 21 to 74 | Industry awards, neighborhoods |
Each answer is one run on one date. AI answers change between runs, so treat this as a snapshot. No one can guarantee AI citations.
What should a Houston contractor do with these results?
Start with the inputs both tools read most: your listing, your reviews and the facts on your site.
Step 1: Fix your Google Business Profile
- Match categories to the services you sell
- List service areas by name
- Add real job photos
Step 2: Keep reviews coming in
- Ask for a Google review after every job
- Answer every review
- 41 of 51 named businesses had 50 to 600 reviews
Step 3: Put facts everywhere
- Years in business, licenses and certifications
- Services and job types by name
- The same facts on Yelp, Angi and Houzz
What are the limits of this study?
This study is one run per trade on one evening. ChatGPT and Google change answers between runs, by location and by account. Google results came from one Houston browser session, and Perplexity was not tested.
PageClub did not contact, rank or endorse any business named, which is why this page reports patterns instead of names. To see where your own business stands, PageClub runs the same kind of tests in a $499 AI visibility audit.
Test your own Houston AI visibility
AI visibility audit, $499
PageClub runs a full prompt set for your trade and Houston areas, compares you with competitors and sends a fix list ranked by impact. Delivery is 72 hours after the full intake form.
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Houston AI search study FAQ
How do AI tools pick contractors in Houston?
In this study, ChatGPT and Google built answers from business listings, star ratings, review counts and review sites. Contractor websites added details such as services, years in business and certifications.
How many reviews does a contractor need to show up in ChatGPT?
There is no set number. The Houston businesses ChatGPT named had a median of 141 reviews, and 15 of 51 had fewer than 100.
Why does this study not list business names?
The study records what the answers were built from and does not rank companies. AI tools name different businesses from one run to the next, so the patterns are more useful than any single list.
Was Perplexity part of the study?
Not in this run. This round covered ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews.
Can PageClub guarantee my business shows up in ChatGPT?
No. No one can guarantee AI citations. PageClub can show where you stand and fix the inputs these tools read.
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