Frequently asked questions
Where does the data come from?
Directly from each city's own open-data service: building violations from Chicago's Department of Buildings, New York's Department of Housing Preservation & Development, Philadelphia's Department of Licenses & Inspections, Fort Worth's Code Compliance Department, and New Orleans' Department of Code Enforcement. We mirror the records daily and every one links back to the city's endpoint so you can verify it yourself.
Is this real? How do I check a record?
Every order has its own page that re-asks the city about that exact record while the page loads and shows you what came back, field by field. There's also an outbound link that fetches the record from the city's server — not ours — so you never have to take our word for it.
Are these shared leads?
No. Nobody 'generated' these leads and nobody is selling the same homeowner to five of your competitors. They are public repair orders the city wrote. Any contractor could read the city's data portal — we just make it usable.
What does it cost?
The free plan is a preview: 5 good matches, shown 30 days late, each with a link to verify the record against the city — use it to convince yourself the data is real. Pro is $99/mo and gets you the full feed every morning (within a day of the city publishing), inspector notes, owner names and phone/email where public records have them, 90 days of searchable history, CSV export, and a daily email of new matches. Owner contact is skip-traced from public records — it can be out of date or wrong, so treat it as a starting point and confirm against the county records before you rely on it. Billing is a monthly QuickBooks invoice with a pay-online link (card or bank) — we never hold your card details.
How do I cancel?
From inside the app, in Settings, in two clicks — cancelling just stops the monthly invoices. No call, no retention offer. Your plan drops to free at the end of the period you paid for and your account keeps working.
Which trades does it cover?
Fifteen: roofing & gutters, masonry & facade, porches & stairs, windows & doors, electrical, plumbing, HVAC & boilers, elevator, fire & life safety, pest control, landscaping & cleanout, garages & fencing, interior repair, concrete & flatwork, and permit expediting. Every order is classified by what the inspector actually wrote.
Which cities are supported?
Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Fort Worth and New Orleans today. We add a city when its data meets our bar: real violation text, coordinates, live status, and fresh records every week. If you want your city next, tell us.
Is there a mobile app?
Yes — WritWork installs straight from your browser as an app on iPhone and Android (no app store). Open the portal on your phone and follow the install prompt.
Can I call or text the property owners?
That part is on you. WritWork lists properties and public records, not phone numbers. If you look an owner up and contact them, the TCPA and Do-Not-Call rules are yours to follow. And this data is public record, not a consumer report — don't use it for credit, insurance, housing or employment decisions.
Who runs WritWork?
Paragon Government Solutions LLC DBA WritWork LLC, 11166 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22031. Paragon Government Solutions has released this service to the general contractor community. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any city.