How to Answer Contractor Leads: The First 90 Seconds
The first 90 seconds of an inbound call determines whether you book the estimate. Not the estimate itself -- the call. Contractors who answer confidently, confirm they can help, and move toward scheduling within 90 seconds convert at 35-50%. Contractors who sound distracted, ask the homeowner to call back, or fail to capture contact info convert at under 15%.
A simple call structure: Answer with your business name ('Thanks for calling [Company], this is [Name]'). Confirm you can help ('Yes, we do [service] in [area]'). Qualify briefly ('What's going on / what are you looking to have done?'). Move to scheduling ('Great -- I can have someone out [day/time]. Does that work?'). That's it. The goal of the first call is to book an estimate, not close the job.
Never ask a homeowner to call back later. Never put them on hold without asking permission. If you can't schedule immediately, take their info and call back within 30 minutes. Calls returned within 30 minutes have 3x the connection rate of calls returned hours later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to answer a contractor lead call?
Answer with your business name and your name, confirm you can help with their need, ask a brief qualifying question about their project, and move directly to scheduling an estimate. The goal of the first call is to book the appointment.
How quickly should I call back a missed contractor lead?
Within 5 minutes if possible, within 30 minutes at most. Studies show calls returned within 5 minutes have 10x the connection rate of calls returned after 30 minutes. After an hour, connection rates drop sharply.
What is the biggest mistake contractors make on inbound calls?
Asking the homeowner to call back later, failing to take their contact info for follow-up, or treating the call as an interruption. Every inbound call should be treated as a potential job worth handling immediately.