14 August 2026 / Opinion
The 5-minute rule: why speed wins the quote
Homeowners usually contact two or three businesses at once, and the first one to reply helpfully often wins the quote. The trouble is that builders are on site, not at a desk.
Why speed matters
When someone fills in a form, the job is on their mind right now. An hour later they are back at work or have already spoken to someone else. In our experience, the businesses that reply within minutes have a much better chance of getting the conversation, and the quote.
You cannot answer every call
If you are up a ladder, you are not looking at your phone. The fix is not to work harder; it is to build a small system that responds for you.
- Instant acknowledgement: an automatic text or email that confirms you have the enquiry and says when you will call.
- Missed-call text-back: a short message to anyone you could not answer, with a link to book a time.
- A booking link: let people pick a call or site-visit time without phone tag.
- After-hours replies: enquiries that arrive at 9pm should still get a response.
Follow up like you mean it
Most quotes are not won on the first contact. A simple rhythm helps: the same day, the next day, three days later and a week later. Keep each message short and helpful rather than pushy.
Start small
You do not need a complicated setup. An instant reply and a booking link, running on every enquiry, will change how many quotes you win. We build this follow-up into every project, along with the ads and website that bring the enquiries in.