GUIDE
How Fast Should a Contractor Reply to a New Lead?
Why reply speed decides which contractor gets the job, and a simple setup that answers every inquiry within minutes even when you are on a job.
Why speed matters
A homeowner with a problem usually contacts more than one company. The first reply that sounds competent tends to get the appointment, because the customer stops shopping once someone has the problem in hand. A slower reply competes against a decision that may already be made.
What "fast" means in practice
Aim to reply within minutes during business hours, not hours. That does not mean you drop your tools: an automatic text that confirms you got the inquiry, says when you will call, and asks one useful question buys you time while keeping the customer with you.
Set it up once
Route every inquiry (calls, texts, website forms, Google messages) into one place. Turn on a text back for missed calls. Decide who returns calls and by when. Then check weekly how long replies actually took.
What to avoid
Do not send marketing texts to people who have not agreed to them, and do not send a wall of automated messages. One clear, friendly reply plus a real person following up beats a sequence of robotic texts.