Forum Discussion

julie's avatar
julie
Jobber Community Team
4 hours ago

How Fast Do You Pick Up a Phone Call or Call Someone Back After a Missed Call?

Curious how everyone here handles this, because a new Jobber survey of recent homebuyers turned up a stat that stuck with me:

  • 15% had to follow up repeatedly just to get a response from a contractor
  • 9% never heard back at all

Losing potential business due to something that is not a pricing problem or a skill problem should be a wake up call. 

In a world where 75% of new homeowners hire a pro within their first two years of buying, being the one who calls back first might be the easiest job you win all week!

So, what's your business standard?

Do you answer within a certain time frame or let it go to voicemail and call back same day? Are there systems set up so nothing slips through the cracks? 

👉 Recent Homebuyer Report: It's got homeowner quotes on what made them trust (or ditch) a contractor, plus a breakdown of how each generation actually finds a pro. 

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2 Replies

  • HUGEHomePros's avatar
    HUGEHomePros
    Jobber Ambassador
    19 minutes ago

    I don't answer our phone but we have an automation that texts them right away to let them know we are on the other line. We get a notification internally that lets us know someone called and it was missed and our VA needs to thumbs up the message when they call them back. This ensures we are staying on top of it. 

  • Purposefamily's avatar
    Purposefamily
    Contributor 4
    1 hour ago

    This is one area where systems can separate a good business from a great one. If I can answer the phone, I do. If I’m in the middle of servicing a customer or operating equipment, safety comes first—but I never want a potential customer to feel ignored.

    That’s where automation has been a game changer. Even if I can’t return the call immediately, an automatic text can let them know their call was received, thank them for reaching out, and let them know when they can expect a response. Something as simple as, “Thank you for calling Mowing With A Purpose Landscaping. I’m currently assisting another customer, but your call is important to me. I’ll return your call within the next hour.” goes a long way.

    I also log every lead into Jobber so nothing falls through the cracks. Missed calls become follow-up tasks, estimates are tracked, and reminders help ensure every customer gets a response.

    I’ve found that people are usually understanding if you’re busy—they just want to know they matter. A quick text, voicemail, or automated reply can reassure them that they haven’t been forgotten. In many cases, it’s not about being available every second; it’s about making every customer feel valued from the very first interaction.

    My goal is to make every customer feel like they’re my only customer, even on my busiest days. Communication builds trust, and trust is what turns a first phone call into a lifelong customer.