What are the red flags in a quote request?
No single sign proves someone won’t book, but together they’re a reliable warning. Watch for these before you put time into a price:
- 1
A vague request. “How much for a cleaning?” or “What do you charge?” with no details about the job.
- 2
Price is the only question. They don’t ask what’s included, when you’re free or how you work.
- 3
No photos or details when you ask. A serious customer can usually snap a few pictures in a minute or two.
- 4
No date. “Just getting an idea” or “sometime this year” often means the job isn’t real yet.
- 5
Outside your area, or vague about where the job is.
- 6
Silence after the quote, especially after a long back-and-forth to get it.
Which questions filter out tire kickers?
The four questions in the box at the top of this page: the job, the timing, the location and photos. Each one is something you need to price the job anyway, so asking isn’t a test. It’s just how you quote.
Ask all four in one message rather than one at a time. Twenty messages back and forth is where quoting time goes. One message with four questions takes the customer a few minutes, and their reply tells you whether to quote.
Four questions in one message
Happy to quote that. So I can give you an accurate price, can you send: 1. [What decides your price, e.g. make and model / square footage] 2. When you’d like it done 3. Your address or ZIP code 4. 3 or 4 photos of [the area] Thanks! [your name]
What should you say to a price shopper?
Comparing prices is normal, and many price shoppers do book. The goal isn’t to scare them off. It’s to make sure they’re comparing the same job. Explain what your price includes, and give them a real number once you have the details.
If they push for the cheapest price, don’t race to the bottom. Say what you include and let them decide. People who only want the lowest number usually weren’t going to book with you anyway.
When they say someone else is cheaper
That’s fair, prices vary a lot. My quote includes [what’s included]. If the other quote covers the same thing, it may be the better deal for you. If you have questions about what’s included, I’m happy to go over it. [your name]
When they want a price before giving details
I don’t want to guess and then change the price on you. If you send [the details you need] and a couple of photos, I’ll get you an exact price today. [your quote link]
What if they go quiet after the quote?
Follow up once, a few days later, with a short and friendly message. Some people are busy, not uninterested. If there’s still no answer, mark the job lost and move on.
Keep track of who went quiet and at what point. If most people stop replying when they see the price, look at your pricing or what you include. If they stop at the questions, that’s the filter doing its job.
One follow-up
Hi [their name], just checking in on the quote for [the job]. Happy to answer any questions, or if the timing’s changed, no problem at all. [your name]
How can a quote form filter for you?
A quote request form with required fields asks the four questions for you, every time, without you typing them. The customer has to give the job details, the timing and the location before they can send it. Many tire kickers don’t finish.
That’s how Book a Service quote links work. You share one link. The form asks the questions for your trade, with an optional photo upload, and you only get requests that come with the details. You send the price, and the customer accepts or declines online.
Get your quote link
Free, with no request limit. Customers send the details and photos; you send the price.
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