What should your first reply do?
It has two jobs: keep the customer talking, and get the details you need to price the job. Leaving “how much?” unanswered, or replying only with questions, can feel like a dodge, and people often message several businesses at once. A friendly reply with a starting price and one clear ask keeps you in the running.
A starting price works when you have one, like “interior details start at [your starting price].” It answers the question honestly while making it clear the final price depends on the job. Then ask for the few details that decide that price, all in the same message.
What should you reply to each kind of “how much?”
Most “how much?” messages fall into five patterns. Each needs a slightly different reply.
“How much?” with no details
Hi! Thanks for reaching out. [Service] starts at [your starting price], and the exact price depends on [what changes your price]. Could you tell me [detail 1] and [detail 2], and send a photo or two? I’ll get you an exact price today.
The price shopper (“what’s your best price?”)
Happy to quote it! My price includes [what’s included], and I’ll give you an exact number once I know [the details you need]. If you’re comparing quotes, I’m glad to explain what’s included so you’re comparing the same job. [your name]
Wants a number right now
Totally fair. Jobs like this usually run [your low price] to [your high price]. Where it lands depends on [what changes your price]. If you send [detail] and a quick photo, I can tell you exactly where you fall in a few minutes.
Sends blurry or unhelpful photos
Thanks for the photos! To make sure I price it right, could you send one more of [the specific shot], taken from [where to stand]? That’s the part that changes the price most. [your name]
Asks in the comments instead of DMs
Thanks for asking! It depends on [what changes your price], so I’ve sent you a DM to get the details. Prices start at [your starting price].
What details do you need in each trade?
Ask only for what changes your price. These are the questions that do most of the work in four common trades.
Mobile detailing
- Make, model and size of the vehicle
- Interior, exterior or both
- Pet hair, stains or odors
- Whether there’s water and power where you’ll work
Lawn care
- The address, so you can see the lot on a map
- Mowing only, or edging, trimming and cleanup too
- Weekly, every two weeks, or one time
- Gates, pets, slopes and obstacles
Pressure washing
- Which surfaces: driveway, siding, deck, patio
- Approximate size of each area
- Number of stories, for siding
- Stains like oil, rust or mildew
House cleaning
- Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Standard, deep or move-out clean
- When it was last professionally cleaned
- Pets, and how often they want cleaning
When should you send a quote link instead?
Once you’ve asked the same questions in the DMs fifty times, a quote link saves both of you the back-and-forth. Instead of asking question by question, you send one link with your questions on it. The customer answers on their phone in a couple of minutes, and you get everything in one request.
Send it along with your first reply, not instead of it. A short message with a starting price and the link reads as helpful; a bare link reads as a brush-off. Book a Service gives you a free quote link with your trade’s questions already on it. You send the price, and the customer accepts or declines online.
Reply with a quote link
Thanks for reaching out! [Service] starts at [your starting price]. The fastest way to get an exact price is this link: it asks the few things I need, and you can add photos. I’ll reply with your quote today. [your quote link]
Get your quote link
Free, with no request limit. Customers send the details and photos; you send the price.
Get your free quote link