Inspection booking by text replaces the three-call routine of "when are you home, what's the address, what kind of roof is it" with a short exchange the homeowner can finish from their couch. By the time your estimator gets in the truck, they know the address, roughly how old the roof is, what it's covered with, and they've seen a ground-level photo or two.
We design and configure this flow for your company. We're consultants and marketers; we don't inspect roofs, and the estimate is always your team's job.
What gets collected, and why
Each question earns its place by saving your team a trip or a phone call. We keep the flow to five questions or fewer.
- Service address. Confirms you cover the area, and lets the estimator plan a route.
- Roof type. Asphalt shingles, metal, flat or low-slope, cedar, tile or "not sure". This decides which estimator or crew lead should go.
- Approximate age. "Under 10 years, 10 to 20, over 20, or don't know." Older roofs shift the conversation from repair to replacement.
- What prompted the inquiry. Leak, storm damage, selling the house, or planning ahead.
- Optional photos. From the ground or inside only, with a plain safety note.
We leave out anything an estimator can learn on site, and anything private. ISED's texting guidance recommends against collecting personal details by text, which matches what homeowners prefer anyway.
A sample flow
Templates only; your version uses your details.
Thanks, [Homeowner first name]. To book your roof inspection, what's the street address? We cover [Service area].
Great. What's on the roof now? Reply 1 shingles, 2 metal, 3 flat, 4 other or not sure.
About how old is it? Reply A under 10 years, B 10–20, C over 20, D don't know.
If you can, send a photo of the roof from the ground or any ceiling stain inside. Please don't climb up. Photos are optional.
We can come [Window 1] or [Window 2]. Reply 1 or 2, or tell us a better time.
The last message is where bookings happen. Two concrete windows convert better than "what time works for you?", which tends to start another round of back-and-forth.
Who it's for
This suits companies whose estimators lose hours to the wrong roofs. Typical signs:
- estimators drive to jobs outside your service area or outside your specialty
- no-show rates on inspections are high because homeowners forgot
- the office spends afternoons playing phone tag to confirm times
- you sometimes send a shingle crew lead to a flat commercial roof
If you mostly do insurance-referred or builder work with schedules set by others, the gain is smaller.
Reminders and no-show prevention
A booked inspection isn't a done deal until someone is home to meet you. Two short reminders fix most no-shows.
- Day before: "Reminder: [Business name] is coming [Day] between [Window]. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule."
- On the way: "[Estimator first name] from [Business name] is about [minutes] away."
Each reminder relates to a booking the homeowner asked for, and each still honours STOP.
Timeline and measurement
Setup usually takes two to three weeks, after instant reply is live or alongside it.
We measure:
| Metric | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Leads that reach a booked slot | The real goal of the flow |
| Replies needed to book | Fewer is better; aim for three or four |
| Inspection no-show rate | Reminders should push it down |
| Out-of-area or wrong-crew trips | Should fall close to zero |
Mistakes to avoid
- Too many questions. Every extra message loses people. If a detail can wait for the visit, let it wait.
- Asking for a ladder photo. Never. It's a safety risk and a liability you don't need.
- Price talk in the thread. "Ballpark?" questions get a polite reply that the price follows the inspection.
- Open-ended scheduling. Offer specific windows instead.
In storm weeks this flow runs inside storm-surge mode, with queue positions instead of immediate windows. For what follows the inspection, see estimate follow-up, or check pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you estimate a roof from photos sent by text?
We can't, and your estimator shouldn't commit to a price from phone photos either. The photos help decide who goes, what to bring and how urgent it is; the inspection sets the price.
What if the homeowner can't take photos safely?
The flow tells them photos are optional and asks only for shots from the ground or from inside, such as a ceiling stain. It never asks anyone to climb a ladder.
Does this work with my scheduling software?
Often, yes. If your scheduling tool can offer available windows or accept bookings, we connect it. If not, the office confirms the slot by hand from the text thread, which still beats phone tag.
What information should I avoid collecting by text?
Payment card numbers, insurance policy numbers and anything sensitive. ISED's texting guidance advises against asking for personal details by text, so we keep the flow to what an estimator needs.
Sources
- ISED: Texting for good client relations (2026-10-22)