Speed to lead: why the first few minutes decide the job

When a pipe bursts or a roof leaks, the homeowner calls until someone answers. The first company that picks up usually gets the visit.

What the research says

• A Harvard Business Review study of more than 2,000 companies found that firms that contacted a web lead within an hour were nearly seven times as likely to qualify it as firms that waited longer. HBR
• In home services, only about half of callers reach a person, according to Invoca’s 2026 benchmarks. Invoca

A five-step plan

1. Ring two phones. Send paid calls to a line that rings the office and a manager’s mobile together.
2. Cover lunch and after hours. Use an answering service or set your hours honestly so calls only come when you can answer.
3. Text back every missed call within five minutes. “Sorry we missed you, this is [Company]. Calling you right back.”
4. Set daily caps you can handle. Ten answered calls beat twenty half-answered ones.
5. Review recordings weekly. Listen to three calls that didn’t book and fix the one thing that went wrong.

See what missed calls cost you with the missed-call calculator.

Published October 14, 2026 by HomeProRadar. Figures are from the linked sources; examples are illustrative.