Audit the Answering Service: Reclaim Lost Jobs by Fixing the Handoff

Many home service companies outsource after-hours or overflow calls to answering services — then wonder why jobs keep slipping away. In this episode Jeff walks owners through a focused, repeatable audit that reveals exactly where third-party answering services drop the ball: weak intake questions, no availability check, unclear callback SLAs, and handoffs that leave leads cold. You’ll get a 10-point checklist you can run in 20 minutes, concrete script changes to capture booking intent and availability, simple handoff templates that push warm leads into your booking flow, and a one-metric test to measure recovered revenue. All steps are doable without hiring extra office staff. By the end you'll have an action plan to stop losing jobs at the handoff and quick wins you can implement today — plus a reminder to grab the free guide 107 Quick Wins for Home Service Businesses at ProfitPulse.biz.