Guides for plumbing businesses
Should Plumbers Give Price Ranges on the Phone? Ranges, Photos by Text and Review Requests
"How much is it going to cost?" is usually one of the first questions a caller asks. Here's how AnswerBack handles price questions for plumbers without making promises your techs have to keep.
Price ranges on the call
Once the caller's details are taken, they can hear or get a text with typical price ranges for common plumbing jobs:
- Water heater
- Clog
- Leak
- Toilet
You can supply your own price sheet, or start with defaults. Either way, ranges are estimates, not quotes or guarantees. The final price comes from the plumber.
Photo by text: see the job before you roll
Callers can be asked to text a photo of the problem. When you call back, you can give a tighter range or a quote pending inspection. Telling a water heater from a slab leak before you leave the shop saves a wasted trip.
Review requests after the job
After you mark a job complete, the customer can get a short text asking for a Google review. It's set up at onboarding.
Keep it honest
| AnswerBack does | AnswerBack doesn't |
|---|---|
| Answer the calls you miss and text you the caller's name, service address and issue | Diagnose plumbing issues or give repair instructions |
| Share typical ranges from your price sheet | Give a quote or guarantee a price |
| Collect photos by text | Dispatch a plumber or promise an appointment |
In a life-threatening emergency, callers are told to call 911. Texts only go out with consent, and recipients can reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help. See the SMS Terms & Consent.
Price and pilot
- Solo $99/month, flat, no per-minute meter
- Founding Annual $790/yr (first 25) on Solo, setup waived
- Start with a free 14-day pilot: no card, nothing renews on its own
Frequently asked questions
Should plumbers give price ranges over the phone?
Typical ranges help callers decide. AnswerBack shares ranges for water heaters, clogs, leaks and toilets from your price sheet, as estimates, not quotes or guarantees.
Can customers text a photo of a plumbing problem?
Yes. Callers can be asked to text a photo of the problem, so you can give a tighter range or a quote pending inspection when you call back.
Does AnswerBack quote prices or book appointments?
No. Price ranges are estimates, not quotes. AnswerBack doesn't diagnose, dispatch a plumber or guarantee appointments, and the final price comes from the plumber.
How do review requests work?
After you mark a job complete, the customer can get a short text asking for a Google review. It's set up during onboarding.