The fastest way to stop missed calls and lock in new work is to route your phone through a contractor answering service such as SuperU. You get 24 / 7 coverage, emergency triage, and lead capture while you stay on the jobsite.
Missed calls cost you real money
A roofing crew in Austin lost a $45 k re-roof when a prospect hit voicemail at noon. That story repeats daily because contractors miss roughly 35 % of incoming calls while managing projects. Every one of those calls could be the next big siding job or kitchen remodel.
How a construction answering service actually works
1. Your existing number forwards to a dedicated line.
2. Live agents trained in construction lingo or an AI receptionist like SuperU picks up in 12 seconds on average.
3. Scripts qualify leads, log details, and schedule site visits right in Buildertrend or Google Calendar.
4. True emergencies burst pipe or, failed safety inspection, trigger an on-call escalation, not a voicemail black hole.
Hard ROI numbers contractors can trust
Using a professional answering team delivers:
- 27 % higher customer satisfaction
- 31 % better lead capture for firms that replaced voicemail with live answering
- 12 second average pickup faster than most in house admins
- 97 % first call resolution when agents are trained on construction scenarios
What real contractors on Reddit say
Contractors in r/Construction and r/SmallBusiness often debate call handling. Three themes keep surfacing:
- Speed matters. A GC wrote that switching to live answering “stopped the after hours quote ghosts” and pulled in two deck jobs his competitor missed.
- Emergency filtering saves weekends. An HVAC tech said an answering service “routed only real no heat calls to me at 1 AM, not ‘thermostat blinking’ questions.”
- AI plus human beats either alone. Several posters praised hybrid systems where AI gathers basics, then humans take over if callers sound confused.
These candid stories back up the stats: when someone answers every time, callers stay calm, appointments fill, and crews keep building.
The 7 best answering partners for construction
| Rank | Service | Best for | Stand out edge | Starting cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SuperU AI Receptionist | All contractor sizes | Pay as you go AI with trade specific scripts, bilingual voices, Procore sync | $0.05 /min |
| 2 | GoodCall | Full service builders | 97 % first call resolution, 12 s pickup | $99 /mo |
| 3 | Nexa | Multi site GCs | Real time warm transfers, 12 language support | $199 /mo |
| 4 | Smith.ai | Tech forward subs | Open API into project apps, AI human hybrid | $240 /mo |
| 5 | MAP Communications | Safety critical work | 99.8 % emergency dispatch success | $149 /mo |
| 6 | Answering365 | Small contractors | High Spanish English ratio, fast setup | $135 /mo |
| 7 | AnswerForce | Rapid growth firms | ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro integrations | $99 /mo |
Pricing deep dive minutes, calls, or flat AI?
- Per minute (e.g., Nexa) works if your calls run short but frequent.
- Per call (e.g., GoodCall) offers predictability when callers talk long.
- Flat AI (SuperU) charges by the second with no after hours surcharge. Contractors averaging 300 minutes a month cut bills up to 45 % versus per minute plans.
Step by step setup (30 minutes and done)
| Time | Task | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Sign up, forward number | No service interruption |
| 0:10 | Upload script & jobsite contacts | Agents know who’s on call |
| 0:20 | Test routing & emergency tree | Verify escalation paths |
| 0:30 | Go live | Every call answered |
Frequently asked questions
1. Will agents know a drywall punch list call from a workflow emergency?
Yes. Top providers train on construction phases and escalate only when your threshold is met.
2. How do after hours calls reach my on call foreman?
Set a schedule once. Providers route critical issues via call, text, or push notification.
3. Can I keep my local area code?
Forward your existing number or add a new tracking line. Either way, callers dial the number they already know.
4. What software integrations matter?
If you live in Buildertrend, Procore, or even Google Sheets, choose a service that writes notes straight into those tools. It kills double entry.
5. Do I need bilingual agents?
If more than 10 % of callers prefer Spanish or any second language, bilingual coverage lifts close rates and avoids errors.
SuperU’s AI receptionist launches in minutes, costs pennies per minute, and never lets a prospect roll to voicemail. Start a seven day free trial, route your phone, and let the jobs stack up while you build.
