On this page
- Why does the script matter more than the ad budget?
- Minute zero: what to text the instant the lead arrives
- Minutes one to five: how to run the first call
- What to say on the voicemail
- The three-day follow-up text sequence
- What to say when they ask you to just send a price
- What to say when they already have quotes
- How confirmation and reminder texts lift show rate from 80% to 95%
- Which three numbers should you track?
- Frequently asked questions
- Run the scripts yourself or hand off the calls
Text the homeowner the moment the lead arrives, call within one minute, and spend that call booking a specific day and time instead of selling the floor. Then leave a fifteen-second voicemail and run three texts and three calls over the next three days. The scripts below are the exact words for each step, plus the confirmation texts that keep the estimate from no-showing.
Why does the script matter more than the ad budget?
The words you use in the first two minutes decide whether you book the estimate or join the pile of contractors the homeowner "will get back to." The scripts assume the homeowner submitted a form on Facebook, Instagram, or your website asking for a quote.
One rule first: speed to lead beats everything. Our benchmarks show a 90% answer rate when the lead is called within one minute of submitting the form. A perfect script delivered an hour late loses to a clumsy call made in three minutes.
Minute zero: what to text the instant the lead arrives
Send this before you call. It turns a cold call into a warm one.
Hi [First name], this is [Your name] with [Company]. I just saw your request for a free garage floor coating estimate in [Town]. I'm going to give you a quick call in a minute to set up a time. If you'd rather text, what day works best for us to come take a look?
This text names the estimate they requested, warns them a call is coming so they pick up, and ends with a question they can answer. Avoid "Let us know if you have any questions." That closes the loop and gets no reply.
Minutes one to five: how to run the first call
The goal of the first call is not to sell a floor. It is to get a date and time on the calendar. Keep it under four minutes.
Opening
Hi [First name], it's [Your name] with [Company]. You just requested a free estimate for your garage floor, so I'm calling to get that set up. Do you have a quick second?
Qualify without interrogating
Perfect. Is this for your home in [Town]? Great. Is it the garage, or something else like a basement or patio? And roughly, is it a two-car or a three-car?
That confirms they own the property, the project is one you do, and the size is worth a visit. Do not quote a price. Anyone who asks gets a range and a reason to meet:
Most two-car garages we do land somewhere between [low] and [high] depending on the condition of the concrete and the system you pick. The estimate is free and takes about 30 minutes, and I'll give you an exact number on the spot.
Book the time
I've got [Tuesday at 4] or [Thursday at 10]. Which is better for you?
Offer two specific slots, never "when works for you." Two options get a decision. An open question gets "let me check and call you back," and you never hear back.
Confirm and close
Great, I've got you down for Tuesday at 4 at [Address]. I'll text you a confirmation now and a reminder the day before. Anyone else who should be there for the decision, like a spouse? Perfect, see you Tuesday.
Asking who else should be there is the highest-leverage question on the call. An estimate with both decision-makers present closes far more often, and it removes the most common stall you hear when you try to close more floor coating estimates.
What to say on the voicemail
Leave a voicemail every time, and keep it to fifteen seconds.
Hi [First name], [Your name] with [Company]. You requested a free garage floor coating estimate a few minutes ago and I'm calling to set that up. I'll text you a couple of times that work. Talk soon.
The three-day follow-up text sequence
Leads who miss the first call are rarely cold. They are at work, driving, or watching kids. Send each message below at a different time of day than the last.
Text 2, same day, two hours later
Hi [First name], [Your name] again from [Company]. I have [Tuesday at 4] or [Thursday at 10] open for your garage floor estimate in [Town]. Does either of those work?
Text 3, next morning
Morning [First name]. Quick one: is the garage floor still something you're looking to get done this season? If so, I can hold [Thursday at 10] for you.
Text 4, day three, afternoon
Hi [First name], last note from me on the garage floor. If timing's off right now, no problem at all. If you'd still like the free estimate, reply with a day that works and I'll get it on the calendar.
Pair each text with one call attempt at a different hour: late morning, early evening, and Saturday midday. Five touches over three days is enough. Past that, move the lead to a monthly check-in.
What to say when they ask you to just send a price
Never refuse, and never quote a firm number without a visit.
Happy to. The honest answer is that the price depends on what the concrete looks like. If there's moisture, old sealer, or cracks, the prep changes and so does the number. That's why we come out. It's free, it takes 30 minutes, and you'll have an exact price you can hold me to. Does [Tuesday at 4] work?
If they still refuse, give the range, then ask for the estimate again. Many come around once they hear an honest range.
What to say when they already have quotes
Agree that comparing is smart, then make it the reason to visit.
That's smart, you should compare. Most of the quotes we see in [Town] are for two different systems, so it's worth making sure you're comparing apples to apples. Can I come out, look at the floor, and give you a number for the same system? If we're not the best fit, I'll tell you.
Then use the visit to explain polyaspartic versus epoxy. Most competing quotes are for a cheaper system, and the homeowner does not know it.
How confirmation and reminder texts lift show rate from 80% to 95%
Booked estimates with no reminders show at about 80%. Add a confirmation at booking, a reminder 24 hours out, a reminder one hour out, and a person who follows up with anyone who goes quiet, and show rate climbs to about 95%. That is a 20% no-show rate versus 5% in our benchmarks.
Right after booking
Confirmed: free garage floor coating estimate on [Tuesday, June 3] at [4:00 pm], [Address]. I'll bring samples of the flake colors. Reply YES to confirm.
24 hours before the appointment
Hi [First name], [Your name] here. Still good for 4 pm tomorrow for the garage floor estimate? I'll be in a [white van with the Company logo].
One hour out
On my way, see you at 4.
Which three numbers should you track?
Track contact rate, booking rate, and show rate, and compare each against the published benchmark.
- Contact rate: leads you spoke to, divided by leads received. Called within one minute, about 90% answer. Well under that means you are calling too slowly.
- Booking rate: estimates booked, divided by leads received. The benchmark is 60 to 70%.
- Show rate: estimates that happen, divided by estimates booked. About 80% with no reminders, about 95% with the sequence above.
Multiply the three to get the share of leads that become an estimate. Say you reach 50% of leads, book 40% of those, and 80% show: 16 of every 100 leads become an estimate. Hit the benchmarks and the same 100 leads produce roughly 55 to 60. Only the follow-up changed.
Frequently asked questions
How fast should you call a floor coating lead?
Call a floor coating lead within one minute of the form submission. At that speed about 90% of homeowners pick up, because they are still holding the phone they used to submit the request. Every minute you wait lowers the answer rate, and a next-morning call usually finds a homeowner already talking to someone else.
Should you quote a price over the phone for a garage floor coating?
Give a range on the phone, never a firm number. Say most two-car garages land between your low and high figures depending on the concrete and the system, then explain that the free 30-minute estimate produces an exact price. A firm phone quote invites shopping on price alone and skips the prep conversation that justifies your number.
How many times should you follow up with a floor coating lead?
Follow up five times over three days: the instant text and first call, then three more texts paired with calls at different hours, including one on a Saturday. After the fifth touch, move the lead to a monthly check-in text. Most recoverable leads respond inside that window.
What should a confirmation text for a floor coating estimate say?
A confirmation text should restate the day, time, and address, mention that you will bring flake samples, and ask the homeowner to reply YES. Send it right after booking, then a reminder 24 hours out and another one hour out. That sequence moves show rate from about 80% to about 95%.
Run the scripts yourself or hand off the calls
These scripts work. The hard part is running them from a job site at 2 pm with a grinder going. Put the scripts in your CRM, automate the confirmation texts, and hold whoever answers the phone to the three numbers above.
If you would rather have a team hit every lead in about a minute and drop confirmed estimates on your calendar, that is what Appointly does for floor coating contractors. Book a strategy call and we will show you your market's numbers.
About the author
Jacob Mietka
Cofounder, Appointly Solutions
Jacob makes every call to every Appointly lead himself, texting and calling each homeowner within one minute, qualifying them on intent, and booking the estimate. He has helped scale more than 20 home service businesses and talks to contractors every day about their markets, crews, and calendars.
More about the Appointly team