Who it is for / Painters and decorators
You cannot pick up with paint on your hands. While You Work answers the calls you miss in your business name, finds out what needs decorating, where and when, and sends you the details a minute later, so the job does not go to the next name on the list.
Founding members pay £49 and their line switches on as soon as they finish the set-up form. The first week on a live line is free.
On every call
Urgent jobs
Urgent calls are texted to you straight away, and every call is emailed to you.
Real calls
Decorating enquiries come in bursts, usually when someone has just moved or a room has been emptied. The receptionist captures the rooms and the timing.
The maths
Say you miss 3 calls a week and two in five of those callers would have booked a room or hallway worth about £800.
3 calls × 40% × £800 = £960 a week. × 52 weeks ÷ 12 = £4,160 a month of work going to someone else. An example: put your own numbers into the missed-call calculator.
People ring three decorators and book the first one who calls back. Voicemail puts you third.
Timing
Spring and early autumn for exteriors, and the weeks after moving day for interiors. The calls land while you are up a ladder with a loaded roller.
What callers hear
The receptionist asks one thing at a time, checks the number back and never makes up a price. The details reach you by email a minute after the call, and by text straight away when it is urgent.
What reaches you
Amir, 07700 900367, NG5 Arnold. Hallway and landing painted within two weeks, house going on sale.
Receptionist: Hi, you’re through to Clean Coat Decorating. Lee is out on a job at the moment, but I can take the details so he can ring you straight back. Calls are recorded so nothing gets missed. What’s your name?
Caller: It’s Amir. We’re selling the house and need the hallway and landing painted in the next couple of weeks.
Receptionist: Thanks, Amir. What’s your postcode?
Caller: NG5, in Arnold.
Receptionist: And what’s the best number for Lee to ring you on?
Caller: 07700 900 367.
Receptionist: So that’s 07700 900 367. Is that right?
Caller: Yes, that’s right.
Receptionist: Thanks, Amir. Lee will ring you back to arrange a quote, and I’m sending you a text now to confirm.
Set up
A short form made for decorators:
One code on your mobile sends calls you do not answer within 20 seconds to your While You Work line. Turn it off whenever you like.
Every caller is greeted in your business name. You get the details a minute later, and the caller gets a text saying you will ring back.
Questions
Yes, if you put it in the set-up form. If you leave it blank, callers are told you will quote after seeing the job.
Yes, with the Voice Booking and Pay module. It offers the caller your real free times, books the job and texts them a confirmation, with your deposit link if you take deposits. Without the module it takes the details and tells the caller you will ring back.
£49 a month including VAT for founding members, locked for as long as you stay, with no contract and the first week free once your line is live.
Yes. It asks what needs doing in the caller's own words, which rooms or which outside areas, and when they need it done, so your callback starts with the facts.
Yes. Put the area you cover in the form and it tells callers outside it politely, before taking their details in case you want the job anyway.
More detail: what to charge as a painter and decorator, what a missed call costs, UK call answering prices and how we compare.
Source: Fix Radio survey of more than 220 UK tradespeople, reported by PHAM News, October 2022.
Founding price locked for as long as you stay. No contract. Your line switches on as soon as you finish the set-up form.
Also for plumbers, electricians, builders, roofers, locksmiths, carpenters and every other kind of business.