Missed call text back for builders
By JP, who runs Ralphio. Updated 8 October 2026.
A builder's calls are fewer and bigger, and the person ringing is usually weighing up several builders. A missed call text goes out within seconds and finds out the project, where it is and when they want to start, so when you ring back you already know what you're quoting.
What do a builder's missed calls turn into?
- An extension, single or double storey.
- A loft conversion.
- A kitchen or bathroom refit.
- A garage conversion.
- Structural or renovation work on a whole house.
These are big jobs and slow to decide. It's rare for someone to ring once and say yes. The first conversation decides whether you get to quote.
It matters because people don't leave voicemails. In a 2023 survey of 2,000 people, 54% said they won't leave one if they can't get through, and they ring the next builder instead.
What do you need to ask before you can quote?
| Detail | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| The project | Extension, loft, refit or something else, and roughly how big |
| Drawings and planning | Whether they have plans, and whether planning permission or building regulations are sorted |
| When they want to start | Tells you whether it is a firm plan or a thought for next year |
| Roughly what they hope to spend | Only if they are happy to say. It stops you quoting for the wrong size of job |
| The postcode and the type of house | Where it is, and what you would be working on |
Why the follow-up matters more for builders
Someone planning an extension can sit on a quote for weeks, and the builder who stays in touch politely is often the one who gets the job. There's a plain way to do it in how to chase a quote without being pushy, and Ralphio can send those chasers for you.
What does the text exchange look like?
An example, not a real customer:
Reeves Building: Hi, it's Reeves Building. Sorry I missed you, I'm on site. What's the project, when are you hoping to start, and what's your postcode?
Caller: Single storey kitchen extension, about 5m by 4m, hoping to start in the spring. B13
Reeves Building: Thanks. Do you have drawings or planning permission yet?
What reaches you: a 20 square metre kitchen extension, B13, wanting a spring start, with the number to ring. You know the size of the job before the call.
What is a project worth?
The HomeOwners Alliance puts single-storey extensions at £1,800 to £3,000 per square metre, and a 20 square metre extension at £40,000 to £56,000. London costs more. What each guide includes varies, so use your own average in the missed call calculator. A large job lost to the next name on the list is a lot to lose over one unanswered call.
How does Ralphio work for builders?
You divert the calls you don't answer to a Ralphio number, and the caller gets a text from your business within seconds. It asks what the job is, collects the answers above, and sends you a lead with their number. It can be set up to ask about the project, the start date and whether they have drawings. It chases the quote if they go quiet and asks for the Google review once the job is done. There's no new number to give out.
Worth a look next: the missed call calculator, to see what your own missed calls cost, how the text back works, and the website chat widget for enquiries that come through your site. The guides on texts to copy, setting up the divert and whether it's legal cover the practical bits. Prices are on the pricing page.