Running a contracting business means juggling a lot of responsibilities.
You’re driving between jobs, meeting homeowners, managing crews, and trying to keep projects moving forward.
Meanwhile, the phone keeps ringing.
Some calls are potential customers. Others are spam calls, robocalls, or marketing pitches.
And when you’re on a ladder, under a sink, or driving between jobs, answering every call simply isn’t possible.
For Nick Lindsay, owner of Bath Doctor of Alabama, that constant stream of calls was becoming a daily frustration.
But after implementing an AI receptionist, he found a way to capture more real leads — while saving hours every week.
The Reality of Contractor Phone Calls
Nick has been in the bathroom remodeling business for more than 17 years. His company specializes in aging-in-place remodeling, helping homeowners make their bathrooms safer and more accessible as they age.
Like many contractors, Nick spends most of his day on job sites or in his truck traveling between appointments.
That makes it difficult to answer every incoming call.
And the volume of calls can be surprisingly high.
“We get about 26 calls a day… and maybe two or three of those are actual clients.”
The rest?
Spam calls, robocalls, and marketing solicitations.
Nick says dealing with those interruptions was taking up valuable time throughout the week.
Letting everything go to voicemail wasn’t a great alternative either.
“The Hearth AI assistant is a lot better than just having a cold voicemail.”
Voicemail often meant delayed responses — and potentially lost leads.
Why Hiring a Receptionist Didn’t Make Sense
One option many contractors consider is hiring someone to answer the phones.
But that can quickly become expensive.
“A receptionist or office staff can be a $2,000–$3,000 expense.”
For smaller businesses or owner-operators, that kind of overhead can be difficult to justify.
Nick wanted a solution that could:
- Capture leads
- Filter out spam calls
- Provide quick updates
- Work even when he couldn’t answer the phone
That’s when he decided to try an AI receptionist through Hearth.
Letting AI Handle Incoming Calls
Today, Nick uses Hearth’s AI receptionist to answer calls when he’s unavailable.
The AI can:
- Answer incoming calls automatically
- Screen spam calls
- Capture homeowner information
- Send follow-up summaries via text message
- Alert Nick when a real lead comes in
One of the features Nick appreciates most is the clear text updates he receives after each call.
“The text message updates are very clean and concise, and they label the calls so I can see if it’s a potential client or spam.”
That makes it easy to review calls while he’s on the road.
“I’m usually in my truck going from place to place. Being able to quickly read those messages makes a big difference.”
Instead of stopping work to answer every call, he can quickly decide which calls require follow-up.
The Result: 1–2 Hours Saved Every Week
When you add up the time spent answering spam calls, the impact becomes clear.
Nick estimates the AI receptionist saves him between one and two hours every week.
“I’d say it probably saves me anywhere from one to two hours a week.”
That may not sound like much at first — but for a busy contractor, those hours matter.
Nick now uses that extra time to:
- Work on his company website
- Keep up with Google search updates
- Even make time for the gym during the workday
Handling After-Hours Calls
Another benefit of the AI receptionist is handling calls outside of normal business hours.
Many homeowners call in the evenings after work.
“We get a ton of after-hours calls. People expect you to be available all the time.”
The AI receptionist answers those calls and captures the information so Nick can follow up later.
That means potential customers don’t feel ignored — and opportunities aren’t lost.
Even Helped Close a Financing Deal
The AI receptionist can also introduce homeowners to financing options during a call.
In one instance, a homeowner mentioned interest in financing after speaking with the AI assistant. The project ultimately moved forward using Hearth financing.
“I had one client mention financing after talking with the AI, and he ended up getting approved.”
That created an opportunity that might have otherwise been missed.
A Simple Rule for Running a Business
Nick has a personal rule when it comes to how he spends his time.
“If it doesn’t make me money, make me happy, or make me better — I don’t do it.”
Spam calls and robocalls definitely don’t fit into that rule.
By automating incoming calls, the AI receptionist removes one more distraction from his workday.
The Bottom Line
For Nick, the biggest benefit of an AI receptionist is simple:
- Fewer interruptions
- More captured leads
- Less time wasted on spam calls
Instead of hiring a full-time receptionist, he now has a 24/7 digital assistant helping manage incoming calls.
And in a business where time is one of the most valuable resources, even saving a couple of hours every week can make a real difference.
Want to See How an AI Receptionist Works for Contractors?
Hearth’s digital assistant helps contractors:
- Answer missed calls
- Capture homeowner leads
- Follow up faster
- Book appointments
- Turn more opportunities into jobs
Learn how Hearth can help your business respond faster and win more work. Click Here to Learn More!
