Field notes

A front-desk brief for storm week.

By Eric Berg · Last updated August 2026

Roofing calls arrive in bursts, often while the crew is physically unable to answer. A useful employee collects the address, damage description, requested timing, and insurance details the caller volunteers—then leaves inspection promises, pricing, and claim advice to the owner.

Where the phone work piles up

• The storm surge. One hailstorm can create many inspection and insurance inquiries in the same short window.
• On the roof. Roof work makes it unsafe and impractical for the same person to conduct detailed phone intake.
• Estimate follow-ups. Acceptance, changes, and insurance questions can arrive while the estimator is in the field.

What belongs in the brief

Teach the company name, service area, roofing services, whether the shop handles insurance work, and the questions needed before an inspection. Add hard lines: no roof diagnosis from a phone call, no binding quote, no insurance advice, and no visit promised without owner confirmation. The completed call becomes a private owner summary. See the exact product loop.

What it costs

Keeping a front-desk employee after the card-free audition is CA$149 per month, cancel anytime. The same number, approved brief, and everything taught by text stay with the employee.

Fair questions

Can the employee handle a storm-week call surge?

The employee is designed for concurrent front-desk work, but we do not promise that every call will always be answered. Test the real line during the audition.

Can the employee quote roof prices?

Only what you approve - roofing quotes need eyes on the roof, so the usual play is booking the estimate visit, not naming numbers.

Can the employee take insurance-claim details?

He captures what the caller provides - insurer, claim number if they have one - as part of a clean message. The claim itself stays your job.