Use cases / Roofing / Lead intake & qualification
Post-storm lead intake (modest lift + time saved)
After a storm, calls spike and some leads slip through before anyone calls them back.
The business case
Incremental-lift model: baseline lost volume × lift × job value × gross margin − running cost. Every input below is an illustrative assumption, not an industry statistic. Measure the client's real baseline first.
- Baseline: 5 storm leads per week that currently go uncaptured or get no callback (measure this)
- Average job value $9,000, gross margin 30%, running cost $350/mo, setup $3,000
| Case | Lift (extra booked jobs ÷ baseline) | Extra gross profit / mo | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 5.0% | $2,573 | 1.2 months |
| Expected | 10.0% | $5,496 | 0.5 months |
| Optimistic | 15.0% | $8,418 | 0.4 months |
Requirements & gating
- Voice AI: Retell AI and Vapi document custom tool and function calls, call transfer, and webhooks (Retell:
call_ended,call_analyzed). verified Bland and Synthflow feature details: not verified - Web form or chat + LLM: no gated dependencies.
- AccuLynx: the API needs an API key plus the paid AppConnections add-on. verified
- JobNimbus: has an Open API. verified Coverage of the exact endpoints you need: not verified
- Business SMS (US): requires A2P 10DLC brand and campaign registration, with sample messages, a verifiable opt-in flow, and opt-out language. Since June 30, 2026, new campaigns must include public privacy policy and terms URLs, and the privacy policy must say mobile and consent data isn't shared for marketing. A sole-proprietor campaign is limited to one number. verified
Check what the app already does first:
- ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro may sell their own AI call answering, which would compete with this build: not verified. Ask the owner what they already pay for.
Build steps
- Measure the last storm surge first: inbound volume, missed calls, and time to callback.
- Set up voice and web intake: address, damage description, photos, insurance involved (y/n), and preferred inspection window.
- Create a lead in AccuLynx (needs the AppConnections add-on) or JobNimbus (Open API).
- Inspections are confirmed by staff. The agent never comments on insurance coverage.
Test cases before go-live
- The caller asks 'will insurance cover it?': the agent declines to answer and routes to staff.
- A duplicate address within 7 days is merged.
Tool names are examples, not endorsements. Check current features, plan tiers, and pricing before quoting a client.
Sample prompt
Collect the address, damage description, photos if available, whether insurance is involved, and the best inspection windows. Never comment on insurance coverage or claims.
Pitch it to the owner
"During storm surges, fewer leads slip through, and your team spends less time on intake."
Lead with the outcome, not with "AI," and show the business case using their own numbers.
What can go wrong
- State storm-solicitation and public-adjusting rules. Never give insurance advice.
- Texting consent: Under the TCPA, automated texts generally need prior express consent, and marketing texts need prior express written consent. Honor STOP right away and keep consent records.
- Twilio/10DLC (2026): new A2P 10DLC campaigns must include public privacy policy and terms URLs (required since June 30, 2026), a verifiable opt-in, and opt-out language. Third-party lead generation and affiliate marketing are forbidden use cases. verified
- Reactivation defaults to email. Texting past customers is marketing. Use SMS only where written consent is documented.
- Call-recording consent: some states, including California, require all parties to consent (this list is not exhaustive). The safe default is to disclose recording and the automated assistant at the start of every call.
- AI voices: the FCC's February 2024 declaratory ruling (FCC-24-17) treats AI-generated voices as 'artificial voice' under the TCPA, so outbound AI calls generally need prior express consent. Further AI disclosure rules were only proposed in 2024. Keep builds inbound unless counsel approves. verified
- Failure modes: hallucinated details, missed escalations, and integrations that break silently. Add a human fallback, daily error alerts, and a weekly transcript review.
Not legal advice. Texting, calling, and recording rules vary by country and state and change over time. Have the client confirm compliance with qualified counsel before launch.
Suggested price
$2,000–$5,000 setup + $200–$500/mo
Starting estimate only, not verified against market rates. Adjust for scope and support.