Define a good-fit job before you change the website
A sole trader specialising in occupied homes may want carefully planned room-by-room projects, while a commercial decorating contractor might want larger programmes with site access and safety requirements. List the jobs you want more of, the work you do not undertake and the distance you are prepared to travel. Your website should make those boundaries obvious to prospective customers.
Show enough scope to discourage unsuitable requests
Rather than saying “all decorating undertaken”, explain typical project types and the stages you handle: preparation, painting, wallpapering, woodwork or exterior surfaces as appropriate. If you do not undertake emergency work, minor repairs or projects below a certain scope, say so politely. Avoid publishing artificial minimum prices just to filter leads unless those prices genuinely reflect your policy.
Ask qualifying questions that customers can answer
Postcode, project type, property type and preferred start window usually provide a useful first indication. A small description box lets someone mention peeling paint, high ceilings or a furnished room. Do not ask homeowners to calculate precise square metre coverage or choose technical primers before an inspection; those decisions often require professional judgment.
Measure fit, not only form submissions
Keep a simple record of which website enquiries result in a conversation, which receive a quotation and which become suitable work. If many requests are outside your area, make location information clearer. If people ask for services you do not provide, revise your service pages. The aim is to spend less time chasing the wrong projects, not to discourage genuine customers.
Should I put a minimum job price on my website?
Only if you have a genuine, consistently applied minimum and can explain it clearly. Otherwise, scope and service boundaries may be more helpful.
A qualification example that stays customer-friendly
Suppose a two-person decorator wants full-room repaints but does not undertake small touch-ups or jobs more than an hour away. A vague site offering “all painting and decorating” will attract enquiries they cannot service. Instead state the types of work you prioritise, show suitable examples and list your true travel area. You can explain minimum job expectations tactfully if the business has a firm policy.
Ask customers for their postcode, whether the property is occupied, approximate rooms or surfaces and preferred timing. Avoid demanding detailed measurements or an exact budget from someone who has never commissioned decorating before. Review which leads are accepted or declined and why. The objective is a clearer fit before a phone call, not a form that interrogates every homeowner.
Checks for this particular enquiry journey
- Name the job sizes and specialisms you genuinely accept.
- State service-area limits honestly.
- Ask only questions needed for initial fit.
- Review reasons for declining jobs to improve page clarity.
Further reading
Related guide: How to Get More Painting and Decorating Enquiries From Your Website