What information do you really need before quoting?
The initial website form is not a full site survey. Its job is to tell you who is asking, where the project is, what kind of work is needed and when it might happen. You can ask more detailed questions after making contact.
- Name and preferred reply method.
- Project postcode or approximate location.
- Type of job: interior, exterior, wallpapering, woodwork or other.
- Short description of the work.
- Preferred timeframe or whether dates are flexible.
- Optional photographs of the space or surfaces.
A postcode is useful for checking travel distance, but you usually do not need a full residential address at the first enquiry stage. If your business has a fixed service area, explain it clearly before customers begin the form.
A sample enquiry form for a decorating business
Below is a practical starting structure. Adapt it to the types of jobs you actually accept rather than copying every field.
- “What type of decorating do you need?” — select interior painting, exterior painting, wallpapering, woodwork or not sure.
- “Where is the property?” — postcode or town.
- “Tell us a little about the project” — a short free-text field.
- “When would you like the work done?” — as soon as practical, within a few months, or flexible.
- “Would you like to add photos?” — optional, with file-size guidance.
- “How should we contact you?” — email or telephone, plus the relevant contact details.
If you mainly undertake larger refurbishment projects, an optional property type or approximate room count may be worthwhile. If you specialise in commercial sites, ask whether the premises are occupied and who the point of contact will be. Keep specialist questions conditional, so a customer asking for a bedroom repaint does not see irrelevant commercial fields.
Should you ask for a budget?
There is no universal answer. Budget can help screen projects, but many customers genuinely do not know whether their planned work will cost hundreds or thousands of pounds. A compulsory budget field can deter people who would otherwise be good clients.
If budget is central to your service model, consider an optional range with an “I’d like guidance” choice. Explain that a proper quote may require more information or a site visit. Avoid suggesting that a few online answers produce a guaranteed fixed price.
Let customers upload photographs safely
Photographs help decorators spot access issues, the condition of surfaces and the scale of the work, but they are not a substitute for inspecting a project. Accept common image formats, state size limits and explain what will happen with uploads. Do not ask people to send unnecessary personal documents.
If you offer WhatsApp enquiries, a short form can still be useful for visitors who prefer not to use messaging apps. Make the two routes equally clear.
Make mobile enquiries effortless
Many customers will first discover your business on a phone. Use persistent labels, generous touch targets and short fields. Avoid tiny dropdowns and date pickers where a simple timeframe choice would do. Tell users which fields are mandatory and show errors next to the relevant question.
After submission, show a clear confirmation such as “Thanks — we’ve received your enquiry”. Explain what happens next, using a response timeframe only if you can realistically meet it. Test the form yourself on iPhone and Android-sized screens and check that messages reach the right inbox.
What should happen behind the scenes?
- Send submissions to an inbox monitored during your normal working routine.
- Protect the form from spam without making human visitors solve difficult puzzles.
- Store or forward photographs securely and delete them when no longer needed.
- Use an appropriate privacy notice explaining how customer details are used.
- Track successful form submissions without collecting more information than necessary.
If you use a CRM or job-management tool, the form might send new enquiries there rather than to a standalone inbox. The integration should be tested before launch. A more complicated workflow is not necessarily better if it creates another dashboard you never open.
Avoid these common form mistakes
- Making the phone number mandatory when email would work.
- Asking for measurements the customer cannot reasonably provide.
- Requiring every visitor to upload photos.
- Not stating whether you cover the customer’s postcode.
- Using a generic “Submit” button without saying what happens next.
- Failing to test delivery and confirmation messages after website changes.
How LLTT Media could help
Further reading
Related guide: How to Attract Better-Fit Decorating Enquiries Rather Than More Time-Wasters