# Painter Answering Service & AI Receptionist Source: https://insertchat.com/industries/painting > Book interior and exterior estimates, collect room counts and siding type, and log color questions. An AI receptionist for painting contractors answers calls, texts, and website chats about interior, exterior, cabinet, and commercial work while your crews are on ladders. InsertChat’s assistant asks what needs painting, how big it is, and what shape the surfaces are in, books estimate visits on your calendar, and passes lead paint, damage, and touch-up complaints to your team. ## Turn an exterior repaint chat into an estimate visit Example workflow: Website chat. Illustrative scenario. Answers depend on your sources; actions depend on your connected tools and permissions. This is not a customer testimonial or measured result. A homeowner opens your website chat on a March evening, with your crews booked on interiors until the weather warms up. > Can you repaint our two-story colonial before June? Some of the trim by the gutters is soft, and the paint is peeling on the south side. ## See what they see The homeowner attaches photos of the peeling siding and soft trim, and your estimator gets them with the chat. ## Collect the exterior details Ask for the siding material, the number of stories, the year the house was built, and whether colors are chosen. ## Book the walk-around Offer estimate times from your calendar and note the June deadline and the soft trim on the contact, so your estimator plans for carpentry. ## Your team sets the boundaries Questions about lead paint in an older home, damage claims, and unhappy customers asking about touch-ups go straight to your team. ## What it handles for painting contractors Handled by your assistant: - Interior repaint requests, with room count and ceiling heights collected - Exterior estimates, booked with siding type, stories, and condition noted - Cabinet painting inquiries, with door and drawer counts - Deck and fence staining, and drywall patching before paint - Questions about paint brands, prep, timing, and how long a room takes Sent straight to your team: - Lead paint questions about an older home - Paint on floors, furniture, or cars after a job - Peeling, bubbling, or touch-up complaints on recent work - Property manager turnovers with a tenant moving in - Changes to a job already on the schedule ## What it asks and what it needs to know Details it collects: - Name, phone, email, and the property address - Interior, exterior, cabinets, or a commercial space - Rooms or surfaces, ceiling heights, and the number of stories - Siding or wall material, and damage like peeling or rot - Year the home was built - Whether colors are picked or a consultation is wanted - The date the work needs to be done by What to add to its knowledge: - Interior, exterior, cabinet, and commercial services you offer - Paint lines you use and whether customers can supply their own - Prep standards: scraping, priming, caulking, and patching - How estimates work and whether color consultations cost extra - Your exterior season and how weather moves start dates - Workmanship warranty and deposit policy ## Can an AI receptionist book painting estimates? Yes. It answers the first round of questions, confirms the address is in your area, and collects what your estimator needs: surfaces, size, stories, condition, and deadline. Then it offers estimate times from your calendar. A request to schedule an estimate raises a high-intent lead alert, so your team can see which homeowners are ready to hire. ## Will it price a paint job over the phone? It shares only the numbers you publish, such as a per-room starting price or your cabinet range. Exterior work depends on siding, height, and how much prep the surface needs, so the assistant gathers those details and books a walk-around. InsertChat does not write estimates or proposals. Your estimator still sets the price after seeing the house. ## How much does an AI receptionist for painting contractors cost? For $98 a month, Pro gives you one phone number, three team seats, three AI assistants, and a monthly credit allowance. Calls use credits in whole minutes, and texts can carry their own charges. Exterior estimate requests tend to bunch up in spring, so size your plan from an April week rather than a January one, using the usage estimate on the pricing page. ## Can I set rules for when estimates get booked? Yes. Choose the visit length, buffers before and after each estimate, how far ahead customers can book (up to 90 days), and the minimum notice, up to 48 hours. The assistant offers between two and five open times within those rules and books the one the customer picks. ## Can it answer questions about colors and paint brands? From your knowledge, yes. Add the paint lines you use, the sheens you recommend by room, and whether you offer color consultations. The assistant answers from that and books a consultation if you sell one. Choosing a color for a customer stays with your team. ## Can property managers email about unit turnovers? Yes. With Gmail or Outlook connected, the assistant writes replies to turnover requests from your services and availability. Approve each draft, or let replies go out after a delay you choose. Messages about payment terms or complaints wait for a person, and each request is saved with the unit address and move-in date. ## Will the number on my job-site signs keep working? In the US and Canada it will. Forward the number on your lawn signs, truck, and listings to InsertChat, and calls keep reaching you there. Elsewhere, pick a local or toll-free InsertChat number where one is available. Place a test call before your signs go back out in spring. ## Related features - [Website chat](https://insertchat.com/product/website) - [Lead capture](https://insertchat.com/product/lead-capture) - [AI receptionist](https://insertchat.com/product/phone) ## Broader industry - [Home services](https://insertchat.com/industries/home-services): Capture service requests while your team is on the job.