CRM
French drain contractor quote form: what to ask first
Design a drainage quote form that captures location, pooling symptoms, timing and follow-up without pretending to diagnose a yard online.
A drainage request is not a confirmed construction quote
A website form should help a coordinator decide whether the property is in the service area, whether the request matches the contractor's work and what the next conversation needs to cover. It cannot determine pipe size, grade, soil conditions, utility constraints or drainage outlet suitability. Label the action Request an assessment or Ask for an estimate, not "Get a guaranteed price now."
Minimum practical form
For the initial request, location at a ZIP/postcode level may be enough. Obtain exact access instructions only after a team member accepts the inquiry. Ask only for information the company will genuinely use.
| Field | Required? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Contact name | Yes | Identifies who should receive the response |
| Email or phone | Yes | Provides a reliable follow-up route |
| Property ZIP/postcode and town | Yes | Screens service-area coverage without collecting an exact street address immediately |
| Primary water issue | Yes | Distinguishes yard pooling, surface runoff, downspouts and other enquiries |
| Site type | Usually | Separates residential, small commercial and larger projects |
| When the issue happens | Optional | Captures after-rain, seasonal or persistent conditions |
| Preferred contact time | Optional | Helps follow-up scheduling |
| Approximate affected area | Optional | Context, not a design input |
| Photographs | Optional, only if supported | May improve triage; require privacy and storage review |
| Permission to contact | As legally needed | Keeps consent wording transparent |
Explain the problems in the visitor's language
Offer choices such as "standing water in yard," "water near basement/foundation," "runoff across driveway," "downspout overflow," and "not sure." The final option is essential. It lets customers describe a symptom without selecting an inappropriate service.
Allow a short free-text note. Don't make homeowners select technical materials or engineering dimensions. Do not ask whether they have permits if the contractor is supposed to assess those requirements.
Route requests into an accountable workflow
First contact
On submission, show: "Thanks. We received your drainage enquiry. Our team will review your location and issue, then contact you about the next step. This is not a confirmed appointment or quote." Do not invent a response SLA. If the company can commit to one, publish its actual business-hours window.
Triage stage
Staff tags the general issue, checks service area, confirms whether assessment work is offered and asks for the information needed to arrange a real visit. Use an internal status vocabulary such as new / needs details / assessment proposed / assessment confirmed / not a fit / estimate sent. A status column is a process suggestion, not a claim that every field exists natively in OneStudio.
Escalation and estimate
Site visits, drainage recommendations, pricing and construction documents should be owned by appropriately qualified personnel and project systems. CRM contact history should not be described as a replacement for drawings, measurements, permits or field reports.
Test the form before launching
Submit one in-area lead, an out-of-area lead, a request with no photos, an unusually long note and a repeat submission. Inspect mobile layout, required-field errors, confirmation wording, recipient handling and how staff retrieve the request. Confirm that unnecessary sensitive attachments aren't exposed by public links.
If the platform setup offers online booking, configure it only for a genuinely bookable assessment service with real availability. It should not silently convert every quote request into an approved visit.
Next step: Review OneStudio's client and enquiry workflow and talk through a drainage intake plan.