The library · Construction firms · Enquiries and follow-up

Reply to a new enquiry

A fast, human reply wins the site visit. Homeowners often ask for a price by email, before anyone has seen the property or the drawings.

The prompt
I work in marketing at a construction firm. Help me reply to a new enquiry quickly.

Context: A fast, human reply wins the site visit. Homeowners often ask for a price by email, before anyone has seen the property or the drawings.

Before you start, ask me for anything missing from this list:
- The enquiry
- What we need to know before we can help
- How to book a first conversation

Then:
1. Reply to what they asked, in their words.
2. Ask only for what we need next.
3. Offer a clear next step with times.

Give me:
- The reply, under 120 words
- Questions to ask on the first call

Rules:
- Use only the facts I give you. Where something is missing, write [detail needed]. Never invent a number, a name, a quote or a source.
- Describe building work in general terms only. Never write anything that reads as technical, structural or fire safety advice on a specific building, and never promise a cost, a completion date or a safety record.
- Write in plain English, in our voice if I have given you a sample.
- Do not tell me what the rules or regulations say. If something may be restricted, flag it and I will check.

Finish with a list headed "Check before this goes out". Include these, plus anything else the director who approves marketing or our health, safety and quality lead should see:
- That any figure given is clearly a guide and matches our price list
- Statements about planning or building control needs before a survey
- Availability and start dates, against the current programme

Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot. It will ask you for what it needs.

Check before this goes out

  • That any figure given is clearly a guide and matches our price list
  • Statements about planning or building control needs before a survey
  • Availability and start dates, against the current programme

The prompt gives you a first draft. Someone qualified still approves anything a client will read.

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