ColorCraft Painters Doubled Their Estimate Bookings with AI-Powered Lead Capture

The Challenge

ColorCraft Painters in Charlotte, North Carolina, had a conversion problem. Unlike emergency services where customers call immediately, painting leads research and compare multiple contractors.

Owner David Park knew that homeowners typically got 3-4 estimates before choosing. The question was: would ColorCraft be one of them?

"If we weren't fast with responses, we weren't even in the running," David explained. "By the time we called back the next morning, they'd already scheduled three estimates with other painters."

The Situation Before

• Monthly website visitors: 650
• Monthly leads: 20
• Estimate requests: 14/month
• Estimates given: 10/month (after no-shows)
• Close rate: 35%
• Average response time: 18 hours

The problem was particularly acute for exterior painting inquiries, which tend to come in spring evenings and weekends when homeowners are outside noticing their faded siding.

The Solution

We deployed a painting-specific AI agent focused on estimate qualification:

1. Scope Collection - Gathers room count, square footage estimates, interior vs. exterior 2. Photo Requests - Asks for photos of areas to be painted for accurate quoting 3. Timeline Assessment - Understands urgency (selling house? Event coming up?) 4. Color Consultation Booking - Schedules design consultations for undecided customers

The agent pre-qualifies leads so David knows exactly what he's walking into for each estimate.

The Results: First 90 Days

Metric

Before

After

Change

Monthly leads	20	44	+120%
Estimate bookings	14	38	+171%
Estimate show rate	71%	89%	+25%
Close rate	35%	41%	+17%
Photos submitted	0	31/month	New

The Revenue Impact

• Additional estimates per month: 24
• Show rate: 89%
• Close rate: 41%
• Average job value: $3,400
• Additional monthly revenue: $29,790
• Annual impact: $357,480

Agent cost: $249/month.

ROI: 119x

Key Wins

1. Being First Matters

"In painting, first to respond often means first to estimate, which often means winning the job," David said. "We're now always first."

2. Better Qualified Estimates

With scope details and photos collected in advance, estimates are more accurate. "I used to spend 20 minutes at every estimate just understanding the project. Now I spend 20 minutes actually estimating and building rapport."

3. Fewer No-Shows

Leads who engage with the AI, answer questions, and book a specific time are more committed. "Our no-show rate dropped from 29% to 11%. That's huge when you're driving across the city."

What David Says Now

"Painting is a relationship business—people hire painters they like and trust. The AI gets them in the door. Then my personality and craftsmanship close the deal. It's the perfect combination."