A homeowner who has been researching solar for months finally decides to book a survey. They fill in a short form with their name and postcode. The installer calls to arrange a time and asks about the roof, the bills and whether they want a battery. The homeowner does not have their bills to hand. The survey is booked for two weeks' time, and in the meantime another installer who asked for everything upfront has already visited and quoted.
Solar survey requests are high-intent leads. Capturing the right details at the start makes the survey faster and the quote more accurate.
Step 1: know what the surveyor needs
Before a survey, installers usually want the address and property type, which way the main roof faces, the roof's approximate age and condition, any shading from trees or buildings, recent energy bills or annual usage, whether the homeowner is interested in a battery and any access issues. Honest roof questions are covered in roof suitability questions and honest solar answers.
Step 2: ask for photos
Photos of the roof from the ground, the fuse box and meter, and any area where a battery or inverter might go help the surveyor prepare. Many installers can do an initial remote assessment from photos.
Step 3: ask about energy use
Annual electricity use, or a recent bill, lets the installer size the system properly. Homeowners often do not know this offhand, so explaining where to find it helps.
Step 4: capture it in conversation
SpideyChat for solar installers asks these questions at any hour, explains how your surveys work using your own pages and captures everything for the team. Battery interest is covered in battery storage questions solar buyers ask.
Homeowner: I'd like to book a solar survey. Assistant: Great. The survey page explains what's checked and that it's free. So the surveyor can prepare, could you share your address, which way your main roof faces, whether there are tall trees nearby and roughly how much electricity you use a year? Photos of the roof from the ground help too.
Step 5: confirm quickly
Confirm a survey time the same day if possible. Homeowners comparing installers remember the one that made it easy. Site visits in other trades are handled in similar ways, as described in site visit requests captured without phone tag.
Step 6: prepare the quote from the survey
With good preparation, the surveyor can often produce a quote soon after the visit. Service quotes in general are covered in AI assistant for service quotes.
Step 7: follow up
Homeowners who have had a survey may still be deciding. A friendly follow-up with the quote, and an offer to answer questions, keeps them engaged.
Step 7b: explain the survey itself
Homeowners often feel uneasy about someone inspecting their roof and loft. Explaining what the surveyor will look at, how long it takes, whether they need access to the loft and fuse box, and that there is no obligation, makes them more comfortable booking. A clear description of the survey also reduces cancellations, because homeowners know what they are agreeing to.
Step 7c: remote first, visit second
Many installers now start with a remote assessment based on photos and satellite images, then visit only if the homeowner wants to proceed. Offering this option saves time for both sides and suits homeowners who are still deciding.
Step 8: learn from outcomes
Track how many surveys become installations. If many do not, look at pricing, the survey experience and how quickly quotes are sent.
Setting it up
Write your survey questions, add a survey page and set the assistant to capture requests. The guides to installing the widget and training your bot explain how.