AI Answering Service for Tradies: Why Plumbers and Electricians Are Switching in 2026

You're under a sink. Your phone buzzes in your back pocket. You've got silicone on your hands, a customer watching, and a leak that won't wait.

You ignore the call.

That was a $500 emergency job. The homeowner already called the next plumber on Google. By the time you call back at 4pm, they've already got someone on the way.

This happens 5-10 times a week for the average Australian tradie. Do the maths:

5 missed calls × $200 average job × 50 weeks = $50,000/year going to your competitors.

And that's conservative.

The Old Solutions Don't Work

Voicemail? Nobody leaves one anymore.

Your customers aren't leaving voicemails. They're calling the next number on Google. In 2026, voicemail is where leads go to die.

Virtual receptionist? They just take messages.

Services like Ruby ($235/mo) and AnswerConnect ($200+/mo) sound good on paper. But here's what actually happens:

1. Customer calls
2. Receptionist takes a message
3. Message gets emailed to you at 2pm
4. You call back at 4pm
5. Customer already booked someone else

You're paying $200-400/mo for a message-taker. That's not answering — that's expensive voicemail.

Hire someone? Good luck.

A part-time receptionist costs $25-30/hour. For 8 hours a day, that's $1,000/week. And they don't work nights, weekends, or public holidays — which is exactly when the most valuable calls come in.

What an AI Answering Service Actually Does

Here's the difference: an AI phone agent doesn't just take messages. It handles the call.

When a customer calls your number:

1. AI answers in 2 rings — no hold music, no "please hold"
2. Knows your services and rates — "Yes, we do emergency drain clearing. Standard callout is $180 plus parts."
3. Qualifies the job — "Is this an emergency or can it wait until Monday?"
4. Books the appointment — "I've got Dave available tomorrow at 9am. Shall I lock that in?"
5. Sends you a text summary — You see exactly what was discussed, who called, and what was booked

The customer thinks they're talking to your office staff. Response time is under 600 milliseconds, so the conversation flows naturally — no awkward pauses, no robotic voice.

The Numbers That Matter

How to Set It Up (60 Seconds, Seriously)

1. Go to infercall.com
2. Paste your website URL
3. Your AI reads your site and learns your services, rates, and area
4. Talk to it — test it right there in the browser
5. Happy? Forward your phone and you're done

No app to install. No contract. No IT person needed.

The "forward your phone" part is the key bit — you just dial a short code on your phone (like *61*[your Infercall number]#) and calls that you don't answer get picked up by your AI instead of going to voicemail.

"But Will My Customers Know It's AI?"

We hear this a lot. Short answer: no.

The AI responds in under 600ms — faster than most humans. It uses natural speech patterns, pauses, and intonation. We've had tradies tell us their customers specifically complimented their "new receptionist."

But don't take our word for it. Go to infercall.com, paste your website, and talk to your AI yourself. It takes 60 seconds and it's free to try.

Who This Works Best For

• Solo operators who can't answer the phone on a job
• Small teams (2-5) who don't want to hire a receptionist
• After-hours emergency services — your AI books the callout at 2am, you see it when you wake up
• Busy seasons — when every call matters and you can't afford to miss one

The Bottom Line

You're already paying for missed calls. Every voicemail that doesn't get left, every customer who hangs up after 4 rings — that's money walking out the door.

$49/mo is less than one missed job. And unlike a receptionist, your AI never calls in sick, never puts someone on hold, and never forgets to pass on a message.

Try it free → Paste your website URL. Talk to your AI in 60 seconds. No credit card needed.