AI assistant tips and tricks for builders and trades

Small habits that save real hours.

• 1. Give it your voice firstPaste in three or four emails you've written and ask it to describe your tone. Save that description and start every request with it, so drafts sound like you rather than a call centre.
• 2. Turn site notes into a quote draftRecord a voice memo on the drive home with the measurements, materials and access notes. Ask the assistant to lay it out as a quote in your usual format. You still set the price.
• 3. Chase quotes on a set dayOnce a week, ask for a list of quotes sent more than seven days ago with no reply, and a short polite chase for each. You read and send the ones you want. See the guide on chasing quotes. Read the guide.
• 4. Ask for a morning briefAsk for five lines each morning: what needs a reply today, what's booked and what's overdue. It's quicker than scrolling the inbox on site. Read the guide.
• 5. Pull the details out of enquiriesAsk it to pull the name, job, postcode, budget and timing out of each new enquiry into one line, so you can see straight away which jobs fit.
• 6. Keep a library of answersSave your best replies to the questions you're asked every week, such as lead times, deposits, guarantees and parking, and let it adapt them to each customer.
• 7. Draft first, alwaysSet it up so it drafts and never sends. You stay in control of every word a customer sees. See whether AI will send emails without you. Read the guide.
• 8. Keep personal data out of free toolsDon't paste customer names, addresses or bank details into a free chatbot. Use a business plan connected to your own email, and check where the data is stored. See the guide on GDPR. Read the guide.
• 9. Be specific and give it a format'Write a 4-line reply, friendly, UK English, confirm Tuesday 8am, ask about parking' gets a far better result than 'reply to this'.
• 10. Start with one jobPick the one admin task you put off most. Run it for a few weeks, keep it if it saves you time and drop it if it doesn't. Then add the next.

About a day a week back to grow the business.

If you'd rather have this set up properly on your own email and diary, the Gotts AI Set-up does it with you, or you can follow the DIY Kit at your own pace. It supports your team rather than replacing anyone.