How to qualify leads in one short call.
Not every enquiry is a real job. A few good questions tell you who to rush, who to nurture and who to let go.
How to qualify leads
Hot, warm or cold
- Hot: needs it soon, in your area, ready to book.
- Warm: interested, but timing or budget is not settled.
- Cold: just browsing, outside your area, or after a price you cannot match.
The questions that sort them
Ask about timing, location, the job, and whether they are the decision maker. See our list of lead qualification questions.
What to do with each
- Hot: book now.
- Warm: follow up on a schedule with useful information.
- Cold: thank them, leave the door open, and spend your time elsewhere.
How Sales AI helps
Sales AI asks these questions on every lead, marks each one hot, warm or cold with a short reason, and gives you a score from 0 to 100 so you know who to call first.
Common questions
Is it rude to ask about budget?
Not if you ask kindly: "So I can suggest the right option, do you have a rough budget in mind?"
Should I ignore cold leads?
No. Keep them in a gentle follow-up. Some become hot later.
Related guides
Lead qualification questions
Fifteen friendly questions that tell you how serious, urgent and good a fit each lead is, without sounding like an interview.
Read moreHot, warm and cold leads
What makes a lead hot, warm or cold, and how to handle each so you spend time where it pays.
Read morePrice shoppers
How to respond when a lead only asks "how much?", so you win the right jobs and let the wrong ones go politely.
Read moreNever lose a lead to a forgotten follow-up.
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