Handyman Pro has earned a reputation in Ashland and the Rogue Valley for reliable remodeling and construction, serving everyone from homeowners to local businesses like USPS and Wells Fargo. Shannon, the owner, built Handyman Pro around quality work and honest communication. But as the business grew, so did the daily interruptions—most of them unwanted.
Challenge
"About a year ago I realized the spam calls were coming—60% of my calls were spam," Shannon says. "It was like answering the phone all day long to nothing."
The constant ringing made it tough to focus on jobs or talk to actual clients. Shannon’s tried dozens of solutions—over 40 different major AI answering services—but none felt trustworthy or authentic enough to let them take over.
For a service business where reputation matters, a robotic or confusing answering system could easily scare off real customers. Shannon needed something that could answer every call, weed out spam, and keep clients feeling like they were in good hands—without paying for a full-time receptionist.
Solution
Upfirst changed everything for Handyman Pro. Shannon set up Upfirst so the phone rings a couple times, just long enough to catch high-priority calls or regular clients (thanks to caller ID). If Shannon doesn’t pick up, the call goes straight to Upfirst’s AI receptionist.
"Honestly, it’s more like a real person than every other program out there. It’s the only one I’ve ever gotten compliments on. And people aren’t actually hanging up."
Upfirst reliably answers, filters out spam, and directs legitimate callers to Handyman Pro’s intake form. The process is simple: callers get a friendly, professional response, a link to the booking form is sent automatically, and Shannon receives a transcript and summary of every call—no more guessing, no more missed opportunities.
The spam detection system in Upfirst is a standout feature for Shannon. "Your spam blocker and everything where your detection system works great too. I have to have it because the spam’s out of control and I want it because it saves me $2,500 bucks a month."
Setup took just a few minutes. Shannon customized the knowledge base with intake instructions and preferred workflows. Now, Handyman Pro’s phones are handled 24/7 for a fraction of what a traditional service would charge.
Results
The impact is clear: "Now, I haven’t answered the phone in weeks or months."
Shannon estimates Upfirst has saved Handyman Pro $2,500 every month. But even more valuable is the time and focus reclaimed. No more interruptions from spam. No more lost leads from missed calls or awkward bots. Clients actually compliment the phone experience and keep coming back.
"You guys have changed my life. Like, I trust your program to take my calls without screwing things up and scaring people off."
Handyman Pro can now deliver reliable, high-touch remodeling and construction services—without being chained to the phone. And Shannon? "Yeah, you guys are awesome."
If you want to finally take control of your business’s phone, keep clients happy, and never lose another lead to spam, try Upfirst. It only takes a few minutes to set up.
