New Customer Onboarding Checklist for Carpenters

Identify if the client wants custom cabinets ($5,000+) or simple trim work ($500+) and if they prefer hardwoods like Oak or Walnut versus MDF.

Set up SkipCalls to answer inquiries while you are using planers or sanders so you never miss a $10,000 built-in lead because you couldn't hear the phone.

Requesting photos of the current space and rough measurements via text or email helps you screen jobs before driving to a site visit.

Be honest about your lead time; if you are booked out 3 months for custom woodworking, tell them now to avoid later frustration.

Ensure the customer understands that custom built-ins usually start at $2,000 before you spend two hours on a site visit.

Older homes rarely have straight walls; identifying these issues during the walkthrough prevents installation disasters with custom cabinetry.

Note anything that needs to be moved or integrated into the shelving or cabinets to avoid extra costs mid-project.

Letting the client touch actual stained wood samples helps them commit to a $5,000+ project more confidently than looking at a screen.

Tell the client exactly how you will use ZipWalls or HEPA vacuums to keep sawdust out of their living areas.

Ensure you have a place to park your truck and unload heavy lumber or tools without blocking the entire street.

Never start a project like a $10,000 deck without the funds to cover the lumber, fasteners, and specialized hardware.

Explicitly state that changes to the wood type or design after the build starts will result in additional costs.

A professional PDF breakdown of labor and materials separates you from 'handymen' and justifies your professional rates.

For high-end furniture or cabinets, confirm the lumber is acclimated to the local environment before starting the build.

Walk the client through the finished work, showing them how the soft-close hinges work or how to maintain the deck finish.

Give the client a printed sheet on how to clean their new cabinets or when to re-seal their cedar deck.

Do not leave the job site without the final balance for the completed installation.

Ask them to mention the specific type of work, like 'custom molding' or 'deck repair,' to help your local search rankings.

With their permission, share photos of the finished piece; it is the best way to get referrals from their friends.