Why Pre-Set Appointments Beat Raw Leads Every Time

Every contractor knows the frustration: you pay for leads, spend hours calling, leave voicemails, send follow-up texts—and most never convert. The traditional lead model is broken. Here's why pre-set appointments deliver dramatically better results.

The Raw Lead Problem

When you buy raw leads, you're purchasing contact information for someone who expressed interest at some point. But interest doesn't equal intent, and timing is everything. Here's what typically happens:

• 30-40% of leads never answer the phone
• 25% filled out a form "just browsing"
• 15% have already hired another contractor
• 10% aren't actually the decision maker

That means from 100 leads, you might set 10-15 actual appointments. And you've spent hours of your sales team's time getting there.

The Pre-Set Appointment Difference

Pre-set appointments flip the model. Instead of buying information and hoping for a connection, you receive confirmed meetings with homeowners who have:

The Numbers Don't Lie

Let's compare the economics. Assume you're a window contractor with a $15,000 average job value and 25% close rate on qualified appointments:

Even with a higher per-unit cost, pre-set appointments deliver 70% more revenue and a lower cost per sale. Plus, your sales team spends their time selling—not chasing leads.

Time Value Matters

Beyond the direct costs, consider the time savings. With raw leads, your team might spend 5-10 hours generating 10 appointments. With pre-set appointments, those hours can be spent on in-home presentations where deals actually close.

For a sales rep making $80,000/year, 10 hours of lead chasing costs $385. Multiply that across a year, and you're looking at tens of thousands in hidden costs—time that could be spent closing more deals.