How can a home service business get more Google reviews?

Why do most home service companies have fewer reviews than they should?

The usual reason is not bad work. It is that nobody asks consistently. The tech means to mention it at the door, the office means to send a text, and then the next emergency call comes in.

Timing matters just as much. A homeowner whose water heater was fixed this afternoon feels relieved today. Three weeks later that feeling is gone, and a review request reads like junk mail.

Reviews are often the first thing a homeowner reads when deciding which plumber, electrician, or pest control company to call. A steady trickle of recent, specific reviews tells them you are busy, careful, and still in business.

When should you ask for a review, and how often?

Ask on the day of the job, then once more, then stop. Here is a schedule that works for most trades:

• Same day, within a couple of hours of the job being marked complete: a text with your direct review link.
• Same day: an email with the same link, for customers who prefer email or did not give a mobile number.
• Two days later: one short reminder text, unless the customer has replied or you can see their review.
• Then stop. Two asks is polite. More than that starts to feel like pressure, and Google asks businesses not to pressure customers into reviews.
• If the job is still open (a callback, a warranty issue, a part on order), wait until it is resolved, then ask like you would anyone else.

What should a review request text say?

Keep it short, personal, and easy to act on from a phone. Use the customer's first name, the job, and the tech's name if you can, so it reads like a thank you and not a mass message. Here is a version you can adapt:

"Hi [first name], thanks for having us out today for the [job]. [Tech name] appreciated it. Would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It helps neighbors find a contractor they can trust and takes about a minute: [review link]. [Company name]. Reply STOP to opt out."

And the reminder two days later: "Hi [first name], a quick reminder in case the week got busy. Here is the link if you have a minute: [review link]. Thanks again, [Company name]."

Use the direct review link from your Google Business Profile (look for the option to ask for reviews or share a review form). It opens the review box right away, so the customer does not have to search for you, pick the right listing, and scroll.

Can you only ask happy customers for reviews?

No. Google's prohibited and restricted content policy says businesses may not "selectively solicit positive reviews from customers," and it does not allow rewards in exchange for posting a review. That rules out setups that ask "Were you happy?" and send only the yes answers to Google, and it rules out discounts or gift card drawings for reviews.

What you can do is ask everyone and make it easy for anyone with a problem to reach you directly. A fast call from the owner often changes how a customer feels about the whole job. Other common mistakes to avoid:

• Asking weeks later in a batch, when the customer barely remembers the visit.
• Sending people to your homepage or telling them to "search for us" instead of using the direct link.
• Asking for five stars or telling customers what to write. Ask for an honest review and leave the rest to them.
• Setting review quotas for your techs, which the same policy also rules out.
• Collecting reviews and never answering them.

What does an automated review request look like? A worked example

Here is how it plays out, as an illustration. An electrician finishes a panel upgrade at 2 PM, and the tech marks the job complete in the field app. Around 3:30, the homeowner gets a text from the company with the tech's name and the review link, plus an email with the same link.

The homeowner is on a work call and forgets. Two days later one reminder arrives. This time they tap the link and write a few sentences about how the tech explained everything before starting. The owner gets a notice about the new review and replies to it that evening. Nobody in the office had to remember a thing.

If the homeowner had texted back with a problem instead, the reply would have gone straight to the office and the reminder would never have sent. The trigger can be whatever already marks a job done in your business: a status in your field service software, a paid invoice, or a closed deal in your CRM.

What should stay manual?

Review requests are usually one of the first things worth automating, because they run off a job status you already track. Our guide to what a small business should automate first shows where they fit next to lead follow-up, and how roofers answer leads after hours covers the front end of the same customer journey.

To see how we set this up for plumbers, electricians, and other trades, visit our home services automation page, or take the free automation scorecard to find which gaps cost you the most. Every project gets a fixed price on a free call.

• Replying to reviews. Write these yourself, especially the critical ones. A calm, specific reply to a bad review is read by every future customer who finds it.
• Calling an unhappy customer. If someone replies with a complaint, a person should call, the same day if possible.
• Exceptions. If a job went sideways, hold the request until the problem is fixed.

Common questions