On a roof or in a crawlspace, you can't answer, and the caller dials the next contractor. Cove Desk texts them back from your number right away, or answers the call for you.
Text-back $99/mo, month-to-month, no setup fee. AI front desk $249/mo with 250 AI minutes.
Thanks for calling Hollis Plumbing. We're on a job. What's going on, and what's the address?
Sent automatically, 7:42 AMWater heater is leaking all over the basement
Got it. Is water still coming in right now?
Yes it's flooding. 22 Elm St
Emergency word “flooding”: ringing your cell
Thanks for calling Northway Heating & Air. We couldn't pick up just now. What's going on, and what's the address?
Sent automatically, 10:15 PMFurnace stopped. House is 54 degrees and we have two little kids
Got it. Any heat coming out at all?
No heat at all. 88 Pine Ave
Emergency words “no heat”: ringing your cell
Thanks for calling Ridge Well & Pump. We couldn't pick up just now. What's going on, and what's the address?
Sent automatically, 6:58 AMWoke up to nothing at the taps
We can help. Did the pressure drop slowly, or is it completely out?
No water at all. 310 County Rt 9
Emergency words “no water”: ringing your cell
Thanks for calling Clearbrook Septic. We couldn't pick up just now. What's going on, and what's the address?
Sent automatically, 1:20 PMNeed the tank pumped before we list the house
Happy to help. When was it last pumped, and when do you need it done?
Maybe 5 years ago. Closing is the 30th. 40 Mill Rd
Not urgent: waiting in your inbox for when you're off the job
Thanks for calling Brightline Electric. We couldn't pick up just now. What's going on, and what's the address?
Sent automatically, 4:05 PMHalf the kitchen outlets just went dead
Thanks. Any burning smell, or outlets that feel warm?
Smells like burning by the panel. 9 Lake St
Emergency word “burning”: ringing your cell
Thanks for calling Summit Roofing. We couldn't pick up just now. What's going on, and what's the address?
Sent automatically, 8:31 AMWater coming through the bedroom ceiling after the storm
Okay. Is it dripping right now?
Yes, active leak, it's in a bucket. 15 Ridge Rd
Emergency words “active leak”: ringing your cell
Example threads. The business names and numbers are made up. We set the wording, the questions and the emergency words with you.
Someone with a flooded basement or no heat isn't leaving a voicemail. They're calling the next number on the list.
You keep your number. Your phone rings like it always does. Only the calls you don't pick up get forwarded, using your carrier's call forwarding.
It comes from your business number and asks your intake questions: what's wrong, where they are, how soon they need someone. They reply in the same two-way thread.
If a reply has one of your emergency words, like “flooding” or “no heat”, your phone rings. Everything else waits in the thread until you're off the job.
For when you'd rather every call got answered by voice. It picks up 24/7, books jobs to your calendar, transfers emergencies to you live, and texts the caller a follow-up after the call. Text-back is included. Pick what it leaves you:
Added to your calendar
Confirmation texted to the customer.
Call log, 11:48 PM
AI front deskNorthway Heating & Air, how can I help?
CallerOur furnace quit and it's 50 degrees in here.
AI front deskThat sounds urgent. Let me get you to the owner right now. Stay on the line.
Text to (518) 555-0147
Thanks for calling Hollis Plumbing. You're booked for Tue, Oct 20, 9 to 11 AM at 22 Elm St. Reply here if anything changes.
Sent from your number, 9:15 PMText to you
Cove Desk: you've used 200 of your 250 AI minutes this month. Extra minutes are $0.35 each.
| What you get | Text-back$99 /month | AI front desk$249 /month |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | None | $299, waived on annual |
| Term | Month-to-month | Setup waived on annual plans |
| Instant text-back from your number | Included | Included |
| Two-way text thread | Included | Included |
| Job intake questions | Included | Included |
| Emergency words ring your phone | Included | Included |
| A2P 10DLC registration | We handle it | We handle it |
| 24/7 AI answering | Not included | Included |
| Books jobs to your calendar | Not included | Included |
| Live transfer for emergencies | Not included | Included |
| Text follow-up after each call | Not included | Included |
| AI minutes | Not included | 250 a month |
| Extra minutes | Not included | $0.35 a minute, with usage alerts |
| Start with text-back | Ask about the front desk |
$99 /month
$249 /month
Before texts can go out: carriers require business texting from a local number to be registered (A2P 10DLC). We file it for you. The review runs on the carriers' schedule and can take a while, so there may be a wait before go-live. We'll tell you when you're approved.
Yes. Nothing gets moved or ported. You turn on call forwarding with your phone carrier so calls you don't pick up go to Cove Desk. Turn forwarding off and your phone works exactly as it did before.
Text-back is month-to-month with no setup fee. The AI front desk is $249 a month with a $299 setup fee, and the setup fee is waived if you choose an annual plan.
It doesn't guess. It transfers the call to you live, or takes the caller's details and texts them to you so you can call back.
US carriers require businesses that text customers from a regular local number to register first. This is called A2P 10DLC. We fill out and file the registration for you, but the review is done on the carriers' schedule and can take a while.
Texts can't go out until it's approved, and we'll tell you when you're live.
Plumbers, HVAC, well and pump, septic, electricians and roofers. If you run a different home-service business, tell us about it in the audit form and we'll tell you honestly whether it fits.
Email partners@corneliacove.com. Text-back is month-to-month. Turn off call forwarding on your phone and missed calls go back to voicemail, like before.
You tell us how calls are handled today. We look at where calls are likely slipping through and reply with what we'd change and which plan, if either, makes sense for you. It costs nothing and you're not signing up for anything.
Time the AI front desk spends on calls. The plan includes 250 minutes a month. Past that, extra minutes are $0.35 each, and we send you usage alerts so the bill is never a surprise.
Cove Desk is a new service from Cornelia Cove LLC, based at 418 Broadway, Ste N, Albany, NY 12207. We're onboarding our first contractors now and set each one up ourselves.
Tell us how calls are handled now. We'll reply with where calls are slipping through and whether Cove Desk fits. If it doesn't, we'll say so.
We're a new venture, so a person reads every request. No cost, nothing to sign.