Customize Job/Estimate SMS Notifications
Once your Texting number is set up, you’ll have full control over the automated SMS notifications customers receive when a Job or Estimate is scheduled, when your technician is on the way, and when the work is complete. Here you can learn how to access your text messaging settings, turn notifications on or off, and personalize the message content to match your business’s tone and style.
⚙️ Requirements: Register for Text Messaging and set up your Texting Number.
Step 1: Access Your Text Messaging Settings
To edit your default Job and SMS Estimate Notifications:
Go to Settings > Notifications > Customer
Step 2: Customize SMS Notifications
To customize your Job/Estimate scheduled, On my way, and Job/Estimate finished SMS notifications, follow the steps below!
Turn SMS Notifications On/Off
By default, text message notifications for jobs and estimates will be automatically enabled after registering and being approved for Text Messaging. However, you can disable or re-enable these notifications at any time.
Click the toggle to the right of each text message you'd like to enable or disable:
Job scheduled
On my way
Job finished
🛠️ Pro Tip: When a customer responds to a text notification, the response will be sent to your Customer Inbox within the Housecall Pro mobile and web applications.
Edit Text Messages
When a job notification is sent to a customer, the smart variables set up for each text message will determine the correct information for that particular job and send a text to the customer with the appropriate information.
You can customize these notifications in your Text Messaging settings by following the steps below:
Click the pencil icon to the right of a text to customize the message content:
Job/Estimate scheduled text
On my way text
Job/Estimate finished text
Compose your message using the variables.
📌 Note: Keep in mind that these messages will go to every customer and cannot be edited from job to job, so you should not include a customer's actual name or any other specific information by typing it in.
Within the edit window, click the Add variable dropdown to add the following available smart variables to your text notifications:
Job scheduled text: Customer first name, Company name, Technician first name, Technician last name, Invoice number, Job date, and Job time.
On my way text: Customer first name, Company name, Technician first name, Technician last name, and Invoice number.
Job finished text: Customer first name, Company name, Technician first name, Technician last name, and Invoice number.
When typing a custom message into the edit text area, the smart variables will display a preview with a sample message on the right side of the page. This represents exactly what a customer will see when they receive the text notification.
📌 Note: Keep in mind that these messages will go to every customer and cannot be edited from job to job, so you should not include a customer's actual name or any other specific information by typing it in.
To remove a variable, click the X icon next to the added variable.
Preview your message to confirm it is what you want to send to your customers.
Make sure to save your edits to return to the notifications page.
An email or text that is a required setting will indicate that it cannot be disabled.
Include the Service Address in Job Text Messages
Customer job text notifications now include the job's service address, so customers can confirm where the work is scheduled.
Availability: Web · Pros enrolled in the alpha
How it works: The service address automatically appears in the job SMS that your customer receives.
How to do it:
Navigate to Settings → Notifications → Customers Tab
Choose any editable Job notification
Add the Service Address variable to any message that you prefer
Save
Set up an After-Hours Auto-Reply
After-Hours Auto-Reply automatically responds to customer text messages that come in outside your business hours, so customers know you've received their message and when to expect a reply.
Availability: Web · Pros enrolled in the alpha
How to set it up:
Ensure your business hours are set.
Go to [Settings → Inbox/ Communications settings].
Navigate to the Text Messaging tab.
Configure when a text message should be sent.
Click Save.
Things to know:
The auto-reply sends only to inbound texts received outside your set hours.
Each customer receives the reply
Show Tech's Picture for On My Way
In your Text Message settings:
Check or uncheck the box next to Show technician picture in the On My Way text setting to control whether your technician's photo is included in the message sent to customers.
📌 Note: A profile picture must be uploaded to the team member's profile to be shown in the On my way text.
Need help or have questions?
We're here for you! Chat with Support using the Blue Chat Bubble in your Housecall Pro account, or give us a call at (858) 842-5746.