Household Vendor Call Sheet

Overview

Household Vendor Call Sheet helps a user call several repair or maintenance vendors and compare their answers without losing details. It produces a printable call sheet with the job definition, vendor list, standardized questions, quote fields, follow-up notes, and a shortlist for the next call or booking decision.

This skill is for household admin organization. It does not verify licenses directly, negotiate on the user's behalf, book appointments, pay deposits, or provide legal advice. It prompts the user to verify licenses, fees, insurance, warranties, and written terms before committing.

When to Use

Use this skill when the user says things like:

• "I need to call several plumbers and compare quotes."
• "Help me prepare questions for repair vendors."
• "I keep forgetting what each contractor said."
• "I need a printable sheet for maintenance calls."
• "How do I compare vendors before choosing one?"

This applies to household repair and maintenance calls such as plumbing, HVAC, electrical, appliance repair, pest control, landscaping, roofing, cleaning, painting, and general handyman work.

Workflow

Step 1 - Define the Job

Help the user describe the work clearly before calling anyone.

Capture:

• Job type
• Location in the home
• Problem or desired outcome
• Urgency and ideal service window
• Photos, measurements, model numbers, or access details to mention
• Constraints, such as budget, building rules, pets, parking, gate code policy, or tenant/landlord coordination
• Must-have requirements, such as licensed trade, insurance, written estimate, warranty, emergency availability, or cleanup

Turn vague problems into a call-ready description:

Job summary:
I need help with [problem] at [location]. It started [when]. I have noticed [symptoms]. I am looking for [repair/inspection/estimate] and want to know availability, fees, and next steps.

Step 2 - List Vendors

Create a vendor table the user can fill in before or during calls:

• Vendor name
• Phone number
• Website or referral source
• Service area
• License or registration lookup needed
• Notes from reviews or referrals
• Priority order for calling

Encourage the user to include more vendors than they expect to need, since some may not answer or may be unavailable.

Step 3 - Prepare Standard Questions

Build a question set that makes answers comparable.

Core questions:

• Do you handle this type of job?
• Are you available within my needed time window?
• What is your call-out, diagnostic, trip, or estimate fee?
• Is the fee applied to the repair if I proceed?
• Are you licensed, insured, bonded, or certified for this work where required?
• Can you provide license number, insurance details, or proof if requested?
• Do you provide written estimates before work begins?
• What is included and excluded in the quote?
• What warranty or guarantee applies to labor and parts?
• Who will do the work: employee, subcontractor, or owner?
• What payment methods do you accept, and when is payment due?
• Are there cancellation, after-hours, emergency, or minimum charges?
• What should I prepare before the visit?

Job-specific questions can be added based on the trade, but keep the sheet short enough to use on the phone.

Step 4 - Log Answers During Calls

For each vendor, capture answers in the same fields:

• Contact date and time
• Person spoken to
• Availability
• Diagnostic or visit fee
• Quote range or estimate method
• Written estimate offered
• License or insurance status to verify
• Warranty or guarantee
• Payment terms
• Red flags or unclear answers
• Follow-up promised
• Next action

If the user only gets voicemail, record the voicemail time and callback status.

Step 5 - Shortlist the Next Call or Next Action

After calls, help the user compare vendors using practical criteria:

• Availability fits the need
• Clear fee structure
• Written terms provided
• License or insurance can be verified
• Warranty is understandable
• Communication is clear
• No pressure tactics or vague pricing
• Reviews/referrals are reasonable

Create a shortlist:

• Best fit to call back
• Backup option
• Needs clarification
• Do not use / red flag

Do not tell the user a vendor is legally safe or fully verified. Instead, list verification steps before booking.

Output Format

Produce a printable call sheet:

Household Vendor Call Sheet

Job Summary:
- Job type:
- Location:
- Problem / desired outcome:
- Urgency:
- Must-have requirements:
- Details to mention:

Vendor List:
| Priority | Vendor | Phone | Source | License/Insurance Check Needed | Notes |

Standard Questions:
1. Do you handle this job?
2. What is your earliest availability?
3. What fees apply before work begins?
4. Is the estimate written?
5. Are you licensed/insured where required?
6. What warranty applies?
7. What payment terms and cancellation fees apply?
8. What should I prepare?

Call Log:
| Vendor | Contact | Availability | Fees | Quote/Estimate | Written Terms | License/Insurance | Warranty | Follow-up | Red Flags |

Shortlist:
- Best fit:
- Backup:
- Needs clarification:
- Do not use / red flag:

Before Booking Checklist:
- Verify license or registration where required.
- Confirm insurance/bonding if relevant.
- Get written scope, price, fees, warranty, and payment terms.
- Confirm arrival window and cancellation policy.

Example Prompts

1. HVAC comparison: "My AC isn't cooling. I need to call 3 HVAC companies and compare their diagnostic fees, availability, and whether they do written estimates. Help me prepare a call sheet."

2. Plumber comparison: "Help me prepare questions for calling plumbers about a slow drain that backs up when we run the dishwasher. I want to compare call-out fees and get written estimates before booking."

3. Roofing after storm: "I need to replace some roof shingles after a storm. Give me a vendor call sheet with questions about license, insurance, warranty, and written scope so I can compare 4 roofing contractors."

Safety Boundaries

• Do not book, pay, sign, or authorize work for the user.
• Do not claim a vendor is licensed, insured, bonded, or legally compliant unless the user has independently verified it through appropriate sources.
• Do not provide legal advice about contracts, liability, permits, or disputes.
• Encourage written estimates, written scope, clear fees, warranty details, and payment terms.
• Flag pressure tactics, refusal to provide written terms, unclear fees, unusually large upfront deposits, or unwillingness to share license/insurance information.
• For emergencies involving immediate danger, such as gas smell, fire risk, flooding near electricity, or exposed live wires, advise the user to contact emergency services or the utility provider first.

Acceptance Criteria

1. The response defines the household job clearly before vendor comparison begins.
2. A vendor list and standardized phone questions are included.
3. The call log captures comparable quote, fee, availability, warranty, and follow-up fields.
4. The shortlist is based on practical comparison criteria, not unsupported guarantees.
5. License, insurance, fees, written terms, and warranty verification are explicitly prompted.
6. The skill does not book, pay, negotiate, sign, or provide legal advice.

Example

User says: "I need to call HVAC companies because my AC is not cooling, and I do not want to forget what they quote."

Skill output: Creates a job summary for AC not cooling, a vendor table, HVAC-ready questions about diagnostic fees and availability, a call log with quote and warranty fields, and a shortlist section with verification reminders before booking.