A new inquiry needs an owner and a next step.

The lead handoff checklist

Walk through one recent inquiry with the people who handle it. Write down the actual handoff, including the points where nobody can see what happened next.

1. Capture the source. Record whether the inquiry came from your website, phone, email, referral, or another channel. Keep one place where the team can find it.
2. Name the responsible person. Agree who acknowledges the inquiry and who owns the next conversation. A shared inbox alone does not make ownership clear.
3. Set the next action and date. Put a concrete step on the record: call back, schedule a visit, send an estimate, or ask for missing details.
4. Keep the context together. Note what the customer asked, what was promised, and the status of the appointment or estimate. Limit access to people who need it.
5. Review the outcome. Each week, look for requests without an owner, overdue actions, and estimates awaiting a decision. Close the loop when the work is booked, declined, or no longer active.

A useful starting record can be simple: source, date, contact route, requested service, owner, next action, due date, and current status. Store customer details in an access-controlled business system, not a public spreadsheet or analytics event.