Screening new clients takes a few minutes and prevents most of the situations you'd want to avoid. Here's a simple checklist worth using before confirming any new booking.
Before You Confirm
- Ask for a name and a way to verify it's a real, reachable person — a working phone number is the minimum.
- For higher-risk bookings, consider a quick call before confirming location details.
- Note anything that feels rushed, evasive, or inconsistent — trust that instinct.
What to Share, and When
Confirm broad details (area, approximate time) early, and hold back your exact address until you're comfortable with the conversation. Legitimate clients understand this and won't push back on it.
Red Flags Worth Pausing On
Refusing to answer basic questions, pressuring you to skip your usual process, or an unwillingness to confirm any verifiable detail are all reasons to slow down or decline.
Keep It Consistent
Whatever screening process you use, apply it to every new contact — making exceptions under time pressure is when most problems happen. See our safety guide for the client-side version of this same advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is screening every new client necessary?
For new, unverified contacts, yes — a consistent process is what makes it effective. Skipping it under time pressure is when problems tend to happen.
What's the minimum useful screening step?
Confirming a real, reachable phone number and having a short conversation before confirming exact location details.