Contractor growth · Sales
How to follow up on a contractor estimate: texts to send
You drove out, measured, priced it and sent the estimate. Then nothing. An estimate that goes quiet is not always lost to a cheaper bid. Often the homeowner meant to get back to you and did not. A few short, polite follow-ups make sure it is not forgotten.
Contractor guidesBy Landon LittleOctober 28, 20265 min read
The four-touch schedule
| When | Purpose | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Same day | Confirm it arrived, offer to answer questions | Text |
| Day 3 | Answer the question they have not asked yet | Text |
| Day 7 | A gentle scheduling nudge | Text or a short call |
| Day 14 | Close the loop and leave the door open | Text |
Text suits this because the customer already has your number from the visit and can answer in one word. A call on day seven is worth it for a large job.
The texts to send
- Same day: Hi [Name], it is [Your name] from [Business]. Just checking the estimate for the [job] came through okay. Any questions I can answer?
- Day 3: Hi [Name], a question people often have on a [job] is [how long it takes / whether it needs a permit / what happens if we find more damage]. Happy to walk you through it if that would help.
- Day 7: Hi [Name], our schedule for [month] is filling up. If you would like to go ahead with the [job], reply here and I will hold a date for you.
- Day 14: Hi [Name], I do not want to keep bugging you, so this is my last check-in on the [job] estimate. If the timing is not right, no problem at all. If anything changes, just reply here.
Small things that make a difference
- Name the job in every message. 'The estimate' is easy to ignore; 'the roof on Maple Street' is not.
- Ask one question per message, so a one-word reply is enough.
- Do not discount in the follow-up unless you meant to. It teaches customers to wait.
- If they say no, ask one thing: 'Mind if I ask what made the call?' The answer is worth more than the job.
- Keep follow-ups about the estimate they asked for. Unrelated promotions by text need separate consent, which our post on whether missed-call text-back is legal explains.
Running it without remembering
Like review requests, estimate follow-ups fail because they depend on memory at the end of a long day. Most field-service software can schedule the texts when you mark an estimate as sent. If you would rather not set it up, Nova Solutions builds the sequence for you: email and SMS nurture sequences are part of the Pro website plan, $1,997 setup plus $349 a month, listed on the pricing page. For the calls that come in before an estimate exists, see can't answer the phone on the job?
Questions this post answers
- How long should a contractor wait to follow up on an estimate?
- Send the first follow-up the same day, just to confirm the estimate arrived and offer to answer questions. Then follow up on day three, day seven and day fourteen, and stop after that.
- What should I text a customer after sending an estimate?
- Two lines that ask one question. For example: Hi [Name], it is [Your name] from [Business]. Just checking the estimate for the [job] came through okay. Any questions I can answer?
- How many times should you follow up on a quote?
- Four times over about two weeks is enough. After the fourth message, close the loop politely and leave the door open, rather than continuing to chase.
Want this running on your number?
Missed-call text-back on its own is $99 a month, no setup fee, on the number your customers already call. It is also included from the Growth website tier.
Building in this trade? See Contractor websites, or see pricing.