Quoting Follow-Up Timing for Residential Trades
Day 1, day 3, day 7 — a simple cadence that does not feel pushy.
Homeowners typically request two or three quotes for anything over a few hundred dollars. They are not ignoring you — they are busy, the quote PDF is buried in email, or your competitor called while they were at work.
The cadence we recommend
| Day | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Send quote same day if possible | Strike while the problem is fresh |
| 1 | Short call or SMS: “Any questions on the quote?” | Opens dialogue without pressure |
| 3 | Email with one clarifying line | “Happy to adjust scope if timing is the issue” |
| 7 | Final check-in, offer expiry date | Creates natural decision point |
After day 7, move the lead to a quarterly nurture list if they said “not yet” — bathroom reno in six months is still a job.
What to say on day 1
Avoid “just following up.” Try: “Hi [name], it’s [you] from [business]. Wanted to check you received the quote for [specific job] and if the access arrangements on Tuesday would work.”
Specificity signals you remember their job, not that you are dialling a list.
Common mistakes
- Quoting without site photos — leads to day-3 arguments about extra pipe runs
- No expiry date — customer assumes quote valid forever, books you eight months later at old pricing
- Owner-only follow-up — when the owner is on tools, nobody calls back
Train whoever answers the phone to log enquiry source and preferred contact time. That one line on the quote sheet saves two callbacks.