Playbook · 6 min read
How to follow up quotes without being annoying
The right time, the right message, the right frequency. A practical guide for trades businesses that hate chasing.
The rule of three
The best-performing trades businesses follow up an open quote three times, then archive it. Not four. Not five. Not seven emails and daily texts. Three touches. Then move on.
When to follow up
The industry sweet spot for a first follow-up is 48-72 hours after the quote goes out — before the customer has forgotten but after they've had time to think. Second follow-up 5-7 days later. Third follow-up 14-21 days later.
Adjust based on quote value: bigger jobs deserve slightly longer gaps. Roofing quotes for £15k+ often take months to convert — patience matters.
What to say
Don't sell. Ask. "Just checking you got my quote for the boiler — any questions before you make a decision?" beats "Chase 1: are you ready to go ahead?" every time.
End with a next-step question. Never a yes/no. "Want me to book you in for a chat this week or next?" gives them two ways to say yes and none to say no.
The system beats the memory
You can't reliably run this by memory. The trades businesses that consistently follow up have a system — every open quote on a list, every follow-up scheduled, every callback flagged.
Key Takeaways
- Follow up three times, then archive.
- 48-72 hours, 5-7 days, 14-21 days is the sweet spot.
- Ask, don't sell. Every follow-up ends with a next-step question.
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