You measure the job, write the quote, send it, and hear nothing. Most of the time the customer hasn’t said no. They’re busy, comparing prices, waiting on a partner, or unsure about one line they didn’t want to ask about. The business that follows up politely, with something useful, usually wins the work.
Editor’s choice for quote follow-up: Pipedrive
Every estimate on a visual board with a next step, and alerts when a quote goes quiet. Free trial.
What unanswered quotes cost
Take the number of quotes you sent last month, your average quote value and your close rate. Now imagine closing one more in ten. For a business sending 20 quotes a month at $1,000, that’s $2,000 a month from work you’d already priced. For roofing, solar or remodelling, multiply accordingly.
The fix
- Track every quote with a status and a next step. A quote without a follow-up date is a quote you’ll forget.
- Use a four-touch sequence: a check-in on day 2, proof (photos, reviews) on day 5, availability on day 10, and a friendly close before the quote expires.
- Have replies ready for “it’s more than we expected” and “I need to talk to my partner”.
- Record why you lose. Lost reasons show whether you have a price, speed or trust problem.
Start here
- How to follow up on unsold estimates (scripts that win jobs)
- Automating estimates and quote reminders
- How to manage a roofing sales pipeline
- CRM for contractors
Tools that fit
Pipedrive is built for businesses that win work through quotes: every estimate on a visual board, reminders for each touch, and alerts when a quote goes quiet. Zoho CRM suits teams with several estimators who need the sequence to start automatically and reporting by person and lead source.
Common questions
How many times should I follow up on a quote?
Four touches over about three weeks works for most trades, then a slower monthly check-in rather than giving up.
Should I discount to win a quote?
Not in the first reply. Find out what the price is being compared with, then offer a different scope before a different price.
Text or email?
Both. Texts for short check-ins, email for photos, reviews and details.
What should I track?
Quotes sent, quotes won, average time to decision and lost reasons. Together they show exactly where to improve.
See every guide in this topic →
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never decides which tool we recommend. See how we test and recommend tools.