How to follow up on an estimate

A schedule that fits a work week

You don’t need a follow-up every day. Three notes, spaced out, cover most estimates. Change the gaps if the job is a remodel that needs a month, or a repair they asked to start this week.

1. 1. Same day

   Optional. Use it only to confirm the estimate arrived, or to recap what you walked through on site. Skip it if you already talked it through and they have the paper.

   See templates

2. 2. 2 days

   The first real check-in. Ask if they got it and if any line is unclear. This is the first step on QuoteLasso’s default schedule.

   See templates

3. 3. 5 days

   The second reminder. Assume they are busy, not rude. Ask if they’ve had a chance to look, or if the timing of the work is the holdup.

   See templates

4. 4. 10 days

   This is the last email on the default schedule. Ask if you should keep the estimate open, and say you’ll close it if you don’t hear back. There isn’t a fourth follow-up after this.

   See templates

5. 5. Then stop

   After that day-10 note, wait. A reply, a phone call, or an unsubscribe ends it sooner. More emails about the same price don’t make the decision easier.

   See templates

What to say

• Name the job and the amount so they know which estimate you mean.
• Ask one question. “Any questions on the scope?” is enough.
• Sign with your name and the business name. A no-name email looks like a blast.
• Give them an easy no. “If the timing is off, tell me and I’ll close it” gets more replies than a fake deadline.
• Don’t add a discount, a new scope, or an expiration date unless you mean it and you’re ready to honor it.

When to stop

• They reply, by email, phone, or in person. Answer that. Don’t send the next scheduled note on top of it.
• They use the unsubscribe link, or they ask you to stop. Stop.
• They say they hired someone else, or the job is off. One polite close is plenty.
• You already sent the final note. Wait. If they come back in the spring, start a new conversation.

In QuoteLasso, an email reply is forwarded to you and the remaining follow-ups stop. If they called or told you on site, mark the estimate replied and the same thing happens.

Email or text

Email is the better default. It holds the amount, the scope, and a link to opt out. QuoteLasso follow-ups are email for that reason.

Text when you already text that customer, and keep it to a couple of lines plus a way to opt out. Don’t text a list of people who only asked for an email estimate. Samples and the wording to include are on the text template page.

Same schedule, different jobs

The timing stays. The sentence changes with the work.

• Roofing follow-ups
• Painting follow-ups
• Remodeling follow-ups
• Landscaping follow-ups

How QuoteLasso helps

• Add the customer, email, amount, and job. You can type it in, forward the estimate, or import a spreadsheet.
• The default schedule is 2, 5, and 10 days. Day 10 is the last email. You see the dates before you save, and you can change them.
• The first check-in, the second reminder, and the final follow-up each have their own wording. The customer sees your business name and the address followups@quotelasso.com.
• During the 14-day Starter trial, due follow-ups send on their own. Turn that off in Settings and nothing goes out until you press Send.
• After the trial, the Free plan stays manual. Starter ($79/month) and Pro ($149/month) turn automatic sending back on.
• When a customer replies, the rest of the follow-ups stop. Every email has a link to unsubscribe.