Guide

How to follow up without being pushy

Almost every tradesman we talk to has the same leak in their business. Quotes go out, nothing comes back, and nobody follows up because it feels like begging. It is not. Customers get busy and forget, and a nudge is often welcome.

A simple routine

You do not need anything complicated. This covers most jobs.

  • Day of the visit, send the quote
  • Three or four days later, a short check in
  • About two weeks later, one last message
  • Then leave it, and add them to a list for later

What to actually say

Keep it short and human. "Hi Mary, just checking you got the quote for the bathroom, happy to talk through anything on it."

No pressure, no discounts, no urgency you do not mean. Asking whether they have any questions gets a far better response than asking for a decision.

Use the channel they used

If they messaged you on WhatsApp, follow up there. If they rang, ring. Making people switch to email loses replies.

Keep track of it somewhere

This all falls apart when it lives in your head. A list, a spreadsheet or a proper system, it does not matter, as long as you can see who is waiting on what.

Our CRM does this for clients who want it, with reminders so nothing sits for three weeks unnoticed. It is not for everyone and we will tell you if you do not need it.

Learn from the no

When someone goes elsewhere, ask why, once, politely. The answers are usually useful and occasionally they come back because you were the only one who bothered asking.

Common questions

How many times should I follow up on a quote?

Two or three times over a couple of weeks is plenty. Beyond that you are annoying people rather than persuading them.

Is text or email better for following up?

Use whatever they contacted you on. Text and WhatsApp generally get faster replies from homeowners.

Where to go next

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