If you are working out how to follow up on a quote that has been quiet for about six weeks, the answer is one more message. Send a short, kind note that asks a real question, mention anything that has changed, and then stop if you hear nothing. Here are which quotes to revisit and the words to use.
This page is the practical second look. If you want to understand why quotes go quiet in the first place, read why quotes go quiet. For the first two or three follow-ups straight after sending a quote, see follow-up email after a quote.
Why a late message works
There is no recovery rate on this page, because there is no study worth standing behind. Here is the reasoning instead, and you can test it on your own quotes.
Six weeks later, things have often moved. A homeowner who went quiet may have been waiting on finance, a partner, a council approval, or a busy work period. Your quote is probably still in their email. A short note from you arrives at a time when they may be ready, and you are the one who made it easy.
It also costs you very little. One message takes a minute, compared with the hours it took to price the job.
Which old quotes to revisit
Not all of them. Go through your sent quotes from the last two to three months and pick these:
- Jobs you wanted. Good fit, good site, a client you liked.
- Quotes with a reason to wait. The homeowner mentioned finance, a sale, approvals, or “after the holidays”.
- Quotes you never got a no on. A clear “we went with someone else” is an answer. Silence is not.
- Bigger jobs. These take longer to decide, so a six-week gap is normal.
Skip the ones where they said no, where you had a bad feeling about the client, or where the job was outside your area. If you kept scores on your enquiries, start with the highest. See a simple lead score for tradies.
How to follow up on a quote after six weeks: what to say
Three short examples. Pick the one closest to the situation, and change the details.
When you do not know why it went quiet
Hi [first name], it’s [your name] from [your business]. I quoted your bathroom renovation in early October. No pressure at all. Is it still on your list, or has the timing changed? If you want me to update the price or the start date, I can do that.
When they mentioned a reason to wait
Hi [first name], [your name] from [your business]. You mentioned waiting on your loan approval before the extension. How did that go? I have a start window open in the new year if the timing suits.
When your own situation has changed
Hi [first name], [your name] from [your business]. My quote for your kitchen was valid for 30 days, so it has lapsed. Materials prices have moved, so I would need to re-check it. Do you still want to go ahead? If so I can have a fresh number to you this week.
Each of these names the job, asks one question, and gives an easy way out. None says “just following up”. None blames the homeowner for being slow.
What changed since the quote
The strongest second look gives them a reason to reply that has nothing to do with you wanting the work. Look for real changes, and only mention true ones.
- Your calendar. A start date opened up, or you are about to be booked solid.
- Your quote. It has expired, or a supplier price has changed.
- Their job. Council or finance may have moved. Ask, do not assume.
- Season. Some work is easier to book before summer or before wet weather. Say so only if it is true for your trade.
Never invent a deadline. “Prices go up next week” when they do not is a quick way to lose trust.
Text or email
If the original quote went by email and they never replied, try a text. A different channel can get past a full inbox. Keep it as short as the first example above. If you do email, put the job in the subject, such as “Your bathroom quote, still keen?”.
In Australia, commercial texts and emails fall under the Spam Act 2003. Read the Spam Act on the Federal Register of Legislation and check your situation. Replying to a person who asked you for a quote is a different thing to bulk messages to a list, but the rules are worth reading once. This is not legal advice.
When to stop
One second-look message is enough for most quotes. If you hear nothing, send one more two or three weeks later at most, then close the file.
Hi [first name], I will close off your quote now so I am not chasing you. If things change, reply to this and I will pick it up straight away.
A line like that leaves the door open and often gets the reply the earlier ones did not. If the answer is no, thank them. Ask, if it feels right, whether the price or the timing was the reason. You will learn something.
Keep a note for next time
Record what you sent, when, and what came back. After ten or twenty second looks, you will see which wording and which kinds of job get answers. That beats any template, including the ones above.
Also note why quotes went quiet. If many of them did so for the same reason, such as price or slow replies, fix that earlier. For quotes you send, PreBuild’s quote follow-up service exists, but the method above works with a notebook and a phone.
Common questions
How long should I wait before following up on a quote again?
There is no proven number. About six weeks is a sensible time for a second look at a bigger job, after your earlier follow-ups.
Is it pushy to message someone after six weeks?
Not if the message is short, asks a real question and makes it easy to say no.
Should I drop my price in the second message?
Not by default. Ask what changed first. If price was the reason, you will usually hear it.
How many follow-ups is too many?
For one quote, a few early follow-ups, one second look, and one closing message is plenty.