How to chase a quote without being pushy

Most trades send a quote and then wait, and when they hear nothing they assume it's a no. Often it isn't. The customer got busy, the email slipped down their inbox, or they're still deciding. A short, polite nudge a few days later wins jobs that silence would lose. The thing is, almost nobody does it, which means following up is one of the easiest edges you have. Here is how to chase a quote without sounding desperate or pushy.

Why following up wins jobs

A customer asking for a quote is interested by definition. Yet a quote with no follow-up relies entirely on them coming back to you on their own, at exactly the moment they're ready, having not been distracted by the next thing in their day. That's a lot to leave to chance. A single well-timed nudge keeps you front of mind while they're still deciding, and it's the difference between a job won and a job that quietly drifts to whoever did chase.

When to chase

Timing matters. Too soon and you look impatient; too late and they've already booked someone else. A few days after sending is the sweet spot: long enough to give them space, soon enough that the job is still live in their mind. If you hear nothing after that, one more gentle nudge a bit later is fine. Beyond two follow-ups, you're into pestering, and a quiet customer is usually a no, which is fine. Move on.

• First follow-up: a few days after sending, while the job is still fresh.
• Second follow-up: a bit later if you've still heard nothing, kept light and brief.
• Stop after two: beyond that you're pushing, and a clear no is better for both of you.

What to actually say

The tone is helpful, not needy. You're checking they got it and offering to answer questions, not begging for the work. Keep it short, friendly and easy to reply to.

• Check they received it: inboxes eat messages, and "just making sure this reached you" is a fair reason to get in touch.
• Offer to help, not to sell: ask if they have any questions or want anything adjusted.
• Make replying easy: a simple yes, no or "still thinking" is all you're after.
• Leave the door open: if it's not the right time, say you're happy to pick it up whenever suits.

Make it easy to say yes

Following up works far better when accepting is effortless. If your quote is a link the customer can open and accept in a couple of taps, a nudge that reminds them it's sitting there often closes it on the spot. A quote stuck in a printed envelope or a PDF they meant to print needs more from them, and more steps means more chances to drift. The quicker it is to say yes, the more your follow-up pays off.

Let it happen automatically

The honest reason most trades don't follow up isn't rudeness, it's that they're on a job and the reminder never comes. The fix is to not rely on remembering. KeenQuote sends an automatic follow-up around 72 hours after a quote goes out if the customer hasn't responded, in a polite tone that keeps you front of mind without you lifting a finger. You get the edge of chasing without having to stop work to do it.

For getting the quote itself right so it's easy to accept in the first place, see what every professional quote should include. And if a customer is hesitating between a firm price and a rough one, our guide on quote vs estimate explains which to send and when.