Exact words for the roof estimate follow-up that does not sound like chasing
A five-touch follow-up sequence for roofing estimates, with exact texts, a voicemail script and an email, for homeowners comparing three bids this fall.
You walked the roof, measured, took photos, sat at the kitchen table and left a number. Then nothing. No yes, no no, and you are not sure whether a follow-up will help or just make you look desperate.
Most roofing estimates are not lost to a lower price. They are lost to silence. The homeowner got three bids, felt overwhelmed, and picked whoever made the next step easiest. Here is the sequence and the exact words.
Why a sequence and not one call
A roof is a large, rare purchase. Most homeowners buy one or two in their lives. They are slow, they talk to a spouse, they wait for the insurance adjuster, they look you up on Google again. A single follow-up call lands in one of those pauses and goes nowhere.
A short, spaced sequence keeps you present without pressure. Five touches over about three weeks. Each one gives them something useful, not just "checking in."
Touch one: same day, text
Send this within two hours of leaving the house, while you are still fresh in their mind.
"Hi Linda, this is Mike from Ridgeline Roofing. Thanks for having me out today. Your estimate is attached, and I added the four photos from the north slope so you can see the soft decking I mentioned. Any questions at all, text me here."
Why it works: the photos are proof, not pitch. Homeowners forward them to spouses and in-laws. Your name travels with them.
Touch two: day three, text
"Hi Linda, Mike from Ridgeline. One thing I forgot to mention: the shingle line on your estimate comes in three colors that match your siding well. Happy to drop off samples this week if that helps you decide."
Why it works: it moves the decision from "whether" to "which." Samples are also a reason to stand in the driveway again.
Touch three: day seven, voicemail if they do not pick up
Call once. If it goes to voicemail, leave this. Keep it under 25 seconds.
"Hi Linda, it is Mike from Ridgeline Roofing, following up on the estimate for your roof on Maple. No pressure on timing. I just want to make sure you have everything you need to compare bids. If it helps, I am glad to go line by line on the phone so you can line it up against the others. My cell is the number this came from."
Why it works: offering to help them compare is the opposite of what a pushy roofer does. It also tells them you are not afraid of the comparison.
Touch four: day twelve, email
Subject: Your roof estimate, and how to compare bids
"Hi Linda,
When you have three roofing bids in front of you, these are the four lines worth checking:
- Is tear-off included, or is it an overlay?
- Which underlayment and how much ice and water shield?
- Is decking replacement priced per sheet, and how many sheets are assumed?
- What is the workmanship warranty, in writing, and for how long?
Our answers are on page two of your estimate. If any of the bids leave one of these out, it is worth asking before you sign.
Mike Ridgeline Roofing"
Why it works: it is genuinely useful, and it quietly sets the terms of the comparison in your favor if your estimate is the thorough one. The pricing and quoting guide covers how to build an estimate that wins this comparison.
Touch five: day twenty, the close-the-loop text
"Hi Linda, Mike from Ridgeline. I do not want to keep bothering you. Should I keep your estimate open, or did you go another direction? Either answer is fine, and a quick reply helps me plan our November schedule."
Why it works: people answer a yes-or-no question. You will hear back from a lot of the silent ones, and some will say "we are still deciding, can you hold the price." That is a live deal again.
What not to say
A few phrases that cost roofers jobs:
- "Just checking in." It asks them to do the work of remembering why you called.
- "This price is only good until Friday." Unless a supplier increase is real and you can show it, homeowners see through it.
- "Did you get a chance to look at it?" Of course they looked. Ask something they can answer.
Make it automatic
Nobody keeps this up by memory in October with four crews running. Load the five messages into your CRM or even a phone reminder list, triggered by the date you send the estimate. If a homeowner calls back while you are on a roof, the missed calls guide covers instant text-back so the warm lead does not go cold.
The review connection
The homeowner who hires you after this sequence has already seen you be patient and clear. They tend to say so in a review. The median roofing company on Google has 13 reviews, and only 14.1% have passed 100. A review that says "he answered every question and never pushed" is worth more on your profile than a discount on your estimate. The reviews guide has the tear-off day ask that turns those jobs into reviews.
Want the follow-up set up and run for you before you pay anything? Try any service free for 14 days, no card, text or call (385) 475-4642.
Steven has spent the last several years running growth campaigns for local service businesses, roofing companies among them, and builds the benchmark datasets on this site from public Google listings. About the editor