The 7-Touch Follow-Up That Turns Estimates Into Signed Jobs
2 min read
Most restoration and service estimates die in the follow-up gap. Here's the 7-touch cadence that doubles close rate — with templates.
Data from thousands of restoration bids tells the same story: the first contractor to follow up 7+ times wins the job 60% of the time. Most contractors give up after 1 or 2 touches.
The 7-touch cadence
| Day | Channel | Message |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | In-person | Hand-deliver the estimate + proof sheet |
| 0 | "Here's your written estimate + FAQ" | |
| 1 | SMS | "Any questions on your estimate?" |
| 3 | Phone | Live call, 90 seconds |
| 5 | Case study of a similar job | |
| 10 | SMS | "Slot opens next Tuesday — want it?" |
| 21 | "Estimate expires Friday — lock pricing" |
The scripts that work
Day 1 SMS: "Hi {name}, this is {rep} at {company}. I dropped off your estimate yesterday — happy to answer anything before you decide. Text me back anytime."
Day 10 scarcity SMS: "Hey {name} — we had a Tuesday slot open up on my schedule for the {service} work. Want me to hold it for you?"
Why this works
- 7+ touches breaks past the "I'll get back to you" freeze.
- Multi-channel catches customers who ignore one medium.
- Scarcity anchored to real scheduling feels honest, not pushy.
Automate this in your CRM. If you're doing it manually, you'll stop after two.