Field notes
How to Follow Up on Electrical Estimates Without Nagging the Customer
The single highest-ROI activity in an electrical shop is following up on quotes that did not close in the first 48 hours. Industry data suggests 30 to 40 percent of electrical estimates never get followed up. That is the largest source of wasted pipeline in the trade.
Here is the follow-up cadence that closes more quotes without nagging the customer.
Why electrical quotes go dark
Three reasons. The customer is comparing quotes from two or three other shops and is waiting on the slowest one. The customer is waiting on a spouse, a budget cycle, or a renovation timeline. The customer forgot. All three are recoverable with the right follow-up.
The 7-14-30 cadence that closes electrical quotes
Day 0: Send the quote with a clear next step
The quote sends with a one-tap accept link, a price valid-through date (14 days is standard), and an explicit next-step sentence. "If you would like to move forward, click below and we will schedule the install for the week of [date]."
Day 2: Confirm receipt
A short text or email confirming the quote arrived and asking if the customer has any questions about the line items. This is not a sales push. This is a service touch.
"Hi [Customer], wanted to confirm the panel upgrade quote made it to your inbox on Tuesday. Any questions on the line items before you make a decision? Happy to walk through anything that is not clear."
Day 7: Soft check-in
One-week check-in. Acknowledge the customer is probably comparing quotes. Offer to clarify anything competitors are quoting differently.
"Hi [Customer], following up on the panel upgrade quote from last week. Often at this point folks are comparing line items across shops. If you are seeing something on another quote you want clarity on, send it over and I will explain what we are doing differently."
Day 14: Price-validity reminder
The price valid-through date is on the original quote. At day 14, send a courteous reminder that the price expires in 48 hours. This is not pressure — it is service. Customers appreciate the heads-up.
"Hi [Customer], the quote we sent for the panel upgrade expires Thursday. If you would like to lock in the original price, just reply with a "yes" and we will get the install on the calendar. If you need more time or changed your mind, that is fine too — just let me know."
Day 30: The graceful close
If the quote has not closed in 30 days, send one final message that takes the pressure off and keeps the door open.
"Hi [Customer], have not heard back, so it is probably not the right time for this project. That is fine — I will close out the quote on my end. If anything changes or you want to revisit, just reply to this thread."
What never to do
Do not call without texting first. Most homeowners screen calls. A text gets read. A call to a number you have only used once gets ignored.
Do not invent urgency. "Material prices are going up next week" was true in 2022. It is not true on most days. Customers smell manufactured urgency and stop trusting you.
Do not stop at one follow-up. A single check-in feels like the shop did the minimum. A clean 3-touch cadence over two weeks feels like attentive service.
How FieldCommand handles quote follow-up
FieldCommand runs the 7-14-30 cadence automatically. The quote sends, the follow-up sequence starts, and each message stops automatically if the customer replies or accepts. The owner sees the open quote pipeline on the dashboard and knows which quotes are at day 7, day 14, and day 30 without doing any of the follow-up by hand.