How to Chase a Quote Without Being Pushy (UK Guide)

Tell them when you'll chase, before they even ask

The best time to arrange your chase is at the end of the site visit, not two weeks later when you're trying to guess whether they've gone cold on the job.

Say it out loud there and then: I'll get the quote to you by Thursday, then I'll give you a ring the following Monday to see how you're getting on. That one line changes the whole call later, because when you do ring, you're doing exactly what you said you'd do, not hassling anyone for an answer.

It also helps to remember what you're actually chasing. Once you've given a fixed price and they've accepted it, that price is locked in and you can't move it unless they ask for extra work, as Citizens Advice sets out. So when you ring, you're not trying to talk anyone into anything, you're only asking if the price you already agreed still works for them.

If you didn't say this at the site visit, it's not too late to fix it now. Send a message today that simply states your plan, something like: I'll follow up on this Friday, no need to reply before then. It resets the tone from chasing to arranging.

Why a big rewire or solar quote goes quiet

If you've quoted a five bed rewire or a big solar and battery job, the silence on the other end is rarely personal.

Which? Trusted Traders tells homeowners to get quotes from at least three builders before deciding, whatever the size of the job Which? Trusted Traders. The Federation of Master Builders warns against asking for more than three or four quotes at once, because a proper detailed quote takes real time to prepare, and makes clear that an estimate is just an educated guess while a quote sets out the job in detail as an agreed price the FMB explains.

So when a customer on a big job goes quiet, they're often juggling two other detailed quotes for the same rewire or solar install, not ignoring yours. On your first chase, just ask outright whether they've had a chance to look at other quotes yet. Most people will tell you straight, and it saves you both the guessing game.

This matters for solar and battery jobs especially, because the time homeowners ask around for quotes tends to cluster whenever energy bills are in the news, so your chase needs to stand out for being useful, not just persistent.

Make sure your quote leaves nothing to query

Half the awkward chase calls happen because the quote left a gap the customer is quietly worried about.

A proper written quote should set out the cost of materials, scaffolding, waste disposal and making good, and any offer of a cash in hand or VAT free price should ring alarm bells for the customer, so never make one Which? Trusted Traders warns.

Take five minutes before you send the next one: check your template covers scaffolding, waste disposal and making good by name, not just a single total figure. If one of those is missing, the customer has to ask, and that is often the real reason a reply never comes back.

A quote that's watertight on paper also gives you a better reason to chase. You can ask if everything in the breakdown still makes sense to them, rather than just asking if they've decided.

What to say when you follow up

A chase with no reason sounds like checking in. A chase with a reason sounds like you're doing your job properly.

• On the spec: just checking the battery size and panel count still work for you now energy prices have moved.
• On timing: wondering if you've still got the same start date in mind for the rewire.
• On other quotes: no worries if you're still weighing up other quotes, just let me know where you've got to and I'll leave you to it.

Pick one reason, not three, and keep the message short. You're giving them an easy way to reply, not asking them to justify themselves or explain why they've gone quiet.

If they don't reply to one script, don't send all three in one go. Wait for your next scheduled chase and try a different angle then.

How often to chase, and when it tips into pushy

Daily contact feels pushy. A call every few days, spaced out across the week, feels like you actually care about the job.

A sensible pattern is one call or text three to four days after sending the quote, a second around a week later, and a final one about two weeks after that. If there's still no answer after that final chase, stop calling and move on to the next job.

That is not rude, it's business: a homeowner comparing detailed quotes for a big rewire is doing what makes sense when they're spending this kind of money, and your job is to make it easy for them to say yes, not to wear them down.

If a customer ever asks you to stop calling, stop straight away. Say thanks for letting me know, and leave the door open for them to come back to you later.

Know when to walk away

If you've followed the schedule above and heard nothing, the honest answer is they've gone with someone else, or the job has stalled for reasons that have nothing to do with you.

A short final message is enough: just checking if the rewire's still going ahead, no bother either way, here if you need me. That closes the loop without chasing any further.

Walking away from a quote that's gone cold isn't giving up, it's making room for the next one on your list.

None of this is rude. A homeowner comparing several detailed quotes for a job this size is doing what's sensible when they're spending real money, and a short, well timed chase is simply part of that.

Chasing a quote well is mostly about timing and manners: tell them when you'll call, give the chase a reason, space it out across the week, and know when to stop and move to the next job on your list. Get those four right and you'll never sound pushy again, whatever the job's worth.