Most roofers think they have a follow-up strategy.
But if you ask their prospects? It usually sounds more like:
👉 one quote email
👉 one call
👉…then radio silence.
The truth is, most roofing deals aren’t won on the first quote. They’re won in the follow-up.
That’s why we asked real roofing contractors a simple question on Facebook:
“What are your favorite roofing sales follow-up strategies? Anything unique that’s worked recently?”
The answers were gold, some smart, some funny, all worth considering.
In this post, we’ll break down some of the best ideas they shared (with examples you can steal), plus a few extra tips to help you turn more estimates into booked jobs.
1. Personal Touch Follow-Ups
One of the most effective ways to follow up? Make it personal and relevant.
Andy Near of Empire Contractors shared a great example in the Facebook thread. Here’s the message he sent to a prospect:
“Hi [Name], I just wanted to let you know I’m working next door all week doing their job. If you had any questions about the proposal on your roof while I’m up here, I’d be happy to stop over.”
Simple. Non-pushy. Timely.
Why does this work?
- It makes the follow-up feel natural (you’re already nearby).
- It reminds the homeowner they have an open proposal with you.
- It lowers the pressure — they can ask questions without committing on the spot.
Pro Tip:
You can turn this into a repeatable text or email template for your sales team. Every time you’re working near a prospect’s home, send a quick message like Andy’s.
Bonus: Mentioning other jobs you’re working on nearby also builds social proof — “Hey, your neighbors trusted us!” That subtle cue can help nudge a hesitant prospect toward yes.
2. Multi-Channel Touches Still Win
Sometimes the basics are still the best.
Marcus Ray kept it simple in the Facebook thread:
And he’s right — it’s not revolutionary. But it works, if you actually do it consistently.
Too many roofers stop after one email or one call. The reality is:
- Some people check email once a day.
- Some respond faster to text.
- Some need to hear your voice to trust you enough to move forward.
A simple multi-channel follow-up cadence might look like this:
- Day 1: Send proposal via email + quick follow-up text (“Just sent the proposal — happy to answer any questions.”)
- Day 3: Call and leave a voicemail if no answer
- Day 5: Follow-up text referencing your voicemail
- Day 8: Short email with a “checking in” tone
- Day 12: Final text or call offering to answer any lingering questions
Timing tip:
Avoid following up on Friday afternoons or weekends — many homeowners will mentally punt the decision to next week, and your message may get buried.
Best windows for follow-up contact:
- Weekday mornings (8:30–10:30 am)
- Early afternoon (1:00–3:00 pm)
Why this works:
Multi-channel touches meet the prospect where they are — and show persistence without being annoying. Most homeowners appreciate a little follow-up, especially if they were genuinely interested.
3. Humor & Personality in Follow-Ups
Sometimes the best way to break through the noise is with a little personality.
Ciro Adrian Barrientos shared this tip:
It sounds simple, but here’s why it works:
- It humanizes your brand — you’re not just another sales email.
- It disarms the prospect — humor lowers resistance.
- It invites a response — even if it’s just a laugh or emoji, now they’re re-engaged.
Examples of tasteful humor for roofing follow-ups:
- “Still thinking it over? We’ll be here when you’re ready.” → attached funny waiting GIF
- “No pressure, just checking in. Here’s what your roof won’t look like if you choose us.” → playful “roof fail” GIF
- “Hope you’re having a great week. if you have any questions about the quote, I’m just a text away.” → friendly waving GIF
A few quick rules:
✅ Keep it light, not snarky
✅ Avoid humor that could feel sarcastic about their decision-making
✅ Use GIFs as a conversation opener, not a replacement for clear next steps
When used right, a little humor makes your follow-up feel less transactional and more human, which often gets the response you’re hoping for.
4. Creating Feedback Loops
The sale doesn’t end when the job is complete.
In fact, your best marketing can begin after installation.
Christopher Scoville shared this smart process:
Let’s break that down:
Survey on Install
After the final walk-through or inspection, send a quick survey.
Keep it short, 3 to 5 questions max.
Example questions:
- On a scale of 1–10, how satisfied are you with your new roof?
- Was our crew professional and courteous?
- Did we meet your expectations on timeline and communication?
- Is there anything we could have done better?
Use Feedback for Improvement & Review Requests
- Positive feedback? → Ask for a Google review while the good feelings are fresh.
Example script:
“Thanks so much for your feedback — would you mind leaving a quick review here? It really helps local homeowners find us.” - Negative or neutral feedback? → Respond quickly and resolve any issues before asking for a review.
Nurture for Referrals & Long-Term Relationships
- Add happy customers to a referral nurture sequence, light-touch emails a few times a year.
- Seasonal maintenance tips
- Warranty reminders
- Referral offers (ex: “$100 gift card for any referral who books with us”)
- Use customer satisfaction data to identify promoters, the clients most likely to refer you.
Why this works:
- It shows you care about quality, not just the sale.
- It captures reviews when clients are most engaged.
- It builds long-term loyalty → which leads to more word-of-mouth leads.
5. Building Human Connection
In a world full of automation and canned emails, sometimes the simplest touch makes the biggest difference: a personal phone call.
Brian Huf shared this reminder in the Facebook thread:
There’s a lot of wisdom here.
Why voice connection matters:
- Tone, warmth, humor — all of these build trust faster than text.
- It gives the customer space to ask questions and feel heard.
- It humanizes your business — which matters in a high-trust purchase like a roof.
How to do it well:
- Call with a simple purpose: “I just wanted to check in, see if you had any questions about the proposal.”
- Be relaxed, not salesy. Smile while you talk, it comes through.
- Don’t be afraid to drop in a light joke or friendly comment (as Brian suggests) to break the ice. A little laughter can lower the customer’s guard.
Pro Tip: Even if you’re using ProLine (or any CRM) to automate some follow-up touches, mix in live calls for key leads, especially higher-ticket jobs or clients who seemed engaged early on.
At the end of the day, people buy from people. The more human your follow-up feels, the better your close rates will be.
6. Know When to Walk Away
Not every deal is worth chasing endlessly.
And sometimes, walking away is exactly what brings the client back.
Marquis D Mitchel Sr. put it bluntly in the thread:
There’s some real psychology here.
When prospects feel like a salesperson is always chasing them, they tend to pull back.
But when you signal — calmly and professionally — that you’re moving on, it flips the dynamic:
Scarcity triggers urgency.
Suddenly, the prospect has to decide — before the opportunity disappears.
How to do it well:
- After a respectful series of follow-ups (4–5 touches), send a final message:
“I understand if now’s not the right time. We’ll plan to close out your file this week unless you’d like to move forward — no pressure either way.” - Be polite, not pushy. The goal is to create closure while keeping the door open.
- Often, this type of message triggers one of two outcomes:
1️⃣ A quick “we’re ready to move forward” response
2️⃣ A clear no — which saves your team time and energy
When not to use this:
- If the customer has expressed a need for more time and is still engaging with you → stay patient.
- If they’ve had recent life events or delays — compassion beats scarcity in those moments.
Why this works:
Walking away — when done with professionalism — re-positions you as a confident, in-demand contractor.
That energy often draws clients back to the table.
Your Follow-Up Strategy = Your Close Rate
At the end of the day, your follow-up game is your close rate.
It’s not about having the fanciest CRM or the slickest email template.
The common thread running through every great follow-up strategy we saw?
👉 Human connection.
- A personal message when you’re working next door
- A well-timed phone call
- A GIF that makes someone smile
- An honest close-out message that sparks urgency
- A simple system for staying in touch after the job
These little touches add up. They help you stand out in a sea of “one and done” quotes.
Your challenge:
Test at least 1 or 2 of these ideas this week.
See what happens.
And remember — roofing is still a relationship business. The more human your follow-up feels, the more roofs you’ll install.
