10/09/2026
The easiest way to land your next remodeling project might be sitting in your CRM right now.
And all it could take is one simple question.
Have you ever heard of the famous "nine-word email" made popular by Dean Jackson?
It goes something like this:
"Are you still interested in getting your project done?"
That's it.
No special offer.
No discount.
No long sales pitch.
Just a simple question that reopens a conversation.
Think about how many homeowners have contacted your contracting business over the last six months.
Some wanted a kitchen remodel.
Some asked about renovating their bathroom.
Others needed a patio, home addition, flooring, or a complete renovation.
You gave estimates.
You followed up once or twice.
Then... nothing.
They disappeared.
And like most contractors, you probably assumed they hired someone else.
But what if they didn't?
What if they were waiting until they had the money?
What if their spouse wasn't ready?
What if another expense came up?
What if they still want the project done, but nobody has followed up?
That's where the opportunity is.
Here's how I like to explain it.
Think of your prospect list like a fishing pond. 🎣
Every time you run advertising or generate a referral, you're putting another fish into your pond.
You catch a few.
You close some projects.
Others get away.
But the smart contractors keep adding fish.
Month after month.
Year after year.
Now, here's what most contractors do instead.
They run ads for a month.
Get 30 or 40 inquiries.
Close two or three jobs.
Then stop advertising because they think the leads weren't good enough.
A few weeks later, work slows down.
Suddenly they're scrambling.
Posting on Facebook.
Calling old customers.
Waiting for referrals.
Trying another advertising company.
They're fishing in a pond they stopped stocking.
Now imagine doing things differently.
Let's say your business generates 50 new inquiries every month.
That's 600 potential customers in 12 months.
Some will hire you immediately.
Some will hire someone else.
Some won't qualify.
But some are simply waiting for the right time.
And that's why your database becomes so valuable.
You can reach out to someone who requested a kitchen remodel estimate three months ago and ask:
"Hey John, are you still interested in remodeling your kitchen?"
That's not cold calling.
That's continuing a conversation THEY started.
And that little question could turn into a booked estimate.
Which could turn into a $15,000, $30,000, or even $75,000 project, depending on the work.
But here's the real lesson.
You don't build a predictable contracting business by constantly chasing new leads.
You build it by doing TWO things consistently:
1. Keep bringing new homeowners into your business.
2. Keep following up with the homeowners who haven't made a decision yet.
Because somebody who wasn't ready three months ago might be ready TODAY.
So here's my challenge.
Open your CRM.
Find 20 homeowners who previously requested an estimate but never booked or moved forward.
Send them a short message:
"Hey {{contact.first_name}}, are you still interested in getting your project done?"
See what happens.
And while you're doing that, keep filling your pond.
Because the contractors who stay busy aren't necessarily the ones getting the most leads.
They're the ones who consistently create opportunities and make sure those opportunities don't get forgotten.
P.S. How many estimates have you sent in the last 90 days that nobody has followed up on?
There might be a project waiting in that list right now.