Storm season lead surge playbook
Storm season is when roofing companies either capture huge volume or get buried under it. Most lose leads not because they're slow — but because their competitors respond faster. A hailstorm generates 50+ quote requests in 48 hours. Without automation, you're manually texting leads while your phone rings.
Set up a surge-mode workflow before storm season starts. When a new lead comes in tagged as "storm" or "insurance," the Lead Bee fires immediately with a storm-specific message: "Hey [Name], got your roofing inquiry — we're in the area and can get out for a storm inspection this week. What's your address?"
The key difference from a standard lead bee: storm leads need same-day response, not same-hour. Set your first follow-up to 30 minutes if no reply, then 2 hours, then next morning. Volume is too high to leave gaps.
Create a separate pipeline stage called "Storm Lead" so you can track storm-season conversion separately from normal business. You'll want to know your storm close rate to plan next season's capacity.
Long-cycle estimate follow-through (14–30 days)
Roofing estimates don't close in 3 days — they close in 3 weeks. A homeowner gets a $18,000 quote and they're going to think about it, talk to their spouse, check their insurance, get 2 other quotes. Your follow-up sequence needs to match this timeline.
Build a 5-touch sequence spanning 30 days:
- Day 1Confirm you received their request and set timeline expectations — "inspections are typically 3–5 business days"
- Day 3Estimate delivered — follow up to confirm they received it and answer questions
- Day 10Value add — send a "what to look for in a roofing contractor" guide. Position yourself as the expert.
- Day 21Soft check-in — "still thinking things over? Happy to answer any questions."
- Day 30Final ask — close the loop, make it easy for them to say yes or no
In your Day 10 message, include a link to your Google review page or a before/after photo from a recent job in their neighborhood. Social proof at this stage closes more deals than any discount.
Insurance claim workflow integration
Insurance jobs are a different beast. The homeowner isn't paying out of pocket — they're waiting on their adjuster. Your follow-up sequence can't push too hard (they literally can't say yes yet) but can't go quiet either. You need a parallel track.
Create a separate "Insurance Claim" pipeline stage with its own automation. When a lead is tagged as insurance-related, the sequence changes:
- →Day 1: Confirm inspection scheduled, explain the claims process in plain language
- →Day 5: Check in on their adjuster appointment — offer to be present when adjuster visits
- →Day 14: Follow up on claim status — "any news from your insurance company?"
- →Claim approved: Immediate outreach with scheduling options and materials selection
The trick is that "being present at the adjuster visit" is the highest-converting offer in insurance roofing. Your bee can send this offer automatically on Day 5 — most companies forget to mention it at all.
Neighborhood referral bee setup
When you put a new roof on a house, every neighbor driving by sees your yard sign. That passive exposure is valuable — but most roofing companies don't actively convert it. The Neighborhood Referral Bee does.
2 weeks after a job is marked complete, the bee sends a message to the homeowner: "Hey [Name], thanks again for trusting us with your roof. If any neighbors ask who did the work, feel free to pass along my number — I'll make sure they're taken care of. And if you ever need anything, you have it."
Add a neighborhood canvass trigger: In the same automation, set a task for your team to door-knock the 5 houses on either side of each completed job. Text the homeowner first so they can give you a warm intro if their neighbor asks. Pair the human touch with the automation.
Offer a small referral incentive — a $50 gift card for any neighbor who books. Mention it in the message. It doesn't cost much and makes the ask feel natural rather than awkward.
Repeat & seasonal upsell sequences
A roofing job doesn't repeat — but gutters, soffit, fascia, siding, and exterior painting often come after a roof. If you offer any of these, the same homeowner who trusted you with their roof is your warmest possible prospect.
Set up a 12-month upsell sequence that triggers from job completion:
- 3 moGutter cleaning check-in — "with your new roof, clean gutters are more important than ever"
- 6 moSeasonal exterior inspection offer — free or discounted for existing customers
- 12 mo1-year anniversary check-in — "it's been a year since your roof. Everything looking good?"
Most homeowners who've had a good roofing experience will buy add-on exterior work from the same contractor — if you stay in front of them. This sequence keeps you there without any manual effort.
The 12-month anniversary message has the highest open rate of any follow-up in this sequence. Homeowners are touched that you remembered. It also lands right before many people start planning exterior projects for the coming year.