Builder Bright Ideas: Two (Inexpensive) Ways to Show Customers You Care
The personal touch goes a long way with home buyers even after they’ve moved in. Try these subtle marketing strategies to demonstrate that you care — and to net a few more referrals:
- Send monthly postcards to past customers reminding them that certain home maintenance activities need to be done. Preprint the cards, leaving space for personal messages such as, “How are the kids?” or “How was your vacation?” This is an inexpensive way to keep your name in front of your best referral — a happy past customer.
- After a major rainstorm, call your customers to check if their basements have leaked. If a customer’s basement did leak, you’ll wind up hearing from the customer and fixing the basement anyway. If it’s dry, you are a hero for checking. Either way, it’s a win-win situation.
You’ll find hundreds of terrific tips on accounting, personnel, customer service, sales and marketing, management, trades, production and design in "More! Management Ideas That Work" from NAHB’s Business Management Department. The book costs $25 for NAHB members and $31.25 for non-members. Call 800-223-2665 or select this link to order it online.
The NAHB University of Housing Offers Courses and Designation Programs
The NAHB University of Housing offers a variety of business management and customer service courses and professional designation programs that set builders and remodelers apart from the competition. For a complete list of current offerings, click here.