Let’s face it: human beings are curious creatures—especially when something is going on in their neighborhood. And while curiosity may have killed the cat, it can work to your advantage if you’re a remodeler.
When a house goes up for sale in a neighborhood, half of the flyers describing the house get snapped up by neighbors who want to know what the property is selling for (and what the inside of the house looks like, if they’ve never been in it). That same kind of curiosity comes into play when someone starts a remodeling or renovation project. People want to know what their neighbors are doing to their home. Some may just be nosy, but a significant number of neighbors may be considering what they can do to update their house. They’re shopping for ideas. How can you capitalize on this curiosity?
One way is to have a sign in the front yard and have some flyers that show similar work you’ve done in the past. Another thing to consider is putting out a poster with a QR Code (Quick Response Code) printed on it. Neighbors with smart phones can scan the QR code and be taken to a landing page on your website where they can request information about what you can do for them.
There’s a third option that may seem more “old school” to you—but it can be highly effective. You can do what’s called a radius mailing. That means you pick a radius of several blocks surrounding the property where you’re working. You then create a card (maybe a 5 ½ x 8 ½ card) with a high quality picture of the house where you’re working. Make sure you include the address of the house in your headline: “We’re Doing Some Innovative Remodeling in Your Neighborhood at 1234 Fifth Street!” Describe briefly what you’re doing—and provide a link to a landing page on your website where neighbors can see examples of your work, and request information.
People are curious about what’s going on in their neighborhood—and they like knowing that there is someone close by they can check with about using your services. Take advantage of their curiosity and their proximity to get acquainted with them. And don’t neglect the “old school” approach in reaching out to them. It’s one more “arrow” in your marketing “quiver.”
