I’m thinking about mailing cover letters describing my services to home owners in my area. I would enclose the letter in a envelope with my personal return address so it would look more formal and less of a sales solicitation. We have a lot of newer spec houses in the area that may need minor / major repairs that most contractors don’t want to do. I know the percentages of return calls will be small but my out of pocket cost would be reasonable. I’m thinking about sending the same letter to some Builders in my area. Has anyone done this? What were your results?
Thanks
Stephen P.
Replies
Send it to the Builders. The Home Owners will use you to just shop for ideas. They just spent a wad of money and are thinking "I can do that. It'll be fun. All I have to do is find out what 'that' is."
I am considering a similar plan. I think I will get a list of recent home sales in certain zip codes and do a mailing. But I would use a company return address rather than your personal one. If I were to receive a 'personal' letter from a stranger, then find that it's a business solicitation, I would wonder why he/she was trying a Trojan Horse.
I have done similar, and am considering it again on a larger(for me) scale.
I have a flyer I made up on my pc with 3 pics and bulleted points on what I do
....Kitchen and Baths
...Additions
....Door and Window installations
Etc...it's really the back of my business card, but broken up into catagories that match the pics. I have 3 pics.
And I have the company contact info in the middle. I'll leave these at the neighbors of the homes I'm working on. I went so far last time as to hit all the houses and streets that could possible see the big addition I was trimming out.
I left these last Feb. About a month ago, I got a call from a lady who's mother in law still had my flyer, and the young couple were looking to dress up their 2 yr old home. I have the start check and am starting about 3 weeks of work the first week in Jan.
I spent a grand total of $50 for everything.
My nest step.....is to note all the house numbers of the street I'll be working..and hand address/stamp enough flyers to mail to the whole neighborhood. The first tiem, I hand delivered them, leaving them at the newspaper boxes if I got no answer.
We'll see how this one goes. I also quoted my full price, then gave them a discount on the bid....as I told them up front that I fully expect them to be thrilled with the work..and when they are....they have to earn the discount by showing off the place and giving my name and number to any and all who ask.
I figured nice young couple, 2 nice young kids...nice new neighborhood.....both work one FT and one PT......and I'm guessing there's a day care and mommie and me group in there.......
Could be lotsa free advertising..and I learned way back in my sales days.....sales is a numbers game.....even passing you business card to 10 people each and every day would keep you working steady. This just narrows the prospects down.
I looked into direct marketing thru a company...but it was way too rich for my blood.....I'd rather try it myself...since 9 outta 10 get thrown away...I'd rather it me cheaper from the get go.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite