2020 has been a year. Most of us have been affected by COVID-19 in some way, or know someone who has had it. Even if you and your loved ones have stayed healthy, the precautions and restrictions have reached all of us.
That said, in the home renovation sector, 2020 has had at least one silver lining. There’s been an intense surge in interest in home remodeling, repair and renovation this year, thanks in large part to the pandemic. Of course, in the midst of these industry changes, there have been challenges, as well.
Here are four of the top ways that 2020 has changed home improvement and remodeling:
Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail.
First, demand is higher than it’s ever been. Your business likely knows this anecdotally already, but it’s true across the country according to a study from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
There are numerous reasons for this. First, people are spending more time in their homes. Those issues that were mere annoyances or “we’ll fix it eventually” items have turned into constant frustrations that they want fixed, now.
Second, COVID-19 has sent many workers home. They may need a home office, a homeschooling or virtual schooling nook, or a multifunctional space that they’ve never had a use for before. And some people are betting on the fact that they may never go back to the office, at least not full-time. They need a space in the home, and they need your help to get it.
Another of the 2020 industry changes to home improvement and remodeling is in the area of cleanliness. Customers have always appreciated contractors who cleaned up well when the job is done, but now it’s different. Some customers are looking for assurances that your workers are taking COVID precautions and that they aren’t coming into their homes while sick.
The shutdowns in the early part of 2020 created supply chain problems that rippled around the globe. While some supplies and materials have normalized, some remain hard to source, elevated in price, or both.
Just like in many other areas of life, home remodeling professionals are finding ways to limit in-person contact. Virtual visits and consultations are one way to reduces exposure for your employees and your customers.
Not only that, these innovations have another benefit. By greatly reducing your house calls, you’ll eliminate significant travel time. You’ll save time and mileage, and you’ll free up more time to get more done.
Another related strategy that’s becoming more and more common is using drone imagery for roofs. This can be a significant cost saver, and it gives you the ability to show the customer exactly what you see— no climbing required.
If you’re looking for help turning soft leads into scheduled appointments, Think Unlimited is here to help. We can supercharge your marketing efforts through segmented drip campaigns and targeted segmentation within your sales team. Reach out today to schedule a free demo!
Long Home Products chose to implement the Think Lead Optimizer (TLO) software to better match their sales associates with leads, increase close rates, ticket prices, and their ROI. The Think Lead Optimizer was launched in one market and Think Unlimited began a comparative report between the market with TLO enabled and without.
Only 4 weeks after implementing the Think Lead Optimizer by Think Unlimited, this client saw growth in every area targeted area. With Think’s proprietary AI lead score and assignment process, the higher quality scored leads led to an 8.6% growth in assignments compared week-over-week. With a higher assignment rate, the close rate grew by nearly 4% in the first month. The RPL value of each assigned lead added an additional $277 per lead & the actual gross sale per lead issued cost increased by over $491.
