3 Home Improvement Business Strategies to Try This Fall 

The start of fall represents a transition for many homeowners and their home improvement project demands given the changes in weather. These changes in home improvement project demand can leave more time and space to focus on improving other aspects of your home improvement business. You may be presented with the opportunity to slow down, reflect on your strengths, and identify areas for growth. As the weather turns colder, this can be a prime time to warm up some outdated sales and marketing strategies in your home improvement business. 

Practice Proactivity in Your Home Improvement Business

A valuable characteristic to possess as a contractor is proactivity.

As seasons transition, this is a great time to practice proactivity by performing routine checkups on your customer’s homes. Focusing on customer retention and remembering the value of staying connected with your customers can go a long way. This not only strengthens your relationship with your existing customers but can help catch potential issues early on and improve the longevity of your work.  

Another way to demonstrate proactivity is by being ready to engage with the diverse types of customers you have likely come across during your career. This spectrum can range from a relaxed, excited customer to a more panicked, reactive customer. Combat your reactive-type customers by letting them know there are alternative options available to achieve their project, such as financing. An example of this may be a customer who is anxious about needing a roof replacement before winter approaches. Offering a home improvement loan is an effective way to present your customers with alternative options that may better suit their lifestyles and budgets.

Reactive vs Proactive

Evaluate Your Current Home Improvement Financing Offerings

A change in season allows for evaluating business performance, recognizing successes, and identifying areas needing revitalization. If you currently aren’t offering financing options, take a few moments to explore the advantages they can bring to your business. If your business already offers financing options, this season is the perfect time to onboard with a new financing partner that you’ve been interested in trying. Try creating a list of what you expect from your financing partner and determine if you are currently receiving that. Do you feel supported when you have questions? Are you unsatisfied with high contractor fees?

Investing time in choosing your financing partner can significantly pay off in the long run, resulting in more closed deals and a smoother sales process for your home improvement business.  

Train Your Team and Get Creative

Take advantage of potential increased downtime by carving out time with your team to discuss important topics such as sales strategies and best practices on the job. Below are some ways to get creative, increase motivation, and make the most out of your team meetings and communications. 

Home Improvement Contractor
  • Establish a fun challenge or provide a seasonal incentive to close more deals 
  • Share industry data on the impact of offering financing options 
    • “Businesses that offer flexible consumer credit options generally see their average order value increase by 15%.” (Source
    • 30% of shoppers said a flexible payment plan meant the difference between making a purchase and forgoing it.” (Source)
  • Share creative ways to offer home improvement financing to customers on the job
    • Share our blog ‘Tips for Offering Home Improvement Financing’  
    • Share strategies to show project affordability from a monthly and even daily perspective (Example: Receive a new system by making payments as low as $5 per day – comparable to a coffee per day!”)

As fall is underway and many home improvement businesses will see changes in project demand, it’s helpful to remember that a slow season can still be a growth season. Prioritizing your current customers, having a proactive business mindset, and strengthening your team are all great ways to ensure your business can return even stronger for the next season. 

Watercress Financial is equipped and ready to contribute to the success of your home improvement business. Now is a perfect time to join our network of successful home improvement contractors. We prioritize a seamless, fast onboarding process with quick and easy training for our contractors – where you can earn your credentials in as little as 2-3 days.  

Ready to experience what Watercress Financial can do for your home improvement business?  

– Madison Schoppe (Marketing Coordinator)