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Nick Gann · Guest

New age prospecting?

RCIA Founder

Nick Gann wrote:
Hello everyone,
I have been reading and reading and reading here in the forums, sort of keeping low key until I became caught up with all the old posts.
That said, marketing successfully depends it seems, on developing the proper prospecting abilities and recruiting the right neighborhoods for your marketing attempts.
Does anyone here use any new methods for prospecting? I.E. google maps and the like. If so, what is your success rate and how would you describe your method(if you would at all)
I have been using google maps for awhile, specifically for searching out roofs, now this has its perks and flaws considering not all images are new. But it saves on gas, their are a few other flaws like the inability to directly upsell a potential client, since you can't see details of the home, but if all you do is roof cleaning it is something to consider.

Good Idea Nick but since the images are old, what happens when you see a dirty roof on Google Maps,, and it has already been cleaned ?

I like to use Zillow sometimes as well, It is a real estate website that spits out both a picture and the Sq Ft, with descriptions. Watch out for those oversized garages.

Aug 15, 2011

Welcome aboard Nick! Have you thought about becoming a premium member, some folks on here don't like just giving out info to strangers..........

opie451 · Aug 16, 2011

Interesting way of potential marketing.

Guest

I do all my estimates through google maps. To date I have not met with one homeowner to give an estimate.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Roof Cleaning Raleigh Durham NC 919-695-2416 wrote:
I do all my estimates through google maps. To date I have not met with one homeowner to give an estimate.

I don't get it? What do you mean that you haven't met with a homeowner to give an estimate? Maybe I'm not understanding Google maps?

Guest

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA wrote:
Roof Cleaning Raleigh Durham NC 919-695-2416 wrote:
I do all my estimates through google maps. To date I have not met with one homeowner to give an estimate.
I don't get it? What do you mean that you haven't met with a homeowner to give an estimate? Maybe I'm not understanding Google maps?

I have them fill out an online quote and I then pull up their address on google maps to take a look at their property. Most of the time it has an aerial view as well as a street view of their house. Based on the visual from google maps and a little info from the homeowner, I can give them an accurate estimate. Saves money and time.

Check out my online estimate page to help clarify.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Roof Cleaning Raleigh Durham NC 919-695-2416 wrote:
Roof Cleaning West Chester PA wrote:
Roof Cleaning Raleigh Durham NC 919-695-2416 wrote:
I do all my estimates through google maps. To date I have not met with one homeowner to give an estimate.
I don't get it? What do you mean that you haven't met with a homeowner to give an estimate? Maybe I'm not understanding Google maps?
I have them fill out an online quote and I then pull up their address on google maps to take a look at their property. Most of the time it has an aerial view as well as a street view of their house. Based on the visual from google maps and a little info from the homeowner, I can give them an accurate estimate. Saves money and time.
Check out my online estimate page to help clarify.

that page looks great Greg, I'm going to add one tonight ... I've not had a lot of success selling residential over the phone though, commercial is a different story ... if you don't mind me asking what's your closing rate this way? mine is horrific, especially compared to when I'm face to face.

what's your secret? I always assume the sale, give them a choice of 2 days, then shut up ... works great in person but over the phone not so much so.

Guest

Not sure about my closing ratio at this time. Thats something I will go over at the end of the season. I would say its pretty good though. Most of my customers who call for an estimate are impressed that I can view their house while talking to them. I give them a brief education about roof cleaning and what I can do for them and then tell them I will send them an estimate within a half hour. I never tell them a price over the phone. I like to always send them a pdf to their email. I then follow up the next day through email. Usually they will schedule a roof cleaning the same day or next but if they don't I will send them one more email a week later.
I guess my secret is to try to answer the phone and emails as quickly as possible. Its nothing I hate worse than having to wait on some one to respond to me when I'm interested in something. You have to respond to them while they have roof cleaning on their mind.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Yeah it's definitely an impulse sale ... I'll take your advice & see how it works out.

Maverick Contracting · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

the only prob with satellite viewing northern homes is since the satellites are around the equater, I get great views of the south sides of roofs and crappy shots of the north. Doesn't help with tall trees but i find bing maps in birdseye view usually brings up pics in the fall/winter with leaves off the trees.

When I look at florida homes I get better views of northern roof sides.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"