Should Your Remodeling Company Have a Facebook Fan Page?
Facebook is a social media phenomenon. Its rise has been nothing less than stellar. Just a mere five years after it was launched, Facebook users totaled 100 million. And that number has been doubling every couple of years.
That means that most people, no matter their age, social status, gender or race, are on Facebook. Each user has a personal profile to post information, keep in touch with family and friends, upload pictures, and update their status.
Home Improvement Marketing – What Works, What Doesn’t, What Might and Why
Home improvement companies large and small know that getting their message heard by homeowners in need isn’t easy. Home improvement contractors are everywhere, and each is vying for attention. Open any given value pack mailer or local coupon publication and you will see page after page of home improvement ads. From lawn services, landscapers, deck, pool & patio contractors to roofing, siding and windows, carpet, bathroom, sun room and basement remodelers, the list goes on and on.
So as a contractor, how do you get your message heard? What marketing works, what doesn’t, and what aren’t we sure about? The answers depend somewhat on your local market and your budget, but here I provide some sure things that can be done no matter what your market or budget, and some tips on making the most of all of your efforts.
Important Protections for Homeowners
Everyone knows a horror story about a home repair gone bad; where a trusting homeowner believes he has been taken advantage of by an unscrupulous contractor. To protect homeowners in such cases the Pennsylvania legislature enacted The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. This Act, which came into full force on July 1, 2009, requires that contractors who offer or perform home improvement in Pennsylvania register with the Office of the Attorney General. The Act also sets minimum insurance requirements, establishes required terms for home improvement contracts, prohibits unfair business practices, and creates a criminal penalty for home improvement fraud.
The Act applies only to home improvements to private residences, not to new construction. Home improvements covered by the Act include repair, replacement, remodeling demolition, and installation of items in the home as well as work on driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, fences, and sheds; as long as the total cash price is more than $500. Landscaping services such as placement of retaining walls, fountains or drainage systems, fencing and lighting systems are included within the act as well.