Early Birds – Can You Boost Spring Sales?
As temperatures begin to rise, homeowners start to check for hidden winter damage – but is this a service you could offer…getting into maintenance to help push your wider installations services?
Could you make money in the spring repair market? And win customers who might place bigger installations jobs down the line?
Draught stop
Search data shows a 95% rise in ‘how to stop draughts’ over the past year but Antony Heath, the development director at home maintenance specialists Glevum, says the bigger risk is what's been quietly building all winter: blocked gutters, exposed pipework and minor roof damage often go unnoticed until the thaw, when small problems become expensive ones.
"Most winter property damage doesn't happen overnight; it builds up because small problems get ignored. A tiny gap around a window, a blocked gutter, or an exposed pipe might not seem urgent but they can quickly turn into major issues."
Spring cleanup
With spring the point at which underlying property problems typically become visible, Heath has outlined five of the most common maintenance oversights and what they could cost to fix.
Draughts around windows and doors
Gaps around frames allow cold air, rain and moisture into the home year-round, increasing the risk of damp, mould and higher energy bills. Treating damp and mould can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand pounds. Draught excluders, sealant or weatherproofing tape offer a simple, low-cost fix before the problem worsens. And then any good installer should be discussing longer term solutions such as complete replacement.
Blocked gutters and downpipes
Gutters clogged with winter debris are one of the leading causes of water damage in spring, as heavier rainfall has nowhere to drain. Professional gutter clearing typically costs £40–£250. If water ingress has already occurred, repair bills can run into the thousands. A clear-out now sets your customers up ahead of the wetter spring months. And or course, many installers are happy repairing of replacing roofline – facias and soffits and gutters in all materials but particularly plastic.
Exposed or poorly insulated pipework
Pipes that weren't adequately insulated over winter may already have sustained minor damage and warmer weather won't always make that visible straight away. Burst pipe repairs typically cost £150–£600, with additional costs if wider water damage has occurred. Checking accessible pipework now is a quick and worthwhile precaution for homeowners and one the average installer can do easily whilst assessing other repair points.
Minor roof damage
Loose tiles, small cracks and minor leaks picked up over winter can deteriorate quickly as spring brings heavier rain and wind. Minor roof repairs often run into the low hundreds, while more serious leaks can push costs significantly higher. Getting eyes on the roof early in the season is far cheaper than an emergency call-out later. Man installers are already happy on the roof – and if you have not done much roof work, this might be the time to enter the fray.
Cracks in foundations and exterior walls
Cracks that appeared or widened over the colder months need attention before spring rainfall drives moisture deeper into the structure. Minor repairs typically cost £300–£800, while more extensive work can reach £2,000–£4,000+. Sealing and monitoring now prevents a manageable issue becoming a structural one. This may not be in the average installers comfort zone – but being in business is not about always sitting in comfort zones. Business can be tough. Diversification is the way forward.
Heath adds: "None of these checks require specialist skills or big budgets but ignoring them can be very expensive. A few simple preventative steps today can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major repair bill. That’s the message to pass onto your customers and potential customers.”
