Wind, hail and even grill season don't hit one house. They hit a neighborhood. When I'm working on a house, the neighbors are watching, and some of them have the same problem. A little effort turns one repair into two or three on the same street.
Why it works
- Same storm, same damage. If wind blew panels off one gable, the houses next door got the same wind.
- Same builder, same siding. Subdivisions were built with the same siding, so the same problems show up everywhere, and you probably have matching panels on the truck.
- You're already there. No extra drive, no extra setup.
- Trust. Neighbors see you working and see the result.
How to do it without being pushy
1. Ask your customer first
"Mind if I leave a card with a couple of your neighbors? I noticed some of their siding is loose too." Most say yes. Some will tell you which neighbors have been complaining about their siding.
2. Look before you knock
Walk the block. Look for:
- Loose or missing panels.
- Warped siding by patios.
- Damaged soffit or trim.
Only stop at houses where you actually see something.
3. Keep it short
Knock, introduce yourself, and say why you're there:
"Hi, I'm doing a siding repair for your neighbor at the gray house. I noticed a couple of loose panels on your gable. If you want me to take a look while I'm here, it's no charge to look."
That's it. If they say no thanks, hand them a card and leave.
4. Leave a door hanger if no one's home
A simple door hanger or a card with:
- Your name and number.
- "I was working at a house on your street and noticed some loose siding on your home."
- A short line about what you do.
Don't put anything in the mailbox. That's against federal rules; hang it on the door.
Inside Siding Pro Academy, we share the door hanger wording and the script members use.
Respect the rules
- Check your town's solicitation rules. Some towns require a permit for door-to-door contractors, and some HOAs have rules too.
- Don't knock on "No Soliciting" doors. Leave them alone.
- Be polite and brief. If someone isn't interested, thank them and move on.
After a storm, be careful
After a big storm, a lot of out-of-town contractors flood neighborhoods, and homeowners get wary. Be the local guy: show your card, mention the job down the street, and don't pressure anyone. Never promise insurance will pay.
Make the most of it
- Batch the jobs. If two neighbors want repairs, schedule them back to back.
- Offer to look the same day if you have time.
- Take before-and-after photos of every house. See photo reports.
Keep it going
A neighborhood where you've done three or four jobs becomes your neighborhood. People talk. The next time someone on that block needs siding work, your name comes up first.
Pair this with your first 10 customers and you'll have a full schedule faster than you think.
Photo: from a real Siding Pro Academy repair job.
