Reaching Out Pays Off Although they don’t advertise relocation services, David has been hired as a consultant by several clients who, like Candace and Larry, want to house hunt while looking through a remodeler’s eyes.
This service is just one of the many marketing tools that Peggy Mackowski has in her bag of tricks. “My biggest source of leads is client referrals, and after that it’s the home show and then the home tour,” she says.
Twice a year, in spring and fall, QDC participates in the Southern Ideal Home Show. The company has two booths, one for QDC and the other for Creations, its cabinet company. QDC holds a prize drawing for five hours of free design consultation. “If you give away a bike or a TV you’ll have everyone and their brother sign up for it,” says Peggy. “If you give away free design you only have interested people sign up. [Our way] gives you qualified leads.”
QDC also had 12 houses open on the November 2004 Home Tour, a smaller version of Parade of Homes. “We had as many as 350 people go through a house on a weekend,” says Peggy, who adds that the “Home Tour is our best source of qualified leads. And in some instances [visitors] get to speak to the homeowner.”
Undoubtedly, the good references come not only because of QDC’s quality work but because of the energy and enthusiasm that Peggy and David infuse into the company. Although their average job is $125,000 to $150,000, they will still take on smaller jobs. They maintain close relationships with present and former clients, and they donate appliances and household fixtures to the Habitat for Humanity ReUse Center.
Peggy keeps a year-long calendar just for marketing. “[It’s] a full-time thing. If you wait until your phone stops ringing to begin marketing, it’s too late.”