Emailing monthly maintenance tips is a value-added service that is easily provided and well received.
Most of the information for each issue is obtained from your Operator’s Manual and from your Maintenance Checklist.
When picking a topic, choose one that will be relative for the month. Also, consider what types of calls are historically received at that time of year. Choosing your topic this way will preempt a lot of those calls.
Using Microsoft Publisher® or other desktop publishing software, create a format that you like and set up a template.
Here are some layout suggestions:
- About – why are you sending it?
- Topic of the month – a few short paragraphs with pictures
- Monthly maintenance reminders – from checklist
- Reasons to perform maintenance*
- Remove/Questions – close with a link to be removed from the email list and a link to send questions or comments.
Aim to have each issue fit on a single letter size page. This makes it convenient for anyone wanting to print them. Having a booklet of past issues in the sales office can be useful as well.
For time management purposes, write a number of issues at the same time. Just remember to do a quick check of each issue before sending it out.
Create your email list. Set up staff procedures.
* I tried to close each issue with a section called; In Other’s Words. Here I would provide a quote from someone saying why home maintenance is important. Example:
It’s the little things that tend to trip up people, some cracked caulk around the windows, or maybe a furnace filter that hasn’t been changed in a while. It may not seem like much, but behind that caulk, water could get into your sheathing, causing mold and rot. Before you know it, you’re looking at a $5,000 repair that could have been prevented by a $4 tube of caulk and a half hour of your time.
~ Frank Lesh, Owner, Home Sweet Home Inspection Co. Chicago
