A home inspector notes a stain or efflorescence, but the buyer is busy moving, and the note is forgotten until water shows up.
Basement waterproofing play · New homeowners
Reach new buyers of older homes before their first wet basement.
Spur finds homes with basements that sold in the last 90 days, writes a friendly welcome card with a free basement check for each buyer, and mails it while the inspection report is still in the drawer. New owners are looking for a trustworthy company to call.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Jordan & Alexis Webb412 Maple CtPittsburgh, PA 15228Scan for your free basement check
Jordan W. scanned your welcome card · 8 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
90 daysafter closing is when new owners hunt for trusted home pros
Pre-1990homes are the likeliest to need basement drainage updates
1 cardper buyer, mailed while the inspection is fresh
The problem
New buyers see a clean basement in dry weather and learn the truth in the first storm.
New owners don't know who to call. The first trustworthy name that reaches them often gets the job.
Pulling recent buyers from public records, matching home age, and getting a card out in time is a lot of manual work.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from a recent sale to a booked basement check.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A new homeowner list in Spur
Sample Pittsburgh-area homes built 1940–1985 that sold in the last 90 days. Names are partly masked.
Zip 15228Sold last 90 daysBuilt 1940–1985Single-familyOwner-occupied
- Jordan & Alexis W.412 Maple CtBuilt 1958 · full basementSold 3 wks ago
- Priya N.1127 Washington RdBuilt 1946 · full basementSold 5 wks ago
- Mark & Dee C.84 Orchard LnBuilt 1972 · full basementSold 7 wks ago
- Hannah L.2205 Bower Hill RdBuilt 1965 · full basementSold 9 wks ago
- Sam & Ruth O.360 Chartiers AveBuilt 1951 · full basementSold 11 wks ago
AI draft for Jordan & Alexis W. · 412 Maple Ct
Hi Jordan and Alexis,
Congratulations on the new house. Homes on Maple Court were built around 1958, and a basement that looks dry in dry weather can behave differently after the first big storm.
We'd be glad to take a quick look, free, and tell you plainly what we see, what's normal for a house this age, and what's worth keeping an eye on. There is no obligation, and many basements need nothing.
Scan the code on this card to pick a time that works with your move.
Mia Delgado · Keystone Basement Care · (412) 555-0126
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to win basement work from new homeowners
A home purchase is the moment a stranger becomes a customer. In the first few months, new owners are choosing everything from an electrician to a lawn service, and they are far more open to a trusted new name than long-time owners who already have a go-to company. For basement waterproofing, that window is especially useful because the home inspection has often flagged something worth watching, even when it was small.
Buyers of older homes have specific worries: block or stone walls, unfinished floors with old cracks, an original sump pit, a musty corner the sellers staged around. A welcome card that acknowledges those without alarm lands better than a sales pitch. Say congratulations, name the home's age, offer a free check, and promise to explain what is normal.
Timing matters. Mail in the first 30 to 60 days after closing, when the buyer has moved in and is still discovering the house. Waiting longer means the first storm may arrive without your name in the house. If you can reach the buyer before the first wet spring or the first big summer storm, the card becomes useful rather than random.
Partner channels help. Local real estate agents and home inspectors are often asked who to call about basement concerns, and a short note offering a free second look for their clients can produce referrals long after one card goes out. Spur can mail those partners a thank-you or an introduction on a schedule.
Keep the tone honest. Many basements in older homes have a few cracks and a musty smell and nothing that needs a full system. A company that says so earns the call the next time a real problem shows up, and it often earns the referral too.
Finally, remember that a new homeowner's first year is a series of small decisions that add up to loyalty. The company that explained the basement honestly, answered a question without a sales push, and followed up before the first heavy rain is the one the owner calls about the gutters, the sump, and the day they finish the basement. Treat the first card as the start of a relationship, not a one-time offer.
9×+return on a year of Spur Team from one new-homeowner drainage job
A single new-buyer install can fund the year.
- Spur Team: $49/mo billed annually = $588/yr
- 400 welcome cards at $0.94 each = $376
- One interior drainage system with a battery-backup sump (~$5,500+) = 9× your annual subscription
Example math. Your pricing and close rate will vary. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual way to reach new buyers
What you needThe usual waySpur
Recent sales pulled and filtered for youHand-built lists from public records✓ Built in
Welcome card written for the home's ageA generic coupon✓ Built in
Scan alerts within secondsNo sign who read it✓ Built in
Automatic follow-up before the next stormForgotten after one mailing✓ Built in
Mailed in days from one dashboardWeeks between list and mailbox✓ Built in
New Homeowner Marketing by the numbers
Why new buyers are open to a new basement pro
24–48 hrs
is how quickly mold can begin to grow on materials left wet
30–50%
indoor relative humidity range the EPA recommends to limit mold and dust mites
9×+
return on a year of Spur Team from one new-homeowner drainage job
FAQ
New homeowner waterproofing questions
How do I find new homeowners with basements?
Filter by recent sale date, build year, and property type. Homes with basements built before 1990 that sold in the last 90 days are the core list in most older markets.
Is a free basement check really free?
That is your decision. Many companies offer a no-charge inspection with a written explanation because it earns trust and turns into installs when needed. Spur just mails the offer.
When should I mail a new homeowner?
Within 30 to 60 days of closing. That is after the buyer has moved in and before the first heavy rain makes the choice urgent.
Can I reach buyers through agents and inspectors too?
Yes. Add local agents and inspectors as a separate list and mail them a short introduction. Many will refer clients who ask about basement concerns.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
Be the first basement name a new owner trusts.
Pull recent buyers of older homes and mail your welcome card this week. Free to start.
Find new homeowners with basements — freeFree forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
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