After a system goes in, there is no reminder to test the pump or battery, so the next contact is a problem.
Basement waterproofing play · Past customers and estimates
Your past customers and old estimates are your cheapest waterproofing leads.
Upload your customer and quote list, and Spur writes a warm card for each: a pump check for past installs, a gentle follow-up for estimates that stalled, and a thank-you for referrals. A scan tells you who is ready now.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Tom Hendricks8830 W 38th AveWheat Ridge, CO 80033Scan to book your check-up
Tom H. scanned your check-up postcard · 6 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
1–2 yrsis a sensible interval to test a pump and backup battery
6+ monthsold is when a stalled estimate is worth a gentle follow-up
Your listuploaded from your CRM or a spreadsheet
The problem
The warmest leads you have are sitting in your own files.
A quote that didn't close in the first month is usually forgotten, even though the owner still has the problem.
Customers who sent neighbors rarely hear back, which makes them less likely to do it again.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from a dusty spreadsheet to booked return visits.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A past-customer list in Spur
Sample Denver-area customers and estimates, grouped by the card each will receive. Names are partly masked.
Source: uploaded CRM listInstalled 2023–2024Estimates 6+ months oldReferrersDenver metro
- Tom H.8830 W 38th AveInterior drain + sump · 2023Check-up card
- Linda & Pete O.2417 S Pearl StEstimate · $8,400 · 9 months agoRefreshed quote
- Carlos M.5520 E Alameda AveBattery backup · 2022Check-up card
- Jill & Ed B.1140 Garfield StReferred two neighborsThank-you card
- Sonia R.7202 W Ohio AveEstimate · $5,600 · 14 months agoRefreshed quote
AI draft for Tom H. · 8830 W 38th Ave
Hi Tom,
It has been about three years since we put in your drain system and sump pump. Most of our customers never think about it again, which is how it should be, but the pump and the backup battery are worth a quick test every year or two.
We'll come by free, check both, and tell you honestly whether anything needs attention. It takes about 20 minutes.
Scan the code on this card to pick a time.
Kyle Brandt · Summit Basement Systems · (303) 555-0192
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to reactivate past waterproofing customers and estimates
Waterproofing is a high-ticket, low-frequency purchase, so repeat business takes planning. A customer who had a system installed three years ago is not shopping, but they are the most likely person to refer a neighbor, buy a battery backup, or call again if something changes. Staying in touch with them costs very little compared to finding a new customer.
Start with the installed base. A system with a sump pump and battery has parts that wear, and a yearly or every-other-year check is a reasonable, honest reason to reach out. Offer the check free or at a low flat price, and use the visit to test the pump, inspect the discharge line, and note anything that has changed around the house. Many companies turn this into an annual service plan that pays for itself.
Next, work the estimate backlog. Most estimates that don't close in the first month are not lost; they are paused. The owner may have been waiting on a budget, a second opinion, or a bad week. A refreshed quote after six months or after the next big storm is a natural reason to re-engage. Keep the tone gentle: acknowledge the quote, mention that you can update it, and offer a quick visit.
Don't forget referrers. A thank-you card with a small gift or credit costs little and tells the customer you noticed. People who feel appreciated are much more likely to send the next neighbor, and a referred lead typically closes at a higher rate than any mailed one.
Automate the schedule. Install anniversaries, estimate ages, and referral dates all produce natural triggers. Set them once in Spur, and every cohort is mailed at the right time without a spreadsheet or a reminder.
Keep the data clean. Record the job type, the install date, and the equipment installed, and add notes about anything the owner mentioned, such as plans to finish the basement or a neighbor who might need help. Those details let you write a card that sounds like it came from a person who remembers the house, which is the main reason owners respond to a company they hired years ago.
13×+return on a year of Spur Team from two revived estimates
A handful of revived estimates pays for the year.
- Spur Team: $49/mo billed annually = $588/yr
- 300 reactivation cards at $0.94 each = $282
- 2 revived estimates (~$7,500 each) ≈ $15,000, plus any referral or check-up revenue
Example math. Your list size, response, and close rate will vary. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual follow-up
What you needThe usual waySpur
Cards by install date and quote ageA one-time email blast✓ Built in
Copy written for each groupOne message to everyone✓ Built in
Scan alerts show who is readyNo sign who read it✓ Built in
Yearly check-up scheduled automaticallyRemember to reach out✓ Built in
Referrers thanked by nameSilence after the job✓ Built in
Past Customer Reactivation by the numbers
Why returning to past customers works
7–10 yrs
is the typical service life of a residential sump pump, so installed systems age on a known schedule
24–48 hrs
is how quickly mold can begin to grow on materials left wet
13×+
return on a year of Spur Team from two revived estimates
FAQ
Past customer and estimate questions
How do I upload my customers and estimates?
Upload a CSV export from your CRM or a spreadsheet with name, address, job type, and date. Spur matches the addresses and builds the lists.
How old should an estimate be before I follow up?
Six months is a good starting point, and after the next big storm is another natural moment. Keep the tone gentle and offer to update the quote.
Should I charge for the check-up?
That is your choice. Many companies offer it free for a first visit and charge a small flat fee afterward, or fold it into a service plan.
Can Spur remind customers every year?
Yes. Set a campaign by install anniversary, and Spur mails each customer at the right time every year.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
The next job is already in your files.
Upload your customers and estimates and mail your first reactivation card this week. Free to start.
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