Many companies swept a chimney and filed the ticket, so nobody knows who is overdue.
Chimney play · Past customers
Win back past chimney customers who skipped a year, or three.
A customer you swept two years ago is the warmest lead you have, and likely overdue. Spur takes your list, writes a personal 'it's been a while' card for each one, and mails it with a QR code to a booking page.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Sam Torres130 Laurel CrestAsheville, NC 28803Scan to book your sweep
Sam T. booked a sweep from your card · 7 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
2+ yrssince the last sweep is the target
Warmcustomers who already know you
Your listuploaded from your records
The problem
Customers drift away when nobody reminds them.
After two years, the name on the invoice is a blur, and the next call goes to someone else.
Most companies market only to new owners and leave the existing list alone.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from a stale list to booked repeat sweeps.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A past customer list for chimney service
Sample list from a customer file, sorted by last service date. Names are partly masked.
Your listLast service 2+ yrs agoWood-burningResidentialNot on current route
- Sam T.130 Laurel CrestSwept 2022OverdueMasonry
- Ellen M.12 Dogwood CtSwept 2021Long lapsedCap needed
- Joe & Lin W.8 Aspen WaySwept 2023OverdueWood stove
- Walter & Joan P.5 Bell Hollow RdSwept 2020Long lapsedRetired
- Denise F.124 Hebron AveSwept 2022OverdueGas logs
AI draft for Sam T. · 130 Laurel Crest
Hi Sam,
We swept your chimney in 2022. It's been a while, and the NFPA 211 standard calls for a yearly inspection, so a check is overdue.
Because you've used us before, we'll honor your old price. We'll sweep, inspect, and show you photos, and we'll send you a reminder each year so it doesn't slip by again.
Scan the code to book a date.
Dana Whitfield · Ember & Flue Chimney Co. · (828) 555-0166
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to win back lapsed chimney customers
Past customers are the cheapest jobs you'll book. They know your name, you've seen their chimney, and they're probably overdue. A card that says 'we swept your chimney in 2022' is more relevant than any new-owner offer, and it costs a few cents in postage.
Start with your data. A spreadsheet of names, addresses, and last service dates is all you need. If records are on paper, begin with the last three years of tickets and type them in.
Segment by time. Customers one to two years out are 'due' and need a friendly reminder. Customers two to four years out are 'overdue' and need a stronger nudge that mentions the standard. Anyone beyond five years may have moved or switched, so a short check-in with a records update is more appropriate.
Mention what you found last time. If your last visit noted a cracked crown, a missing cap, or heavy creosote, say so on the card, and offer to address it. A reminder that speaks to a specific finding is far more effective than a generic one.
Offer a returning-customer price. Honoring the old price, or a small credit, removes a reason to shop and signals respect. Keep it simple and time-limited, and say so on the card.
Make it permanent. Every reactivated customer joins the yearly reminder cycle, so the next sweep happens without a new campaign. Reactivation is a one-time push, and reminders keep the list from going stale again.
Call the largest accounts yourself. For customers with multiple flues, a rental portfolio, or a history of repairs, a personal call after the card goes out shows that you remember them. A short conversation often recovers a customer that a card alone would not, and the extra effort is small compared with the revenue. Keep notes on each call in the customer record, so the next reminder can mention what you discussed and what the owner said they planned to do.
12×+return on a year of Spur Team from reactivating 30 past customers
A few returning customers pay for the year.
- Spur Team: $49/mo billed annually = $588/yr
- 300 past-customer cards at $0.94 each = $282
- 30 repeat sweeps (~$225 each) plus repairs ≈ $9,000
Example math. Response varies with list quality. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual win-back
What you needThe usual waySpur
Personal card with the last service dateGeneric postcard✓ Built in
Segmented by years since serviceOne message for all✓ Built in
Mailed and tracked by QRA phone call when time allows✓ Built in
Returned mail cleans the listStale records✓ Built in
Every customer joins a yearly cycleOne-time effort✓ Built in
Past Customers by the numbers
Why past customers are the best list
Annual
inspection is called for by NFPA 211, so lapsed customers are overdue
Cheaper
to win back a past customer than to win a new one
12×+
return on a year of Spur Team from reactivating 30 past customers
FAQ
Chimney past customer questions
How do I reactivate past chimney customers?
Upload your customer list with last service dates and mail a personal card that names the date and offers a returning-customer price.
How old can a customer record be?
Records from four or five years ago can still work, but check addresses, because owners may have moved.
What if I don't have service dates?
Upload names and addresses anyway. The card can say 'it's been a while' without a specific date.
Should I discount?
A modest returning-customer price or credit helps, and a time limit keeps it from becoming permanent.
What does Spur cost for a chimney company?
Solo is free forever. You pay per postcard when you mail. Team is $49/mo billed annually with more searches, enrichments, and QR codes.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
Your next season is already in your records.
Upload past customers and mail a personal reminder. Free to start.
Reactivate my past customers — freeFree forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
Prefer a walkthrough? Book a demo