Standard home inspections check fixtures and visible pipes. They usually don't scope the sewer line or judge how many years the water heater has left.
Plumbing play · New homeowners
New homeowner marketing for plumbers: be the first name they call in year one.
New buyers find plumbing problems fast: a slow drain, a water heater of unknown age, a sewer line nobody scoped. They don't have a plumber yet. Spur finds recent sales in your service area every week, writes a welcome card about the home's plumbing, and mails it in the first month, while they're still choosing who to call.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Jordan Reese6129 Pershing AveSt. Louis, MO 63112Scan to book your new-owner check
Jordan R. booked a new-owner plumbing check · 19 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
Weeklylist of recorded sales in your service area
First 30 dayswhen buyers choose their plumber
Sewer scopeoffered, since standard inspections skip it
The problem
New buyers discover plumbing problems before they've chosen a plumber.
Buyers rarely get the seller's plumber's name or service records. When something leaks, they search and call whoever ranks first.
Monthly list files can be weeks old by mail time. By then the buyer has found someone.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from a recorded sale to a first service call.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
This week's new homeowners in Spur
Sample recent sales in one St. Louis zip with older housing stock. Names are partly masked.
Zip 63112Sold last 30 daysSingle-familyOwner-occupiedBuilt before 1990
- Jordan R.6129 Pershing AveSold 9 days ago · built 1938Clay sewer likelyGalvanized likely
- Maya & Chris T.5810 Waterman BlvdSold 16 days ago · built 1912Older plumbing3,100 sq ft
- Will O.6044 Kingsbury AveSold 22 days ago · built 1925First-time buyer likely
- Tasha G.5917 Cates AveSold 5 days ago · built 1951Moved from out of state
- Ray P.6231 Westminster PlSold 27 days ago · built 1987Polybutylene era
AI draft for Jordan R. · 6129 Pershing Ave
CONGRATS ON THE NEW PLACE, JORDAN.
Welcome to the neighborhood. Your home on Pershing Avenue was built in 1938. Homes of that age often still have some original galvanized supply pipes, and the sewer line to the street is usually clay, which tree roots find over time.
Most home inspections don't run a camera through the sewer line. Our $99 new-owner plumbing check does, and also covers water pressure, the water heater, shutoff valves, and fixtures. You'll get the video and a written list of what needs attention now and what can wait.
Scan the code to book. New homeowners also get their first year of our maintenance plan at half price.
Gateway Plumbing · (314) 555-0129
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
Why new homeowners are some of the best plumbing customers
About 4 million existing homes sold in the U.S. in 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors, and every buyer walks into a plumbing system they know little about. The inspection report may note a few drips or an older water heater, but most standard inspections don't scope the sewer line or estimate remaining water heater life. The ASHI Standard of Practice, for example, doesn't require inspecting underground sewer lines. Buyers learn about their plumbing the hard way, usually in the first year.
They also don't have a plumber. Sellers rarely pass along service records or contractor names. Whoever reaches a new buyer first with a credible, useful offer has a strong chance of becoming their plumber for as long as they own the home.
Match the offer to the home's era. In older homes, a new-owner check that includes a sewer camera inspection is valuable and easy to say yes to. In homes from roughly 1978 to 1995, mention polybutylene. In homes 10 to 18 years old, focus on the water heater. In newer homes, offer a maintenance plan and a guide to where the main shutoff is.
Refresh the list weekly from recorded sales instead of buying monthly new-mover files, which can include renters and arrive weeks late. Mail within the first 30 days after closing when you can.
Keep the tone welcoming. Congratulate them, mention the neighborhood, and keep the first step small. Realtors and home inspectors meet the same buyers first, so a co-branded welcome card or referral arrangement can add a second source of new-homeowner customers.
There's a practical bonus in older homes: many buyers have no idea where the main water shutoff is. Showing them during the first visit, and tagging it, is a small act that new owners remember the first time a pipe leaks. It's also the moment to introduce a maintenance plan, since the buyer now knows exactly what condition their plumbing is in.
14×return on a year of Spur Team from one new homeowner's first-year work
A new homeowner can be a plumbing customer for decades.
- Spur Team: $588/yr, plus 40 sales a month × 2 cards = 960 postcards at $0.94 = $902
- One older-home buyer: $99 check + $6,500 sewer lateral repair + $1,500 in fixture work = $8,099
- One such customer = 14× your subscription, before years of plan and service revenue
Example math. Home age and turnover vary by neighborhood. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual new mover workflow
What you needThe usual waySpur
Recent sales listMonthly new-mover file✓ Built in
Buyer's current contact infoSeparate data append✓ Built in
Card about their home's plumbingGeneric welcome coupon✓ Built in
Weekly mail without reworkRe-order every month✓ Built in
Knowing which buyers respondedNo tracking✓ Built in
New Homeowners by the numbers
Why new buyers need a plumber early
~4 million
existing U.S. homes sold in 2024, each with plumbing the buyer hasn't seen
Not included
standard home inspections don't cover a camera inspection of the sewer line
14×
return on a year of Spur Team from one new homeowner's first-year work
FAQ
Plumbing new homeowner questions
How do plumbers find new homeowners?
Recorded home sales are public. In Spur, filter your service area for single-family homes sold in the last 30 to 90 days and owner-occupied, then enrich the buyer for a current mailing address.
What plumbing offer works for new homeowners?
A new-owner plumbing check. For older homes, include a sewer camera inspection, since most home inspections skip it. For newer homes, offer a maintenance plan.
Does a home inspection include the sewer line?
Usually not. Standard inspections typically don't run a camera through the sewer lateral, which is why a sewer scope is a strong new-owner offer.
How quickly should I contact new buyers?
Within the first 30 days after closing if you can. A weekly search automation keeps the list current.
Should plumbers partner with realtors or inspectors?
Many do. Realtors and inspectors meet buyers first and are often asked for referrals. A co-branded card or referral arrangement complements your own mail.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
Be the first plumber every new buyer hears from.
Set up a weekly new-homeowner list for your service area and mail the first welcome card today. Free to start.
Find new homeowners who need a plumber — freeFree forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
Prefer a walkthrough? Book a demo