Buyers of older homes often plan the kitchen or bath before closing. By month six they've picked a contractor, often from a realtor or a neighbor.
Remodeling play · New buyers
New buyer renovation leads: reach recent buyers of older homes while the plans are fresh.
Buyers of older homes start planning changes before they move in. The kitchen they'll redo, the wall they'll open, the bathroom they'll gut. Spur finds recent sales of older homes in your area, writes a welcome letter about their house's era and a nearby project, and alerts you when they scan.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Megan Russo3017 Belrose AvePittsburgh, PA 15216Scan to see the renovation
Megan R. viewed your renovation portfolio for 5 min · 3 hrs ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
First 6 moafter the sale, when renovation plans are made
Pre-1980homes most likely to need a full update
Exclusiveyou reach them before they shortlist
The problem
New buyers pick a contractor fast, and usually not from a mailbox full of coupons.
New homeowners get a flood of mail from every trade. A coupon that says "Welcome! 10% off" doesn't stand out or say anything about their house.
Most new-mover lists include new construction and renters. A 2022 build doesn't need a gut renovation, and a renter can't hire you.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from a recent-sale list to a first-year project.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A new buyer renovation list in Spur
Sample recent sales in one Pittsburgh zip: built before 1980, sold in the last 90 days, owner-occupied. Names are partly masked.
Zip 15216Sold last 90 daysBuilt pre-1980Owner-occupiedSingle-family
- Megan R.3017 Belrose AveBuilt 1928 · sold 34 days agoFirst-time buyerOriginal kitchen
- Chris & Tara N.1442 Potomac AveBuilt 1924 · sold 61 days agoOwner-occupied1 bath
- Owen D.2905 Glenmore AveBuilt 1951 · sold 22 days agoOwner-occupiedBasement
- Ayesha B.3120 Pioneer AveBuilt 1936 · sold 78 days agoFirst-time buyer
- Josh & Ana L.1715 Hillsdale AveBuilt 1942 · sold 45 days agoOwner-occupiedOriginal baths
AI draft for Megan R. · 3017 Belrose Ave
Dear Megan,
Welcome to Belrose Avenue, and congratulations on your new home. Houses on your street were built in the late 1920s, with solid bones, beautiful trim, and kitchens and bathrooms that most new owners update in the first year or two.
We just finished a renovation four streets from you on a 1926 house: a new kitchen opened to the dining room, a refreshed bathroom, and the original woodwork kept wherever we could. Because homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, we're EPA lead-safe certified and follow those practices on every job. The QR code on this letter opens the photos.
When you're ready to talk about plans, big or small, we'd be glad to visit and give you a realistic sense of cost and timing. No pressure, and no obligation.
Tom Kowalski · Three Rivers Renovation · PA HIC #PA184275 · (412) 555-0179
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to win renovation projects from new home buyers
Buying a home is often the trigger for the next big remodel. Buyers of older homes usually know what they want to change before they close: the kitchen that hasn't been touched since the 1980s, a bathroom with failing tile, a wall between the kitchen and dining room. Many plan to do the work in the first year, while they're already in disruption mode and before they settle into the house as it is.
That makes recent sales one of the most time-sensitive lists a remodeler can work. Filter for single-family homes sold in the last 30 to 180 days, built before about 1980, and now owner-occupied. Older homes are most likely to need major updates, and filtering out new construction and investor purchases keeps your list focused on people who will hire a remodeler for their own home.
Speed matters. New buyers often pick a contractor in their first few months, from a realtor's referral, a neighbor, or whoever reaches them first with something useful. Mail within a few weeks of the sale, and run the campaign every month so each new buyer hears from you early.
Make your letter stand out from the flood of new-mover mail. Instead of a coupon, welcome them to the street, name the home's era and what owners usually update first, and show a nearby project in a similar house. That tells them you know their kind of home and that the result fits the neighborhood.
Older homes come with responsibilities. For homes built before 1978, the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule requires that renovation work disturbing painted surfaces be done by a lead-safe certified firm following specific practices. Mentioning that you're certified reassures new buyers, especially families with young children, and sets you apart from contractors who aren't.
Partner with the people who reach buyers first. Realtors and lenders often get asked for contractor recommendations. A short note to agents who sell in your area, with the same portfolio link, can turn into a steady source of referrals.
71×return on a year of Spur Team from one $42,000 kitchen and bath renovation
One first-year renovation covers years of Spur.
- Spur Team: $49/mo billed annually = $588/yr
- 50 new buyers a month × 12 months × 1 letter = 600 letters at $1.29 = $774
- Two $42,000 kitchen and bath renovations = $84,000, about 62× the software and postage combined
Example math. Sales volume, project size, and close rates vary by market. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual new mover marketing
What you needThe usual waySpur
Recent sales of older homes onlyEvery new mover, including renters✓ Built in
Welcome letter about their home's eraGeneric welcome coupon✓ Built in
QR to a nearby renovationLink to your homepage✓ Built in
Monthly list pulled automaticallyBuying a list when you remember✓ Built in
Scan alerts for every new buyerNo way to see interest✓ Built in
New Buyer Renovation by the numbers
Why new buyers of older homes renovate early
Pre-1978
homes require a lead-safe certified firm for renovation work that disturbs painted surfaces
$450B+
spent each year by U.S. homeowners on improvements and repairs
71×
return on a year of Spur Team from one $42,000 kitchen and bath renovation
FAQ
New buyer renovation questions
How do remodelers find new homeowners?
Use recent sales records. In Spur, filter for single-family homes sold in the last 30 to 180 days, built before 1980, and now owner-occupied, then mail a welcome letter with a QR to a nearby project.
When do new homeowners start renovating?
Many plan changes before closing and start in the first year, often in the first few months. Reaching them within weeks of the sale gives you the best chance to be considered.
What should I send new homeowners as a remodeler?
A welcome letter that names the home's era and what owners usually update first, with a nearby project as proof. Skip the generic coupon, which gets lost in new-mover mail.
Do I need lead-safe certification to renovate older homes?
For homes built before 1978, the EPA requires renovation work that disturbs painted surfaces to be done by a certified firm using lead-safe practices. Mention your certification on the letter.
How often should I mail new homebuyers?
Monthly. Set up an automation that pulls each month's new sales of older homes in your area and mails them, so every buyer hears from you early.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
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