Convincing Retirees that Solar is a Smart Investment

 

Retirees are a huge portion of the homeowner population. Baby Boomers account for 42% of homeowners nationwide, and for many members of the generation, the pandemic pushed them into early retirement. 

Given the prevalence of retirees among homeowners, it’s important that contractors consider how effective their marketing methods are in appealing to this demographic. In this post, we review some of the common trends you’ll see among retirees, and evaluate how they can be leveraged in your sales pitch. 

Use Financial Strategy to Alleviate Affordability Concerns

With only their savings, pension, and/or social security to rely on for funding the rest of their lives, retirees can feel uneasy about making a big purchase like solar. As a contractor, you’ll need to walk them through the financial moves that can help them afford it and maximize their returns. 

Government incentives and traditional financing may not be enough for these buyers. Zero-down loans will be far more helpful, than even those that offer zero-payment, deferred-interest periods. 

Talk About Home Value Boosts 

Whether retirees aim to sell their home, or they’re planning on making it a part of their estate, the boost solar will give to their home’s value is a key point to discuss. Retirees may be a lot more amenable to solar if they have the assurance they can recoup their investment when they put their homes on the market. 

Many will also see solar as a wealth-building investment for the inheritance they pass on to their loved ones. Their home will only appreciate in value as solar becomes more of an essential item for real estate buyers. 

Speak to the Desire for an Elevated Lifestyle

It’s also interesting to note that many entering retirements actually look to upgrade their homes. While a large portion of retirees tend to downsize, about 22% express an intention to move up. This is motivated by a desire to finally live the lifestyle they’ve always wanted, in the type of home they’ve always dreamed of. 

These retirees want ample space, in a home that has no shortage of luxuries. They want to finally have a home that has all the bells and whistles. For these customers, adding a sleek new solar installation can be quite a draw. 

Though this particular subset of retirees will be less concerned about budgetary constraints, they will still find appeal in lowering their energy bills. This type of buyer will also find great satisfaction in the self-sufficiency solar systems provide them. 

Empower Your Solar Panel Lead Generation

Converting retirees into enthusiastic solar buyers is made a lot easier by leveraging the points above. But by and far, the quickest path to purchase comes when your leads have already been hand-selected for their viability. 

Here at Grid Freedom, we specialize in attracting and pre-screening leads, and helping contractors find customers worth pursuing. All of our leads are supplied with their first appointment already scheduled, leaving you fully prepped for the sale. 

The reliable ROI of our leads has made Grid Freedom one of the most trusted agencies in the country. Join free to see the caliber of leads you can acquire on a regular basis. 

Get Meetings with Homeowners at www.GridFreedom.com

Shut Down the Need for Solar Leads to Shop Around

 

After spending a considerable amount of time meeting with a homeowner, you may think you’ve hit all of the hot points in your sales pitch. Money savings, energy independence, improved home value, etc. - so you start to wind down to the big ask. 

When that moment comes, how often do you hear: “I think I need to get another quote first…”?

If you’re like most contractors, it probably happens quite often.

This stall is one of the most common barriers to turning a prospect into a sale. And the worst part is that it’s hard to argue with. Since solar is such a big investment, you can’t deny that homeowners ought to weigh their options well before taking the plunge. But this hanging point can be the point of no return if you don’t respond correctly. Below, we offer some effective methods for salvaging your pitch. 

Identify What They Want to See

Before concluding your meeting, ask them what it is they’re hoping to find in other quotes. Ask them to list what their top priorities will be when they’re evaluating. 

Getting the customer to identify these points is important because, in a lot of cases, they don’t really know the answer. Saying they want to get other quotes can be a reflexive response that simply comes from general uncertainty, not an actual interest in going through the same process with other contractors. 

Guiding the conversation in this direction will do two things: 1. It will help the customer form a more sensible plan for how to judge contractor bids. 2. It will likely make them realize that your bid already has everything they’re looking for. 

Cite Past Customer Decisions

The main incentive to get another quote is to see if a better deal is out there. You can clear up the mystery by informing homeowners that many other past customers who went looking eventually came back to your offer. They found that your company was truly the best team for the job, offering the best value for money.

Of course, this should be done with tact and without pressure. It’s not a rebuttal, but instead, just a small seed planted in their mind before they explore what’s out there. Invite them to circle back after a few weeks and see what they found. Even better, offer to help them review other bids if they need help making sense of the details. 

Your confidence, openness, and support will go a long way toward making them feel that you are a dependable and trustworthy authority. This is the type of security a customer needs to get that good “gut feeling” about moving forward with you. 

Minimize the Threat of Competition with Exclusive Solar Leads

While using the techniques outlined above will certainly help keep your customers from seeking out other contractors, the best way is to start from leads that have been isolated from other proposals all along. 

When you limit your sourcing to only exclusive solar leads - those that haven’t been shared with other contractors - you’ll begin the customer relationship with greater control and ease of communication. 

Avoid the urgency that comes from other contractors zoning in. Give your clients a pressure-free experience that allows them to feel comfortable about your team and your product. Lead exclusivity creates the best environment for making a sale that the homeowner feels happy and confident about.  

Grid Freedom specializes in supplying contractors with their own exclusive leads. Once we’ve delivered one of our pre-screened, top-quality leads, it’s never shared again. We preserve the unique connection you have with the homeowner so that you can focus on building rapport and supplying the information they need. All leads are offered with no contracts or purchase minimums necessary, keeping risk out of the equation. 

Find Zero-Competition Leads at www.GridFreedom.com

Making Up for Project Losses with a Solar Marketing Company

 

Despite the immense growth of the sector as a whole, many individual contractors have reported some serious hardships in the past few years. Sales dropped for numerous companies, either through rough patches or the entirety of the recent timeline. 

In response, more and more contractors are seeking outside help. Turning to a solar marketing company has emerged as a top strategy for rebounding. 

If you’ve found yourself in these same shoes, you’ll find that working with the right agency can more than makeup for the losses you’ve experienced. Below, we discuss the topic in further detail, from the causes of recent sales struggles to the necessary qualities of a successful agency partnership. 

What’s Been Keeping Contractors Down?

The answer to this question is varied and complex. It’s no secret that the pandemic wrought havoc on the global economy, stalling production and delaying shipments for extended periods of time. The construction industry is still suffering the blow to material supplies, which has, in turn, halted much of the new construction and renovation that solar contractors rely on for new business. 

Add to that the fact that job losses and inflation have seriously cut the budgets of would-be buyers, and it’s clear why there’s such a scarcity of residential solar opportunities. 

But the problem had roots before the pandemic even hit. The Trump administration enacted tariffs that raised the prices of many foreign solar product imports. Controversy over foreign manufacturing is still causing trouble today, with the U.S. Department of Commerce announcing an investigation of tariff circumvention by solar manufacturers. 

Surveys have found that within just one week of this announcement, hundreds of solar contractors have reported an extreme impact on their finances. Around 200 companies claimed that they have had solar panel deliveries delayed or outright canceled in response. Pivoting to domestic sources won’t be much of a solution either, as American manufacturers are stating that their own production abilities are being significantly hindered due to the use of Chinese components. 

It seems that from all sides, contractors are experiencing a serious squeeze. Whether from the domains of supply or demand, hard pressures are creating obstacles to making consistent sales.

How Solar Agencies Help

Working with a proven solar marketing company can give contractors quickly, secure access to customers who are actually ready and able to buy. 

Companies that can deliver quality leads adhere to the industry’s top standards for solar lead generation, using attraction-based marketing and implementing targeted screening that accurately assesses a homeowner’s suitability. Once the most promising leads are selected for sale, their viability should be maximized via complete exclusivity  - meaning that after the lead is sold to one contractor, it’s never sold again. 

This may seem like a basic expectation for paid leads, but sadly, a vast number of agencies do not offer exclusivity. They will sell leads that are being accessed by multiple contractors, tanking the likelihood of anyone closing.

Agencies that stick to the right principles are few and far between. But Grid Freedom has quickly become well-known for its dedication to policies that put contractors first. All leads sold by Grid Freedom are 100% exclusive and already qualified via a live screening procedure that ends with the scheduling of the first appointment. 

This system fast-tracks sales for contractors, allowing them to quickly make up for lost numbers. When you purchase leads from Grid Freedom, you are able to source as many (or as few) as you need, giving you the flexibility to adapt to your organic sales performance. 

Get Top Prospects from a Trusted Solar Marketing Company

Visit www.GridFreedom.com