Picture this: a customer calls for their annual standby generator service after skipping last year’s tune-up. You arrive, prepare your tools, and realize the generator is having trouble starting. You assume something is wrong with the battery, but after further inspection, you see some other issues, as well: the coolant is not only low, but the engine is overheated, which has caused some severe mechanical damage. You explain what it would cost to repair the unit, and the homeowner nearly faints.
Or maybe someone calls because the light on the side of their generator has turned red and they think there’s a problem. Upon further inspection, you see that the spark plugs also need to be replaced. And the fuel gauges are stuck. And there looks to be a moderate clog in the line. When you explain this to them, they say they don’t have the money to fix it all at once — but they also don’t have any notion of how much it will cost to address these issues later if left unresolved.
Or maybe, just maybe, you have an HVAC customer ready to purchase a brand-new generator. You sit down, figure out exactly what type of model they need, and then they see the price tag.
Whether it’s an untimely repair or the cost to install a new unit, almost all contractors see it time and again: sticker shock.
Sticker Shock: A Contractor’s Greatest Enemy
Sticker shock, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “astonishment and dismay experienced on being informed of a product’s unexpectedly high price.” With HVAC, plumbing, and standby generator repairs and installations ranging from anywhere between a few thousand dollars to over $20,000 in price, it’s no wonder that so many sales teams lose clients at the kitchen table, regardless of their personal needs. Who can blame them?
If you’re looking for an easier way to sell standby generators, the Premier Program® is for you.
Help Homeowners Afford the Standby Generators They Need
It’s no secret that standby generators cost an arm and a leg to install, but what customers don’t realize is the amount of ongoing maintenance required. According to Financial Analyst Michael Reynolds, there are several ongoing costs of generator ownership that homeowners need to factor into their budgets, including:
- $300-500 annually or biannually for regular maintenance services, including an annual service check, oil and filter changes, air filter replacements, coolant system services, and spark plug replacements.
- $800-1,500 every five years for major repairs and component replacements, such as control board replacements, engine replacements, and battery replacements.
- $120-480 annually for professional monitoring services, which include unit monitoring options that send homeowners and/or their contractors alerts when something is amiss, allowing them to act proactively rather than reactively.
When factoring in so many unforeseen costs, homeowners could face an annual average of over $1,200 across a five-year span — after the cost of the unit itself!
Sticker shock, indeed.
What if instead of endless repairs and unbelievable upfront charges, you could offer customers the option to receive:
- A new, high-efficiency generator unit
- Professional installation
- Ongoing maintenance, including OEM-recommended updates
- Full-service repairs with all covered parts and labor included
- Worry-free system management
And all for one simple, predictable monthly payment without hidden fees, surprise costs, processing charges, or large downpayments?
Now that’s a better way to pay.
With the Premier Program, comfort advisors nationwide are giving homeowners peace of mind when considering either a new standby generator install or a serious repair. This all-inclusive model can not only save homeowners thousands of dollars at the time of installation, but it keeps those kitchen table conversations moving forward for contractors, resulting in better close rates and long-term customer loyalty.
What if Customers Don’t Qualify for the Premier Program?
At Comfort Connect, we focus on offering Home Comfort-as-a-Service, and the Premier Program is at the heart of that model.
However, we believe home comfort should be available to everyone, regardless of financial situations, which is why our all-in-one point-of-sale financing platform gives you the ability to service customers with low and no-credit options with other financing solutions through one application that returns near-instant decisions. This results in more homeowners getting approved, thus more success at the kitchen table.
In addition, the platform also offers repair financing options for homeowners who don’t need a new generator but still require a loan to get their current unit up and running. Maybe their generator is only two years old; they likely won’t need a new installation. But standby generator repairs can be expensive, and not everyone can break the bank to fix what’s been broken. With repair financing solutions in your back pocket, you can help more people and close more deals simultaneously.
Every customer’s situation is different, and people all over the country need standby generators for various reasons. Our platform helps you help them in their times of need.
What Are You Waiting For?
Sticker shock can be a deal-breaker for contractors, and the truth is, there hasn’t been much they can do about it — until now.
Instead of offering your customers new installs that come with huge down payments (which don’t include operational maintenance and repair costs), consider the Premier Program and our all-in-one financing platform to give your team a better way to sell — and your customers a better, more affordable way to pay.
Interested in learning more? We’d love to hear about your goals, your pain points, and why you’d be a great fit for the program. Reach out today and see exactly why the future of home comfort is Comfort Connect.
