3 Ways To Boost Customer Satisfaction

Introduction – Why You Need To Start Right

Running a home service business isn’t just about getting the job done—it’s about building trust and creating happy customers who will call you back and recommend you to others. One of the simplest ways to boost customer satisfaction is by clearly defining expectations right from the start. When homeowners know what to expect—and see you deliver on it—you set yourself apart from the competition and open the door to more 5-star reviews and loyal clients.

The Secret To Successful Relationships

Pay close attention to this key concept: ‘Clearly defined expectations’ are the basis for all successful relationships.

This includes with your homeowner customers.

The above key concept is a powerful one-size-fits-all principle to guide your business and just maybe… your life!💖 (After all, you have a myriad of ‘ongoing relationships’.) But today, let’s focus on molding your business relationship with each residential customer…

I know. You’re thinking, “Steve, I’m not marrying my homeowner clients! I don’t care about a ‘relationship’.  Honestly? All I want is to a) do the job, b) get paid and c) get on to the next job!”

I get it but SORRY! It just doesn’t work that way!👎 To be truly successful in any Home Services business you MUST focus on each homeowner’s relationship with you AND your workers! Here’s why:

“80% of how a homeowner decides if your company did a ‘good job’ (5-star reviews!) or a ‘bad job’ (UH-OH, a nasty 1-star review!)😖 is based on their relationship with the individuals involved in the work process.”

Of course, doing 1) ‘good work’ is essential. In addition, you must provide 2) technical training, 3) quality materials, 4) well-maintained equipment and 5) hard working employees. But these five components combined only account for 20% of a homeowner’s ‘Client Delight Index’. (CDI)

NOTE: Business gurus promote the ‘Customer Satisfaction Score’. My problem here? A homeowner that is only ‘passively satisfied’ will never become a Customer Cheerleader singing your praises🐦 to everyone they know. (While posting ecstatic 5-star reviews about your workers!) So, let’s stick with my CDI- Client Delight Index!

Now let’s return to the ‘why and how’ of ‘clearly defining expectations’ for your residential customers. Remember, by defining what homeowners can expect will also help ‘differentiate’ your business from the competition and justify your ‘premium pricing’! WOO-HOO!

Remember, you’ll have MUCH more impact if you include photos on your website illustrating the below ‘clearly defined expectations’. Even better? Send a new customer a ‘How to get ready for us‘ email BEFORE your employees arrive! But do callers resist giving you their email?

RESOURCE: In our 3 hour, online Winning over your caller! seminar I share phone scripts that subtly convince callers to share their email address!💲💲  Click HERE for 100’s of ‘Lead Conversion’ ideas and systems to easily book prospects who use texting, email, Facebook, website chat or even… the phone!

A WARNING: Creating expectations that your company can’t consistently deliver on will backfire big time.😲 Remember, the only way to create Customer Cheerleaders is by DRAMATICALLY EXCEEDING their expectations! That said, think seriously about implementing these ‘expectation candidates’…

3 Ways to Exceed Your Customers Expectations

1. ‘No suspense’ arrival times. Easy peasy- just install real-time GPS tracking in each service vehicle. Plus insist on accurate estimated arrival updates from your enroute staff. Homeowners understand your people may be delayed- they just hate the uncertainty of not knowing what’s going on!😫

BTW, there are many industry-specific Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software programs that handle client scheduling, track your trucks and automatically text clients the projected arrival time. (These apps also handle contacts, marketing, payments and bookkeeping but that’s for another occasion!)

2. ‘Protect Your Home’ systems. I hope you’re already doing this stuff. But when you clearly define your ‘We protect your home’  procedures you are ‘marketing the sizzle’ while also calming nervous homeowners. So, pre-define how your workers a) park in the street and ask permission to pull into their driveway, b) place runners and wear shoe covers (booties) inside the home, and c) never will cut across a customer’s lawn.

3. Friendly, smiling workers in your home. Remember, the “80% Principle” I quoted above? It focuses on how your client’s FEEL about the individuals actually doing the work… your techs. So set the expectations high for your clients and then make sure your frontline workers can deliver!

Summary – Boost Customer Satisfaction to Keep Growing

At the end of the day, clearly defining expectations isn’t just about keeping jobs on track—it’s the key to turning customers into lifelong fans of your business. When you set clear standards and follow through, you boost customer satisfaction, earn glowing reviews, and make your company the easy choice over the competition. Put these small steps in place, and you’ll see big payoffs in trust, loyalty, and repeat business.