Simon May, Product Manager at Drayton, offers up some top tips for selling smart thermostats.
Although you may be apprehensive about jumping on the smart controls bandwagon, there is an increasing demand for these devices. Sales of smart thermostats were set to rise by a massive 40% in 2016, meaning there is great potential to boost business with smart controls installations and upgrades.
So what top tips can you follow in order to best recommend a smart thermostat to your customer?
Ask about energy concerns
Discuss any worries they have around their current energy usage – are they looking for ways to reduce consumption to save money? Have they noticed the cost of gas and electricity has gone up nearly £800 in eight years? That’s a massive 151% since 2004. If bills are becoming too high to afford, they will need to look into ways of being more energy efficient.
Discuss plans to reduce usage
Chat to the customer about how they plan to reduce the amount of energy they use. But is this the most effective way to lower bills while keeping warm at home? The answer is likely to be no, and this offers the ideal opportunity to present a better option.
Talk through the options
A better way to reduce bills is to make sure they have an efficient heating system in place. Maybe they could install a new boiler that offers higher efficiencies, and save up to £350 a year. If the cost of boiler replacement is too high, they could have a smart heating controls system fitted to provide an intelligent way to heat their home.
Chat about return on investment
Although a smart thermostat can cost anywhere from £150 to £250, the customer can quickly get this value back in the money saved on energy. Adding a modern ‘TPI’ room thermostat plus TRVs to a conventional heating system can reduce energy costs by 53%, which for an average UK household equates to around £564 – and new smart devices can take this even further with the enhanced control they offer. Discussing these savings with your customers can persuade them to opt for a smart controls upgrade.
Recommend the best smart thermostat
There are many smart thermostats available on the market – some are highly advanced, but these devices can require tricky wiring and a lengthy set up process. If the homeowner is looking for a simpler system that is great value for money and doesn’t require lots of personal information, there is a range of options to choose from, including Drayton’s miGenie collection.
Reassure them of easy installation
A simple smart thermostat that is wireless and features an industry standard backplate makes controls upgrades quick and easy, with installations taking as little as 10 minutes.
So don’t be afraid to suggest a smart thermostat to your customers, as there is the potential for them to save a significant amount on their overall energy bills.
