To celebrate Galaxie Home Remodeling’s milestone of completing 25,000 jobs in the Chicago area over the past 28 years, president Bruce Pinsler added a map to the company website that shows the approximate location of all the company’s work. The site’s “In Your Neighborhood” tab takes visitors to a map where different pin colors indicate 11 project types, including additions, kitchens, baths, roofing, and siding.

Clicking on a pin brings up a brief project description, date, and in some cases, an image. A link takes users to additional images, a longer project description, and client testimonials. Prospects can also enter their ZIP code to search for projects near them.

Currently Galaxie has about 1,000 projects posted, but as the company can only add 50 to 100 entries per day, it’s an ongoing process. Actual client addresses are not included; Google Maps coordinates are used instead.

Pinsler asks his staff to take before and after photos for the company’s project gallery and the map. “My website is my showroom,” he says. “It should have lots of information so the person who’s looking can find what they want.”

Client Engagement

GuildQuality, a third-party survey firm for the building industry, has also added a map feature to its clients’ profile pages. “Part of what we do is make the qualifications of remodelers ... as transparent as possible,” says president Geoff Graham. “Customer feedback is a huge part of that. So is location.” He expects the maps will help contractors create a stronger level of engagement with prospective clients.

Emily Smith, marketing communications manager for Atlanta remodeler AK Complete Home Renovations, a GuildQuality client, says that the map is useful in an expansive metro market such as Atlanta so clients can pinpoint projects in their immediate area.

GuildQuality posts the map for all its contractor clients with a default setting that hides the exact addresses. Remodelers can opt to show actual addresses. Graham says that the map works in concert with the customer testimonials. “The pins alone are useful, but not as compelling to customers as what [another] customer in [that] ZIP code has to say.”

—Nina Patel, senior editor, REMODELING.

The different color pins on Galaxie Home Remodeling’s map indicate project type.