Our most-read stories of the summer

With Labor Day behind us and summer unofficially over, we rounded up our five most-read stories from June to August. 

✏ Inside Buehler Air’s $20 million marketing machine 

Jason Buehler (no relation to Ferris) has seen his FL-based company, Buehler Air & Plumbing, grow significantly over the past 14 years, with revenue up nearly tenfold in the past five years alone.

• The big picture: The company is on track to bring in $22 million in revenue this year, with 5-6% allocated to marketing. 

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📈 The HVAC industry has seen consolidation — but it’s not over yet

A few years ago, when the U.S. shut down, consumers were stuck at home, received stimulus checks from the government, and — while interest rates fell to near 0% — decided to invest in their homes. 

• HVAC contractors prospered, and a frenzy of M&A activity ensued. Investor-backed platforms went on shopping sprees, and valuations jumped.

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💭 Is “Uber for HVAC” possible?

It’s obvious: The HVAC industry is changing. Thanks to the Amazons of the world, today’s consumers expect more than ever. 

• The “I want someone here now!” mentality is real, and raises a new question for the industry: Is there room for an on-demand, Uber-like platform in HVAC? 

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🎉 California contractor launches smart thermostat startup

Nuve, a new thermostat startup founded by NexGen HVAC & Plumbing’s Ismael Valdez, recently launched to “help contractors retain more customers,” Nuve’s Chief Product Officer, Travis Ringe, tells Homepros.

• Why it matters: Acquiring new customers is becoming more expensive, as competition, partly driven by deep-pocketed consolidators, heats up.

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👨‍💻 Pika’s David Zhao on building the “front office for HVAC”

“It’s a shame homeowners aren’t more stoked about having contractors in their homes.”

• “Contractors are great at building strong face-to-face relationships — they’re some of the best, most personable people I’ve worked with — but I think they’re being let down by the tools they use to translate that relationship to a sale.”

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