Total Installer May-June 2019

The View from Certass
ADD TO YOUR OFFERING: FINANCE
MADE EASY FOR INSTALLERS
Jon Vanstone discusses Certass’ new finance offering to help installers win business.
Having a finance option as part of the quote
for homeowners looking to replace their
windows and doors has long been a
challenge for installation companies. However,
there is now a way to be able to do this as part of
the transaction without many of the past
perceived barriers to trade.
It can be a lot of work, especially for the small
and medium-sized installation companies who
sort out their own admin after a day surveying or
installing windows and doors. Installers pitching
finance to homeowners after they have quoted for
the job is often a time-consuming process and
doesn’t always have the desired outcome. But we
also know that being able to make finance an option
to homeowners is a big benefit for many installers.
A full house of windows and doors doesn’t come
cheap, and there’s a trend for higher value
products such as wide span doors. Bigger order
values often come with a greater demand from
homeowners for flexible payment options.
Talking to Certass members, we could see that
there was a need to create an easy solution for
installers to provide finance as an option. This
would help them maximise the sales potential
without detracting from their day to day business.
A different model
To remove the barriers to finance that many
glazing installers were experiencing, we could see
that a different model was needed. Working with
BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Certass has
created a new package for members to have
personal finance options for homeowners to
choose. Not only does it give
Certass members a competitive
advantage, it gives homeowners
a better choice for their homes
too.
Our members do a great job of fitting
double glazing and getting paid. The
numbers say it all. There have been more than
3,000 positive homeowner reviews of Certass
members through our online ratings system, and
99.92% of Certass’ audited jobs pass Building
Regulation standards first time.
An easier process
The finance option works through a software
package that’s specially designed for Certass
members who sign-up to use the new technology
platform.
It’s a complete, easy quote, project management
system, so members can use it to price up jobs
and send detailed quotations to customers. On
this quote, installers can give a cash price and
where applicable, finance will show as an option
for the homeowners to choose. There’s no finance
sales pitch and no extra work for installers. In
fact, the software system makes the whole
quoting process a lot easier.
The platform reduces any unnecessary regulatory
burden, so installers don’t need to worry about
filling in any paperwork or applying or paying for a
consumer credit licence. It also helps members to
digitise their business by providing a true end to
end service for homeowners. To get paid, Certass
members win the job, fit the products to the high
Left: Jon Vanstone, Chair of Certass.
standards that homeowners
expect from our members and
get consumer sign-off.
It’s another way we’re helping
smaller installation companies to get
on-board with digital. The software allows
installers to present professional quotes, store and
manage jobs, to help keep on top of paperwork –
an extra free benefit which saves time and keeps
everything organised for Certass members.
“This finance package
helps small, local
installers to trade more
effectively and grow
their business”
Offering more to installers
For Certass, common-sense certification is about
offering more to installers than just a building
certificate. Alongside our Digital Support Package,
access to Alternative Dispute Resolution and lowcost
public liability & business insurance, this
finance package helps small, local installers to
trade more effectively and grow their business.
This new service was launched at FiT Show 2019,
where BNP Paribas and the technology firm
shared a stand space with us. We received some
excellent feedback from visitors to the show, and
we are already confident that this new package
will be a big hit for members.
“It’s another way we’re helping smaller
installation companies to get on-board
with digital”
Contact Certass
01292 292 095
www.certass.co.uk
@CertassLtd
14 TIJULY/AUG 2019 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST