While most of our customers are homeowners looking to make their own lives a little easier, more and more investment property owners are realizing our service can save them time and money.

Protect Your HVAC Asset

As an investor, it's important to recognize the asset value of your property's HVAC units. Replacing an air conditioner or furnace unit typically costs at least $5,000 in parts and labor but, if properly maintained, can last for over 15 years. That said, units that are not properly maintained (CHANGE YOUR FILTERS REGULARLY) are much more likely to break, resulting in major maintenance expenditures and major landlord headaches.

But It's the Tenant's Job - I Put It In The Lease!

Residential leases often require tenants to perform some routine maintenance, and often explicitly mention replacing filters. It's a reasonable request from property owner to tenant. However - if you're not checking up on it, how confident are you that it's happening?

Let's be serious - most tenants aren't t concerned about maintaining their landlord's air conditioners. Even the best intentioned tenants have busy lives and going to the hardware store to buy replacement filters is something that can easily be put off. Even if you inspect the filters on a regular basis, it's an impossible clause to enforce and is it even worth raising this issue with an otherwise great tenant?

Make Your Tenants Happy

So although sweet Mrs. Henderson isn't heading to the hardware store quite often enough - maybe her Christmas cookies have earned her a pass on this one. Your tenants value clean air and energy savings as much as you do. Sign them up for On Time Air Filters and explain that they'll be receive a box of new AC filters every few months. The first time they come, show them how easy they are to replace and tell them that they'll save money on their electricity bill and breathe in cleaner air. They'll appreciate your effort, expense and gesture and often, good landlords make good tenants. If you're protecting your investment at the same time, all the better!

P.S. - If your tenant's a smoker or has pets, you may want to spring for the "Best for Pets" filter to help eliminate odors. With any luck, you may be able to avoid replacing the carpet for the next tenant.

If you're a landlord or investment property owner with multiple properties, feel free to contact us for volume discounts.

Filed under: Matt Robins • Landlord Tips • air filter subscription • Air Filters • Income & Investment Properties

Today we launched what I'll v1.9 of OnTimeAirFilters.com.  This version brings some significant imporvements to the filter selection wizard that not only makes the ordering experience even easier, but also allows us to significantly expand the range of HVAC and whole house filters that we offer.  Step 1 of the wizard now has a truly awesome menu structure that organizes filters by size and, in the case of whole house filters, by name brand replacement.  This menu structure allows us to massively expand the number of filters offered while keeping the selection process organized and simple to use.  Additionally, we have added an entire section of custom filter sizes as a separate section in the menu.  These are the most common of the uncommon sizes customers have requested.  Of course, if you don;t see your size, just let us know.  We offer a custom filter size service so we can deal with just about any situation you have.

What else?  Well, check out the detailed information we now provide on whole house filters....replacement brand, actual filter size (versus the listed size printed on the filter frame), part number, air cleaner model number, and other important details are now listed for every whole house filter we carry.

So why is this v1.9?  Well, we still need to add the "My Account" feature.  It's in development and was originally planned for this release, but we wanted to get these improvements our right away.  The My Account release is right around the corner.

So, give our new site a whirl and let us know what you think.  We are always trying to improve our service.  Your feedback is always welcome.

Before I forget, I HUGE shoutout to the great folks at Rusty Brick, and especially Michael B., for the world class job they performed pulling this version together.  The Best.  Period.

Filed under: Mark Leffers • MERV • air filter delivery • HVAC • air filter subscription • Air Filters • Air Filter Sizes • Whole House Air Filters

We're always looking for insight into how to reach new customers with our not-so-well-known scheduled air filter delivery service.  So when we have a chance to speak to existing customers, we obviously want to know how they found us.  I spoke to a gentleman in Bethesda, MD yesterday.  He needed an unusual air filter size for his HVAC system that he couldn't find at the local hardware store.  With a house full of cats he needs to change the filters frequently and he wanted a solution that didn't involve running from store-to-store looking for the right sizes every three months.  He went online and found On Time Air Filters.  He loves our service and even offered to let me know if he came up with any clever marketing concepts that we could us.  While we pretty much never refuse a a good offer, I suggested that the best thing he do for us is recommend us to his friends.  Nothing beats a personal vote of confidence. 

Filed under: Mark Leffers • MERV • HVAC • air filter delivery • Air Filters • air filter subscription • Air Filter Sizes

 I once had a boss who used to talk about old-time marketing and used to say "test breakthroughs, not whispers." I'll be honest, I never really was sure what that meant in terms of new-world marketing, because so often in testing and building web startups, the early signs of buy in are just that: whispers.

Case and point? Today we got an early-morning order via an Adwords ad.  The search term for the shopper?  "Air Filter Subscription."  One visit to the site. One trip through the shopping cart, and "click", a new soon-to-be-happy customer for On Time Air Filters home delivery service.

I don't write every new customer, but I did write this one.  Jed, I said..."can you remember what made you aware of the fact that there existed an 'air filter subscription' service."  I mean, I wanted to know.  Was Jed at a great party over the holiday weekend, and someone started gabbing about the wonders of routine home air filter delivery? Could happen.

Jed being the decent sort wrote right back, and Jed...said:

"I think I heard of it somewhere as a blurb or online, but I honestly don't remember -- but wherever it was it stuck.  If I come across it again I'll let you know for certain.  The model makes so much sense it's silly not to sign up."

Did you catch that?  "Silly not to sign up!" Naturally, we now love the real Jed and Jeds everywhere who are starting to hear the buzz about on time air filter subscription and delivery services like ours.

It's a whisper, but increasingly based on our analytics, becoming an audible patter.  We'll be patient, continue providing great service, getting the word out, and hoping for louder yelps sometime soon.

Filed under: Sue Heilbronner • HVAC • Advertising & Marketing • Air Filters • air filter delivery • air filter subscription