How to Send Postcards to Homeowners Planning New Kitchens

28/04/2026

If you run a kitchen showroom, supply kitchens, or fit kitchens for homeowners, one of the hardest parts of marketing is reaching people at the right time.

A homeowner might not be searching for a kitchen company today, but if they have just submitted a planning application for a rear extension, side extension, or open-plan kitchen-diner, there is a good chance they are starting to think seriously about a new kitchen.

That is where targeted postcard marketing can help. Instead of sending generic leaflets to every house in an area, you can send postcards to homeowners who are likely to be planning a new kitchen, based on local planning application data.

With BuildAlert, you can find these homeowners and send branded postcards to them at the click of a button. We handle the printing, postage, delivery process, and tracking, so you can focus on winning more kitchen enquiries.

Why Target Homeowners Planning New Kitchens?

A new kitchen is often part of a larger home improvement project. Many homeowners planning rear extensions are not just adding extra space. They are creating a bigger kitchen, an open-plan kitchen-diner, or a new family living area.

For kitchen companies, that makes planning applications a valuable signal. A homeowner who is extending their home may soon need help with kitchen design, supply, installation, worktops, appliances, lighting, and fitting.

Reaching these homeowners early can help your business get in front of them before they have already chosen a supplier, booked showroom appointments, or committed to another kitchen company.

How Do You Find Homeowners Planning New Kitchens?

The most effective way is to look for local planning applications that suggest a homeowner may be creating a new kitchen or kitchen-diner.

Not every planning application will mention the word kitchen directly. Many relevant projects appear as rear extensions, single-storey extensions, side return extensions, wraparound extensions, or internal alterations. These can still be strong indicators that a new kitchen may be part of the project.

With BuildAlert, you can search planning applications in your chosen area and look for keywords that are relevant to kitchen projects.

Useful Planning Keywords for Kitchen Companies

If you want to send postcards to homeowners planning new kitchens, these are the types of planning application terms worth looking for:

• Rear extension

• Single-storey rear extension

• Side return extension

• Wraparound extension

• Kitchen extension

• Kitchen-diner

• Open-plan kitchen

• Internal alterations

• Utility room

• Rooflights

• Bi-fold doors or sliding doors

These searches help you move away from broad, untargeted marketing and focus on homeowners whose projects are more likely to involve a new kitchen.

Why Postcards Work for Kitchen Suppliers and Fitters

Kitchen projects are visual, personal, and high-value. A well designed postcard can introduce your business in a way that feels more memorable than a generic online advert.

For kitchen showrooms, suppliers, and fitters, postcards can be used to promote your design service, showroom, fitting experience, recent projects, or free consultation.

The key is relevance. A postcard sent to a random household may be ignored. A postcard sent to someone who has recently applied for a rear extension or kitchen-diner project is much more likely to feel timely.

What Should a Kitchen Postcard Say?

Your postcard should be simple, direct, and focused on the project the homeowner is likely planning. Avoid trying to say everything. The goal is to get the homeowner to recognise that your business can help with their new kitchen.

You could also adapt the message depending on your business type.

• Kitchen showrooms: invite homeowners to book a showroom appointment.

• Kitchen suppliers: promote your ranges, worktops, appliances, or design service.

• Kitchen fitters: offer installation quotes for upcoming renovation and extension projects.

• Bespoke kitchen companies: focus on design, craftsmanship, and made-to-measure solutions.

What to Include on the Postcard

A kitchen postcard does not need to be complicated, but it should make the next step obvious.

• Your business name and logo.

• A clear headline about planning a new kitchen.

• A strong kitchen image or example project.

• Your local area or showroom location.

• A simple offer, such as a free design consultation.

• Your phone number, website, and email address.

• A QR code linking to your gallery, quote form, or booking page.

• A clear call to action, such as “Book your free kitchen design visit”.

When Should You Send the Postcard?

Timing matters. If you send a postcard too late, the homeowner may have already spoken to several kitchen companies. If you send it early, you have a better chance of becoming part of their planning process.

A good approach is to contact homeowners shortly after a relevant planning application appears, then consider following up later when the project has moved closer to approval or construction.

• Application submitted: introduce your kitchen company early.

• Application approved: follow up when the homeowner may be closer to choosing suppliers.

• A few weeks later: send a reminder with a recent project, offer, or showroom invitation.

How BuildAlert Makes It Easy

BuildAlert helps kitchen suppliers, showrooms, and fitters find homeowners who are likely to be planning a new kitchen based on local planning applications.

Instead of manually searching council websites, copying addresses, designing mailers, arranging printing, and posting them yourself, BuildAlert lets you send postcards directly from the platform.

This gives kitchen companies a simple way to reach relevant homeowners without running a broad leaflet drop or buying generic kitchen leads.

Example Campaign for a Kitchen Showroom

Imagine you run a kitchen showroom in Leeds and want to reach homeowners who are likely to be planning a new kitchen.

Using BuildAlert, you could search for rear extensions, side return extensions, wraparound extensions, and kitchen-diner projects within a set radius of your showroom. You could then select the most relevant homeowners and send them a branded postcard promoting a free kitchen design consultation.

Instead of paying to advertise to everyone in the area, your campaign is focused on people whose home improvement plans suggest they may soon need a kitchen supplier or fitter.

Why This Is Better Than a Generic Leaflet Drop

Leaflet drops can still have a place, but they usually target every house in a postcode area, regardless of whether the homeowner is planning work.

Planning application postcards are more targeted. They let you focus your budget on homeowners who are already taking steps towards a major home improvement project.

• You are not sending to every home on a street.

• You are targeting homeowners with signs of project intent.

• You can personalise your message around kitchens, extensions, and renovations.

• You can repeat the campaign each week as new planning applications appear.

Start Sending Postcards to Homeowners Planning New Kitchens

If you want to send postcards to homeowners planning new kitchens, the most important step is targeting the right people. BuildAlert helps you find relevant planning applications, choose the homeowners you want to contact, and send branded postcards without handling the printing or postage yourself.

Sign up to BuildAlert to start sending postcards to homeowners planning kitchen-related projects, or view our pricing to see how much it costs to contact local homeowners.

You can also learn more about using BuildAlert for construction leads and local home improvement opportunities.

Related reading

• How Builders Can Generate More Leads with Planning Application Data
• Manual vs Automated Builder Lead Generation
• What Are the Best Lead Generation Services for Builders?

FAQs

1. How do I send postcards to homeowners planning new kitchens?

You can use BuildAlert to find planning applications that suggest a homeowner may be planning a new kitchen, such as rear extensions, kitchen-diners, and open-plan living projects. You can then send a branded postcard directly from the platform.

2. Can BuildAlert send the postcards for me?

Yes. BuildAlert handles the postcard process for you, including printing, postage, fulfilment, and tracking. You choose the homeowners you want to contact and send postcards at the click of a button.

3. What types of planning applications are useful for kitchen companies?

Kitchen companies often look for applications mentioning rear extensions, side return extensions, wraparound extensions, kitchen extensions, kitchen-diners, open-plan spaces, internal alterations, utility rooms, and similar home improvement work.

4. Is this only useful for kitchen fitters?

No. This can also work for kitchen showrooms, kitchen suppliers, kitchen designers, worktop suppliers, appliance suppliers, bespoke kitchen companies, and fitted furniture businesses.

5. Why use postcards instead of online ads?

Online ads can be broad and competitive. Postcards let you reach specific homeowners whose planning applications suggest they may soon need a kitchen supplier, showroom, or fitter.