Model Homes that Sell
Model Home ideas that help sell homes
Customers For Life
Feb 9th
One of the benefits of living in Dallas is being able to see some great entrepreneurs at work and experience what has made them successful first hand. Being able to ride horses side by side with Norman Brinker and to be able to learn from him was a gift I’ll never forget. After attending the IBS show I started thinking about what clients are looking for in their customer experience.
Someone who understands what customers want is Carl Sewell of the Sewell Auto Dealers. Even though he isn’t in the housing business his sound philosophy applies to any business model. To learn more about what has made him so successful, pick up a copy of his book, “Customers for Life”. Even if you aren’t looking for a car, you need to experience one of their dealerships if you get a chance. Every location is spotless – from the grass by the curb to repair bays – there’s not a candy wrapper or empty water bottle in sight. There are no cases of “it’s not my job” – everyone pitches in. Sewell not only takes great care of his customers to earn their loyalty, he is that way to his team members as well, and it shows. These are people who love their jobs and share their enthusiasm with everyone around them.
It’s also about being a resource and helping, not selling the client. No one wants to feel like they are being forced into making a decision or buying something, but if you are the person who can give them the resources to make their own educated decisions you will definitely earn a Customer For Life.
The Home Idea Factory and Lifestylist Design are true believers in this philosophy – we have one client that we have been working with for almost 20 years! We believe in only working with a few clients so we can give them our undivided attention and become a vital part of their team. We also don’t believe on settling for “doing things the way they have always been done.” As a Lifestylist understanding the buyer’s lifestyle is an important part of what we do, and when you walk our model homes or see our decors and designs you can see the difference. We are one of the few design companies that works with site builders as well as modular, prefab and manufactured housing builders giving us a unique insight into the housing industry.
Are you ready to make a change to increase sales and profits? We would like to partner with one more builder or manufacturer that we can share our successes with. If you think your company might be a good fit, please contact us at: answers@lifestylist.com We’ll even bring you your own copy of Customers For Life to help you learn more about this great concept.
Model Homes in Dallas
Feb 8th
Lifestylist Design has worked on model homes from coast to coast, but one of the things we pride ourselves on is that we are very selective about which clients we work with. Customer service is a priority and I’ll only take on clients that I can give my full attention to and become a part of their team. Because of this philosophy I couldn’t be more proud of every model home that we do.
We have finally found the perfect client in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and our partnership has begun! This client thinks “out of the box” and is really listening to what the buyer wants. We all say we do, but this builder is actually doing it. They have been waiting in the wings doing their research and homework, but finally the first four homes are under construction! Our new model will be opening up in the Spring at a grand opening that’s going to be a lot of fun. That’s all I can tell you right now, but if you want more information feel free to contact us directly at: answers@lifestylist.com
Are you looking for a lifestylist design approach that creates models that truly sell homes? We’d love to talk to you and explain the Lifestylist difference.
Memorable Model Homes
Feb 7th
Noted designer and retailer Alexander Julian made the following observation:
“We have to be creative about getting people into our homes and stores now. In deciding if what you offer turns them on, consumers look you over for an average of 15 seconds. In that time, you need to rock ‘em and sock‘em and give them something that moves them. And you can’t do that with anything but product that is visually stimulating and exciting.”
With the contraction of the economy, everyone is on a budget and there is a lot more thought and time spent on how they are going to spend every hard earned dollar. Consumers visiting an average of 30 model homes before they even begin to think about making a decision. What makes your models memorable and brings them back to your sales center/ community? One of the favorite models Lifestylist Design worked on was the Purple Cow model and campaign with Patriot Homes. Tying into Seth Godin’s Purple Cow book by building and merchandising something remarkable, we created a home and marketing campaign people still talk about, as well as winning a marketing award at the Nationals.
Making a model memorable doesn’t have to be extreme or expensive – it just needs to be well thought out. Highlighting a local non-profit can bring interest into your home. Doing a room that displays materials from the local Boy Scout troop, a gymnastics team or the aquatic center that is part of the planned community you are building in can give the buyer a memory point to make them remember your model above the rest.
Lifestylist Articles Published at MH Marketing Sales Management
Feb 6th
This year has started off as a busy editorial one -we had our Design Trends article published, then our answers to the Design Trends 2010 survey, and now we will have a new article published as of Wednesday on merchandising your model homes! There’s lots of information that can help the smallest to the largest builder, retailer, and developer – be sure to check it out. Lifestylist Suzanne Felber loves sharing all of the things she see when she travels across the country so be sure to check in often and see what’s new.
Let’s Give This Room a Hand
Jan 10th
Paint and color can make all of the difference in a room. This is a model home that The Home Idea Factory merchandised for @home Builders in Rochester, NY and we put the builder’s kids to work – with adult supervision we had the kids dip their hands in water based paint and apply their handprints to the wall. It added lots of personality to the room and was an easy, inexpensive way to make it unique and memorable.
Shaw Carpets Hosts the Worlds Largest Pie Fight
Jan 8th
Shaw Carpets had a great event in Grapevine, TX yesterday. A pie fight that was the largest in the world with 1,200 pies and 434 participants took place on their Anso Nylon carpet to show how easily it could be cleaned. Shaw understands lifestyle, and this Lifestylist has seen firsthand how well their carpets not only hold up to pie, but to other challenges as well such as pets, toddlers, and wine dinners. The best part is that Shaw made donations to Dallas Animal Advocates and their volunteers got to do the throwing. Feeding America was also a benefactor, and Shaw’s donation to the organization will provide up to 70,000 meals to people in 13 Texas counties.
Thanks to Shaw for a fun event and your support of a great organization.
Lifestylist Marketing -Back to Basics
Jan 1st
Happy New Year! One of the things I like to do at the end of every year is to go back and see what people have searched for or asked on my websites – it gives me a great snapshot of what people are looking for and want to know about when they visit. Thsi year, what exactly a Lifestylist is and what is Lifestylist Marketing was the number one question.
The Lifestylist philosophy is that “It’s all about You” – the client’s life and style is what dictates how a Lifestylist works with you. My favorite example is I had a client in Phoenix, Arizona that was a major Phoenix Suns fan, and their team colors are orange and purple. The client wanted their entire home done in these colors. What they wanted is what they got, complete with a child’s room with a hardwood floor striped like a basketball court.
I just spoke to a friend who’s dog had just dug up her entire garden and her daughter slammed the door on a neighbor’s hand – all in about 30 minutes time. Her needs and lifestyle are completely different from my Son – no kids, no dogs, and lives in front of his computer. What my style is wouldn’t work well for either of them which is why I need to understand the client and what their “hot buttons” are. It takes extra time and sleuthing to achieve this – many times the client has trouble putting into words exactly what they are looking for but know it when they see it. I take the responsibility very seriously – a person’s environment can truly change their lives in a positive or negative way. If someone is happy in their home their quality of life improves.
Lifestylist Marketing is about you, and what your needs are. Customer service is an obsession with me, and if I can’t help you with what you are looking for I’ll always try to find someone who can help you. Model home merchandising is something we have been doing for a long time and we have an extensive list of other qualified merchandisers, marketing consultants, research firms – you name it! Let us know what your needs are and we’ll try to help you find that special something or firm that you are looking for.
Time for a Change
Dec 19th
Change is a very scary word to most builders, especially when there is a cost associated with it. One of the objections I haer many times when looking at existing models and communities that aren’t doing well is that because it’s been slow they don’t want to invest any more money into a community.
@home Builders is doing well in this economy because they understand marketing and their buyers. When sales slowed down to three in a year at The Preserve they realized it was time for a change. The Home Idea Factory did the first two models and as a Lifestylist I had done my homework on what these buyers were looking for. Entertaining at home, taking advantage of the four seasons living that took place around the beautiful pond, river, and forests in the community and families were definitely the focus.
The new model and sales center have been a huge success! Last month they sold 8 homes and now they are taking reservations in the next phase instead of having to offer incentives. If your sales have stalled, the right course of action might be to see if your model, plans, and lifestyle you are displaying are still on trend or if it might be time for a change. The Home Idea Factory can come in and help you with this evaluation to see what is the best approach at the right cost.
Winners!
Dec 14th
Congratulations to Anderson, Hanson, Blanton and their clients The Tribute and Craig Ranch for their multiple silver awards in the Nationals competition! Jody Hanson is on the HomeAid Board with me and I have seen first hand what a wonderful job they do. They were also participants in Home Sweet Gingerbread Home and donated their amazing home to the Shared Housing Center. Jody is a very busy lady who is always giving back to the community – she also chaired the Dallas SMC this year that also received a silver award! They will now be going for a Gold award to be the very best of the best when the awards ceremony takes place at the IBS Show in January.
Will They Come Back?
Dec 6th
I’ve been reading a lot lately gathering information for my 2010 trend report. I’ve found it’s a great way for me to focus on what’s really going on in the market and to be able to share my research with my clients. In the process of doing this I’ve also found some great articles that aren’t necessarily trends but best practices.
Barclay Butera has become a great fresh force in the design world, and if you are not familiar with him and his work you should be sure to take a look at his website. What is really fun is that I have know his mother Karen Butera for years and she was one fo the driving forces and inspirations that lead me into model home merchandising. Many, many years ago I met Barclay when I think he was in school when we spoke on a panel together at the international Builders Show. It’s fun to be able to say I knew him when 
Barclay has a great quote on his website: “Furnishings don’t make a home. Life Does. And life isn’t something that comes from a store. Design is the way you present your lifestyle to the world. And that’s when the right furnishings make all the difference.” He also stated that if when people come to your store or model homes and they have a nice experience they are going to remember you and come back if they aren’t ready at that time to make a purchase. The sales person is such a crucial part of the buying process, but too often they forget that everyone that walks thru that door is a potential client or a possibility of a referral.