Pizza and Prizes

It seems like we just has a seminar, but yet here we go again!  We try to have a workshop every couple of months, because our clients come in throughout the year and we never want them to have to wait to long.

The seminars at the very beginning of the year tend to be the best attended- we had 54 in January.  Which for my ego is nice, but this time I think we will end up with 15-20 in attendance, and I actually really like that size as after the session is over we can all spend really good one-on-one time with those who came.

If you are considering coming, please try to make the effort.  It is an educational environment not a high pressure sales setting.  Of course we would like the opportunity to earn your business, but not because you got pressured in, but for the right reasons.

If you are not available for this session, there will be more in July and October!  Come enjoy dinner on us and learn before you leap!

How to stage your current home for a quick and profitable sale!

Once your home has been scrubbed, de-cluttered, and repaired,  staging your home is the last step you take before your home is ready to show. Think of staging as the difference between you getting ready for work on a regular day, and you getting ready on your wedding day.

You are clean and presentable every day, but the day you got married you went above and beyond.

We often describe our model homes as being “staged.” It is how we try to show the homes in their best light with carefully selected furnishing and décor, minus life’s day to day clutter.

Staging can help sell your home quicker and for more money so it is worth the effort.

It is all about evoking an emotional response from potential buyers.

Staging can be done by professional companies, but here are a few tricks of the trade to help you accomplish the same result:



• Use silk or wool throws over a side chair to add dimension

• Display knick-knacks in odd grouping (3,5 etc– that kind of odd– not Use plants, twigs, pinecones etc to bring in natural elements

• Re-luster furniture and cabinets to make them look richer

• Use a large bowl and fill it with fresh fruit for a focal point on your kitchen island

• Add a basket of bath products to the corner of your soaker tub

• Tie new towels with a pretty ribbon

• Use potpourri and fresh cut flowers to make your home smell pretty. Consider baking bread before a showing.

• Arrange some potted flowers or patio tomatoes on your deck and by your front door.

An informed customer is a happy customer

Eight years ago we started our home building seminars.  The first one was held in May at the Holiday Inn, Plattsburgh.   We weren't sure what to expect-whether customers would be interested in taking time out of their busy days to come listen and learn.

But while the content has evolved over the years, and the venue is now Dino's Pizza, one thing has stayed the same- our customers are appreciative of the information we provide.

The first year we did one seminar, the second year we did two, and since then we have done 4-5 every year.  We space them out so that there will always be a new learning opportunity in the not too distant future.  We go over how to finance a home and what a lender is looking for to qualify you for a mortgage, the differences and advantages of manufactured and modular homes, and how long the building process takes. 

One of my favorite points in the evening is the question/ answer portion because it changes each time.  I "bride" the attendees with little prizes for asking a question because people are shy at first, but it always gets going and sometimes gets pretty animated.

And while we offer this service with no cost or obligation, and while its primary intent is to educate our clients on what to expect during the somewhat daunting home buying experience, there has been an interesting unexpected effect from these workshops.  An informed customer is a happy customer.  It has also helped us as the builder when a new client has been to the home building seminar.  They have an idea of what happens next and aren't surprised when we talk about things like appraisals or NYSEG delays.

Our second session of the year is scheduled for tomorrow.  We have a couple "second timers" who are now a little closer to building who wanted to come learn a little more and several new faces- some have been into our see us, and some who saw the advertisement in the paper and tomorrow we will meet for the first time.

So as long as we have continued interest, we will put in the effort to host them!

A special thank you

We received a special acknowledgement of our and our contractors work yesterday.  It warmed my heart.  Our customer, Mary, came in and presented us with a beautiful play-by-play photo album of her home's completion from start to finish.

It was done with love, and she was so proud of her work, which made it even more special.

On a busy day, in a busy week, it was nice to get a thank you.  It reminds me of why we work hard at what we do.

February is American Heart Month

Heart disease has probably already affected you or someone you love.  In fact, it is the #1 killer of women.  Learn more and share your knowledge with those you care about- you could be a lifesaver!

Check out http://www.goredforwomen.org/ and order a GO RED healthy heart kit for up to 5 women you love!

Share heart healthy tips for Valentine's Day!

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Heart-Healthy-Valentines-Day-Tips_UCM_322023_Article.jsp

For every free Valentine you send on the Heart Association's website, Macy's will donate $1 up to $250,000 to  GO RED for women!

Take care of your heart and help protect the hearts of those you love. 

Your family needs you!

Home again, home again...

We just returned from Florida where our buyer’s group met. It is a mandatory annual meeting where the group must have a quorum of its membership to act on items.

It is interesting to see how others in the industry are doing both personally and professionally. It was nice to see some old familiar friendly faces who asked about the boys. They were surprised when they heard that Josh just turned 16. Many of them met him when we first joined the group in 2000, after taking ownership at PHO. A few met him even before that in '97 on a Fleetwood Homes cruise (photo.) He was just two then and we were the only ones who brought our kid. Needless to say, he got a lot of attention from the moms in the group missing their own children. I’ll never forget when he said to me after returning home “Mom, when are we going back to the boat?” Funny kid.

It was nice to see some new faces too, mostly the next generation in a family owned business. There were a couple of young men in their early twenties clearly trying to get out of their father’s shadows and make a name for themselves. And there were other young families that looked like ours when we first started. Amazing how fast this all goes by.

I was surprised by the optimism in the room. This is not a naïve group of people. Many have been building homes for 3 or 4 decades, and they represent all areas of the country. While most thought there were still challenges ahead, they were excited by the traffic at their sales centers and number of commitments to build they have received. We too are feeling excited about the opportunities that this year will bring. With 54 in attendance at the seminar, we felt like most folks have realized they need to take advantage of these low interest rates. And while not everything is necessarily perfect, that’s life. We have often found that when people wait for everything to be just perfect, they never achieve their dream, because perfect rarely comes.

So, it’s back to the cold as I write this on the plane, and I am looking through the new agreements we forged with our building partners, pleased about what was accomplished and excited to pass on our efforts to our customers for a great housing value.

Oh, and there was a celebrity sighting to report- we saw Johnny Damon at Margaritaville enjoying lunch with his wife and kids. Eric says he signed with Tampa. Pretty cool.

What is your inspiration?

Beyond the walls and R-value or our homes, what I find most interesting is the story behind a new home.  Each home is different, and the reason to do so varies as well.

Sometimes, like today, its to celebrate an expanding family.  I had the pleasure of having a great yong couple in today with their new baby daughter.  They have a 2 year old son at home as well.  They have the land and now we are helping to design their new home!

Other times, customers come to see us later.  I had a great phone conversation with a customer today and her husband passed away a couple of years ago.  She is now ready to start a new chapter in her life, and she has someone interested in their current home and business.  The new home will offer her peace of mind as she will have little upkeep in a new home. 

Regardless of the reason, we would be honored to help you.  A home is where you feel most safe.  Thank you for allowing us the privilege to assist you.