Former Residential Brokerage Firm Owns and Operates 40 Manufactured Home Communities and RV Resorts in Six States
CHICAGO, IL (November 2, 2017) — Zeman Homes this month marks its 50th year of
operation and its emergence over that period as one of the country’s largest privately
owned operators of manufactured home communities and RV resorts.
Founded in 1967 by Bud and Dorothy Zeman, the company began as Zeman Realty, a
residential real estate company headquartered in Chicago’s Edison Park neighborhood.
Shortly thereafter, the company added a second office in Park Ridge and grew to over
35 real estate agents. Nearly a decade later, Mr. Zeman expanded operations to include
the listing and sale of mobile home parks, a business that quickly grew as the company
phased out its residential brokerage business.
Black Hawk Estates
Zeman Homes’ entry into the ownership and operation of manufactured home
communities came in 1983 following a sale that fell through for a client’s property.
Because Mr. Zeman had given his word that the deal would close, he and a group of
investors stepped in to make the purchase. Now, 34 years later, the company owns and
operates more than 11,000 individual sites in 40 communities across six states and sells
approximately 800 homes per year.
A Company Milestone
Commenting on the milestone, Zeman Homes’ Chairman Ed Zeman stated, “I am
humbled and proud to continue the legacy my mother and father started. It has been a
true pleasure watching our company grow from my days doing odd jobs after school at
the first property to where we are today. While the company has grown exponentially
over the years, our commitment remains the same – to provide high-quality living
environments both in the manufactured home space and in the RV resort market.”
Co-founder Dorothy Zeman added, “When Bud and I started this company back in 1967,
we were in our twenties with three little kids just trying to pay our bills on a day-to-day basis. We started this real estate company to make some extra money on nights and
weekends. Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected it to grow into the
company it is now.”
About Zeman Homes
Zeman Homes is one of the largest and most respected manufactured home operators
in the country. Founded in 1983 by Bud Zeman, Zeman Homes has grown to over 40
properties across the United States. The Zeman Homes team focuses on the business
of finding families and individuals affordable homes while developing, improving and
maintaining great neighborhoods. The company has also recently expanded its property
portfolio to include RV resorts in Florida and Illinois. For more information, visit http://www.ZemanHomes.com or call (877) 936-2646.
This announcement of Zeman Homes’ 50th Anniversary was provided to MHVillage.com by Katie Tharakan of Tharakan Consulting, LLC.
MMHA Home Showcase Emphasizes Flexibility of Manufactured Housing
The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association (MMHA) recently put on its second MMHA Home Showcase. It presented six manufactured homes to nearly 5,000 attendees at The Novi Home Show.
Adventure Homes, Champion Home Builders, Skyline Homes, Clayton Homes and Manufactured Housing Enterprises brought news homes to the show. Each home highlighted an array of styles, sizes and prices available from MMHA members.
The show homes ranged in size from a 746 square-foot single-section to a 2,100 square-foot multi-section. Attendees were able to see open floor plans, built-in entertainment centers, gourmet kitchen islands, fireplaces and porches.
Each home at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich., was well-appointed and staged for the show.
Professional, Consumer Feedback Affirm Direction of Design & Feature Options
“The MMHA Home Showcase, held in conjunction with The Novi Home Show, was the perfect setting to highlight these stylish, beautiful homes,” said Darren Ing, show director of MMHA. “To hear so many people complimenting the homes, designs and styling was exciting and encouraging.”
Prior to the opening of the MMHA Showcase Oct. 13, the MMHA hosted an industry-only reception where more than 125 MMHA members, legislative representatives and others involved in the business of manufactured housing mingled in the displayed homes.
Social Media Tour Garners Wide Attention
Additionally, a 5-minute Facebook Live tour of the new Catena home garnered more than 7,000 views, reached 22,000 people and had nearly 450 post engagements.
“After the positive responses from manufacturers, community operators and the general public regarding the MMHA Home Showcase last year, the association decided it was definitely worth the time and effort to bring these homes to the public again,” said Richard Winkleman, director of community operations for AJR Development and MMHA board of directors president.
The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association educates the public about the benefits of manufactured and modular home living, and connects people interested in a community or home with MMHA members.
MMHA is one of Michigan’s oldest trade associations, founded in 1941. MMHA is a nonprofit association that represents the manufactured home industry in Michigan. For more information, visit the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association.
MH Pros Go in Search of Answers on Florida Manufactured Housing Post-Irma
In the days following Hurricane Irma, a team of unlikely documentarians hit the soggy ground in South Florida searching for answers on manufactured housing post-Irma.
They handed out water and rations, called when they could to notify emergency workers of stranded or distressed residents, and offered plenty of blessings and well wishes too.
However, the line of questioning most often, and where the cameras were trained, had more to do with homes that remained rather than those wiped out.
“The industry fared much better than we anticipated,” Ayotte said following the visit to six communities in Naples and Bonita Springs, Fla. “There were fewer damaged and destroyed home than expected.
“The new product performed extremely well,” he said. “We did not find one home that was built and sited after 1994 that suffered any significant damage. Maybe a roof shingle or two that had come loose, but that was about it.”
A roof shingle or two, amid the piles of rubble, splintered lumber and debris that continues to fill front yards and line streets in some areas.
A Report from Storm-Damaged South Florida
An estimated 77 people died in or from the aftermath of the storm. Area emergency rooms a month later continued to see double the normal traffic; storm victims with severe dehydration, slip and fall injuries, or trauma from working to move debris.
“A lot of site-built homes had roofs missing, holes in roofs, blown windows,” Ayotte said. “There were boats and RVs stacked up on the side of the road. The amount of destruction in general was amazing.”
An older home adjacent Jenkins’ residence.
Older manufactured homes, Ayotte said, sustained damage, most often from attached structures pulling up from high winds, and ripping away siding or roofing fascia. But even those sustained only minor damage to the primary structure. FMHA continues to ask for input from residents, community managers and owners.
Ayotte said he saw two homes that shifted on their foundations.
“We had a good cross-section of the industry, and we met with a lot of community owners and home owners,” Ayotte said. “I was amazed at how upbeat and resilient these people were.
“We really believe that we have a great product, and these storms give us the opportunity to assess the industry and affirm that we’re building and siting the homes that we want to have out there. These homes are performing just as we want them to perform.”
How One Couple Survived Irma
John Jenkins is one of the homeowners Ayotte and his team ran across during their first tour of Florida manufactured housing post-Irma.
Jenkins, his girlfriend Susie and their dog BO, waited nervously in their 2017 Destiny home, which had been delivered and installed at Riverwood Estates in Naples only a few months prior. They watched the reports as the storm shifted and hopped west. And then they went from nervous to concerned, or something just shy of scared.
The couple placed a call to Jeff Wagner, from GTS Homes. Wagner had installed the home, and answered the call. He assured Jenkins that the home was sturdy and anchored tight.
“There was nowhere to go,” Jenkins said. “If you go north, that’s the track for the hurricane. If you go east, all of those people were coming toward us. It really surprised us. We were supposed to be out of the way. But Jeff assured me that everything was new and in place. He thought we’d be OK.”
‘Serenity inside this home’
“We watched that thing come up on us, we stayed in it as the eye came over top of us, then it hit again and scraped right across before swinging northeast again,” Jenkins said. “The fierceness of the outside made the relative calm and serenity inside this home very surreal. It was very much in contrast to what was going on outside.”
Flooded and debris-strewn streets in Naples, Fla.
Jenkins said his home shook a little. He saw a small leak atop the back door, which has since been replaced. His primary concern, he said, was getting hit by flying debris from other structures, automobiles and large trees.
Many homes in his community, he said, though older – from the ’70s and ’80s – stayed on the ground. That’s because of government-funded tie-downs handed out to residents following deadly Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Even without electrical and other municipal services for 10 or more days following Irma, which made landfall on Sept. 10, Jenkins and his girlfriend felt relatively fortunate.
True, they had damage to the skirting. But, the home and all Jenkins invested in it is intact.
“You can look out the back of my house and right through the front and through what used to be the living room of my neighbor’s home. That’s the typical story down here, of older built homes,” Jenkins said. “It was definitely an age thing… there’s no comparison.”
Implementation of health and safety standards for Florida manufactured housing:
1976 HUD code: Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards – Amended/updated several times including most recently in 2015.
“I didn’t have any house that I know of destroyed from this storm, and we sell all the way down to Key West,” Qurnell said. “Our goal is to give the customer the best possible product. I think we did that in this case and in most cases. And the industry as a whole is building and siting quality homes. We can stand to have more people understand that, particularly in the face of media reports that often paint a different picture.”
Qurnell points out that factory-built homes like his have the benefit of weekly inspections from fire marshals, something few site-built homebuilders experience.
“We can’t cut corners even if we wanted,” Qurnell said. “We build a high-quality home with the same shingles, siding, shudders and many other materials used for site-built homes. Those are the points where you can get wind lift in there and the damage can begin.”
To review manufactured housing post-Irma, Ayotte traveled with a videographer/photographer, a member of the marketing team and two representatives, including Qurnell, from noted home manufacturers. FMHA presented the video produced from the first and two subsequent trips to South Florida during the recent National Communities Council in Chicago.
“When we approached him about the storm, he said ‘I felt good.’,” Ayotte said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better testimonial.”
The 30-foot Fiero is a 274 square-foot tiny home that sells for $75,000.
Tiny House Appendix Q is the first residential legal description for an emerging American industry.
The tiny house movement takes shape
Veteran builder and noted tiny house aficionado Andrew Morrison took the stage recently at The National Tiny House & Simple Living Jamboree to talk about the new tiny home Appendix Q, the first-ever and little-known legal description of the dwelling style that has captured the American imagination.
Tiny Home Zoning and Code Expert Andrew Morrison
Ever since he and his wife Gabriella built and moved into their sub $30,000 tiny house, paid for out of pocket, the pair has been providing insight on the ins-and-outs of tiny homes to the droves of enthusiasts who will pay to listen.
Now, Morrison and associates have managed to install the tiny house Appendix Q into the 2018 International Residential Code.
This is more than a movement within the movement. More than a clarification in black and white. This is the stamp of approval for the birth of an industry.
“I travel all around the country and there are so many people who have yet to hear about the tiny house appendix,” Morrison said during his talk at the Jamboree in Arlington, Texas. “The tiny house code is, I think, the most important thing we have going on in the industry.
“We have a pathway, so let’s start using it. Let’s go with it. It’s a big deal,” he said.
How Tiny House Appendix Q Was Built
Morrison is a 20-year veteran of the building industry who in a 2015 TEDx talk provided insight toward compromised nature of traditional housing and home finance in the United States. The popular platform boosted his public profile. However, the real trick may have come in late 2016 when Morrison’s team managed to get language passed by the International Code Council in a single try.
“A friend of mine named Martin Hammer, an architect, saw a tiny home building code that was put together and it was… awful,” Morrison said.
The proposed language was deemed unusable. But its entry allowed Morrison’s team to engage the International Code Council in a two-month comment period, which, if handled well, would allow for entry of the consideration language.
Appendix Q Establishes Rules for Tiny Homes as a Permanent Residence
Tiny homes on display at the Tiny House Jamboree
Morrison, along with Appendix Q co-author Hammer, got to work on building tiny house Appendix Q with a focus on establishing the rules for a permanent residence, a home on a foundation that is built to stay as local planning allows.
“That’s one of the things we want to attain, is a house that meets health and safety code and is affordable,” Morrison said. “Housing is becoming less and less available to us, and that has to change.”
A team of 10 presented in Kansas City, Mo., during October 2016 in front of hundreds of building officials and fire marshals. They took questions, defended their position and made changes to the language as needed. When approved by a two-thirds vote, the same language needed the same approval from more than 20,000 registered professionals nationwide.
“We were vetted, and we won,” Morrison said. “We got it done in two months and approved in the first try… it usually takes six to nine years for something this massive to be approved.”
Next Steps on Tiny House Appendix Q
While approval of the tiny house language is a massive leap forward, much work remains.
Tiny homes have gained popularity in recent years because of increasing housing costs, stagnant wages and a what Morrison views as a “grassroots movement towards minimalism”. Builders need a code for residential tiny homes. However, the code also allows local building officials to offer guidance.
On that latter point, now that Appendix Q is part of the 2018 code, it’s up to individual states & municipalities to adopt the updated 2018 code, which often lags. Most governments are working under the 2015 code, and some continue to site the 2012 code.
“It’s the code that gets approved, not the appendix,” Morrison said. “These governments need to then choose which appendices they want. Do we want the straw bale, do we want the manufactured home, do we want the tiny home code? So we need to get out there and advocate for our code.
The Morrisons meet with state representatives to talk about Appendix Q as they travel for speaking engagements. They teach and they do presentations on tiny living, and encourage people to live an inspired life.
Added Language for Tiny House Appendix Q
Tiny House Appendix Q has mention of how to incorporate wheels in the build-plan.
Tiny home interior
But any incorporation in a build-plan of a trailer would require an application under Section R104.11 “Alternative materials, design, and methods of construction and equipment”.
“This allows people to supply engineered plans that will work for something not specifically addressed in the code itself,” Morrison said in comments following his presentation.
Tiny house experts now refer to anything that uses a chassis as a “moveable tiny home”. This replaces the phrase “tiny home on wheels”. The “on wheels” reference immediately makes inspectors and others in the validation process want to call the home an RV, which is a vehicle under the RVIA/ANSI codes. The “moveable” phrase means the home can be moved but is not stationed on wheels.
Movability of a home also becomes a difficult proposition for financing. This is primarily because a lender needs to know where to find a home, if needed, for financial recourse.
Darin Zaruba, founder of the Tiny House Jamboree, views Appendix Q with tempered enthusiasm.
“This certainly is a big step in the right direction, but given that the language was unable to address tiny homes on wheels, there remains a lot to be decided,” he said. “Tiny house Appendix Q addresses the residential code, but it’s anyone’s guess the direction homes on wheels will go. Will it be RVIA or ANSI? Will we be able to write something into the appendix? Everyone has opinions and preferences, but the question hangs out there.”
However, Morrison maintains that a tiny house can have a chassis, axles and wheels and still be a permanent residence. The home must be built to the approved IRC code for the area.
The heavy lifting has been done
“We will meet the code as it’s written right now,” Morrison said.
“This was done because all of the people on the other side of the table had droves of people coming saying they want to build a tiny home, but they couldn’t do anything. There was no code,” Morrison said. “So, they needed this, and that’s important to recognize.”
All-new lineup of modular homes redefines ‘A Smarter Way to Build™’for today’s market
Champion Modular, Inc. has announced that — as part of its 2016 acquisition of multiple manufacturing plants and renowned modular home brands — it is revitalizing and re-launching All American Homes®.
All American Homes is a series of more than 25 ranch, bonus-ranch, cape and two-story modular homes. Each home features high-end craftsmanship at affordable prices.
The All American Homes’ began in the 1970s and, after changes in ownership and a brief hiatus, officially debuts Jan. 17–19, 2018, at the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show.
So, Champion Modular will unveil the first home in the lineup in Louisville. The Brooklyn, a three-bedroom, two-bath ranch model, showcases the latest in design, styling and smart-home technology in the industry.
“Just as with Champion’s other brands, we know the pillars that will make All American Homes a success are its innovation, premium craftsmanship and commitment to integrity,” said Mark Yost, president of Champion Home Builders. “This new line is a continuation of an undeniably rich heritage, but it is also so much more than that. It is a reflection of this brand’s evolution — an evolution that mirrors the tastes of its customers and fits their diverse wants, needs and lifestyles.”
Demand Drives Relaunch Within Champion Modular
It was with these customers in mind that Champion endeavored to bring All American Homes back to the market. As a result, the change began with gaining insight into their valuable perspectives on what made the brand so iconic in the past, in order to make it successful today.
“Our goal was to not only reestablish the All American Homes brand, but to reinvigorate it,” reflected David Reed, vice president of Champion Modular. “To do so, we hit the road and spoke directly with many former All American customers, incorporating their feedback into our formula for success. The result is a solid product offering that integrates the preferences of its customers, but does so without sacrificing quality or affordability.”
A former customer of All American Homes weighed in on what the brand re-launch means to his company.
“All American Homes was a top modular homebuilding company for decades, so we are very happy to see it return,” said Bob Lang, owner of LaPorte Housing Specialists, Inc., in LaPorte, Indiana. “We have nothing but great memories working with All American in the past and look forward to once again championing the All American name.”
Also, All American Homes’ select building materials and amenities include cabinets by Merillat®; faucets by Kohler®; appliances by Whirlpool®; and Silver Line®windows by Andersen Windows and Doors®. Detailed product information and pricing will be available at the 2018 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show. To learn more about All American Homes, visitallamericanhomes.com.
About Champion Home Builders
Founded in 1953, Champion Home Builders specializes in a wide variety of manufactured and modular homes, park-model RVs, and modular buildings for the multi-family, hospitality, senior, and workforce housing sectors. Champion started as a single manufacturing facility in rural Michigan and grew to offer factory-built housing and other structures throughout the U.S. and western Canada. The company operates 28 manufacturing facilities throughout North America and employs more than 5,200 people.
About Champion Modular
Champion Modular is a wholly owned subsidiary of Champion Home Builders and was established in 2016 as a company strategically focused on modular construction. The company specializes in high-quality single-family homes, upscale customized homes and commercial structures. Champion Modular products are built under the All American Homes®, Excel Homes®, New Era Building Systems™, New Image Homes®, North American Housing and Champion Commercial Structures brand names.
Join MHVillage and a slate of designers, builders and lifestyle coaches at the Tiny House Simple Living Jamboree Oct. 27-29 in Arlington, Texas
Get ready to explore more than 60 tiny living structures, learn from the experts, find unique simple living products and services and “Jam” with us at The Tiny House & Simple Living Jamboree at the Arlington Convention Center.
The Jamboree plays host to the nation’s latest in tiny houses, simple living and sustainability. Tiny house owners, enthusiasts and curiosity seekers will gather and celebrate with influential members of the community. There will be workshops, music, film, food trucks and a local Texas vendor fair all in a family-friendly environment.
The Tiny House & Simple Living Jamboree is the world’s largest celebration of tiny homes and simple living.
Founded in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2015, This is the first Jamboree held in Arlington. Among The Tiny House Jamboree Builders who will be present, are Southwest Tiny Homes of Williamsburg, N.M., Leland Cabins, of Grandview, Texas, and Escape, of Lake Rice, Wis.
Southwest Tiny Home
Tickets and admission for the Tiny House Jamboree
Advance tickets are $20 for a single day and $25 at the door, $35 for 3-day advance tickets or $50 at the door, and $80 for pre-ordered premium all-access tickets and $90 at the door.
The Jamboree includes a variety of attractions. On the slate is more than 70 homes to view and walk through! There also are builder workshops, live music shows, mixers and film screenings on tiny living. Below is a sneak peek of the Jamboree schedule!
Leland’s Lonestar floorplan
Friday 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
“Downsizing” — Presenter Molly McNownis an expert at getting to the root of why it is so difficult to let go of all the things we accumulate in our life. She won’t tell you how to organize or be a minimalist. Instead, she’ll offer tips to lighten your load and give clarity. It’s about whether to keep your great aunt’s blue vase, your son’s baby teeth, or grandma’s chipped china. This insight will help you keep what you truly love and release that which binds you.
Saturday 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
“Tiny House Design Tips & Tricks” — SpeakerLina Menard of Niche Consulting will share her expert design tips and tricks for the most efficient use of your space! This is just the information you need as you create drawings, plans and models for your own tiny house.
2:10 PM – 3:00 PM
“Kitchen Simplicity” — Author, chef and tiny house expertCarmen Shenkoffers a can-do conversation on creating delectable food and shares the secrets that make it work for her. She provides a road map for going tiny, embracing simplicity, and eating well – even when your kitchen is small. Shenk’s new book “Kitchen Simplicity” is the first book in the Tiny House Foodie series. It will be published in the spring by H.D. Media Press.
Sunday 10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
“It Takes a Village to Raise a Tiny House” — Presenter Steven Hebberdtalks about how tiny house living represents a major movement to address the problems of our isolation, but the way we build and situate our houses makes all the difference. Community First Village, the largest community of tiny houses in the country, is a response to the most extreme example of isolation in the country. It can teach us a lot about how tiny living can be a major part of the solution to America’s disease of isolation.
2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
“Traveling with a Tiny House” — Learn the ins and outs of traveling with your tiny home on wheels, whether you’re planning a road trip or just a one-time move. The session is presented by Alexis Stephens and Christian Parsons of Tiny House Expedition, who have travelled more than 30,000 miles with their DIY tiny home!
The Tiny House & Simple Living Jamboree is a consumer show, open to the public, but will have plenty of programming for professionals. Visit the event website for further information. And keep a lookout for MHVillage, touring homes, taking pictures, talking to people and having a great time.
And thank you for the invite, Darin Zaruba, to The Tiny House Jamboree!!
8,425 New HUD-Code Homes Shipped in August 2017, An Increase of 15.3 Percent from the Same Month in 2016
In August 2017, 8,425 new manufactured homes were shipped nationally, an increase of 15.3 percent from August 2016, and an increase of 2,617 homes or 45.1 percent compared to July 2017.
Compared with August 2016, the trend reflected increases across the board, with shipments of single section and multi-section homes up by 19.1 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively. Total floors shipped in August 2017 were 13,063, an increase of 14.0 percent compared with August 2016.
The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of shipments was 92,754 in August 2017, up 23.7 percent from the adjusted rate of 74,988 in July 2017. The SAAR corrects for normal seasonal variations and projects annual shipments based on the current monthly total.
The number of plants reporting production in August 2017 was 130, one more than in the previous month. The number of active corporations was 35, the same compared to July 2017.
Compared with last year, 2017 has recorded shipment increases in the first eight months. Shipments from January through August this year totaled 60,831 homes compared with 52,536 homes in 2016, a net increase of 15.8 percent.
U.S. businesses spend billions of dollars generating sales leads only to lose more than 70 percent of them simply because of too much delay in making contact, according to one study.
But that’s not the only way they’re losing out on opportunities, says Brandon Stuerke, president of Advisors Edge Marketing, a specialist in marketing strategy and automation for financial advisors and other professionals.
“A study of more than 600 companies by Dr. James Oldroyd of MIT found that the odds of a lead entering the sales process were 21 times greater if the business made contact within 5 minutes of generating the lead versus contact in 30 minutes,” Stuerke says. “Another study, this one by the Harvard Business Review, found that the average response time by businesses to a generated lead is 42 hours – and that’s just for responses that occurred within 30 days.”
The excerpt above comes from an article on realtor.com. I wish I could tell you this didn’t happen in our industry, but the truth is, I hear this complaint all the time. Home buyers who are on MHVillage, actively looking to purchase a home call us directly in desperation. “I’m really interested in home XYZ,” they say, “but I can’t get anyone to call me back.”
This breaks my heart.
Keep Leads Fresh
Think of your leads like a pint of Hagan Daaz ice cream: wonderful, but also very perishable. You have to keep leads fresh. Would you leave ice cream you’ve paid for sitting on the kitchen counter for a few days? Of course not!
Leads, particularly internet leads, are just as perishable. Every moment that lead sits without being taken care of, it loses value. You’ve spent a lot of time and effort into your marketing, now’s the time to make it pay off!
Here at MHVillage, we send out roughly 50,000 leads per month to our Professional users. To get the most out of those leads, you need to respond quickly. Here’s why:
Phone Lead Generation
The First Contact Creates a Bond
People are always a little afraid of the unknown. The quicker you can reach out to the buyer and create a bond, whether it is through email or via the phone, the quicker you start to build a relationship. Buyers are much more inclined to work with someone they know, and the sooner you get your foot in the door, the better.
Compare and Contrast
When buyers shop online, they start by finding something that fits their needs. Once they have that first one, they begin comparison shopping, but they always compare new finds to old ones. “Is Home B better than Home A?” and so on. If you are the first seller to respond to their inquiry, you have the opportunity to cement your home in the top position.
Build Customer Loyalty – Before They Buy
A quick response is a sign of great customer service. Show your buyer that you are there for them by answering their questions right away. If they have to wait too long to hear from you, they’ll start to feel neglected. Again, MH professionals need to understand how to keep leads fresh!
Out of ‘Site’, Out of Mind
The minute someone clicks away from your ad, they begin to forget the details. Buyers might contact sellers of several homes in one night, but by the next morning, they’ll have a hard time keeping them all straight. Are you selling the white house on the north side of town or the gray one on the south? Is it the one with the garage, or the carport and the shed? The closer you can get to them when your homes are fresh in their minds, the better.
Modern technology offers a number of great tools for helping you handle your incoming leads efficiently and effectively:
Buyers are Going Mobile, You Should Too
At a recent state association meeting, one of our clients came up to me and told me how he turns 75 percent of his MHVillage leads into sales contacts – he calls them immediately. This gentleman had a simple system: the leads went to an email on his phone, and his goal was to call them back within 5 minutes – preferably while they were still looking at the home online! He’s smart – in the article quoted above, that 5-minute marker is an important one.
Here’s a quick tip – have an email account dedicated to your sales correspondence only. That way when you see an email come in, you know it is from a buyer and you won’t have to wade through the tons of daily spam and other nonessential email we all get in our day-to-day accounts. Have that email on your phone so you are ready to respond instantly, and keep leads fresh.
Route Calls Effectively
There are a lot of options in phone systems these days. You can route calls to your cell, to your home and even to your email. If your office system won’t support this, take a look at some of the free and low-cost systems out there, like Google Voice. With Google Voice you can have a specialized phone number for leads and have it ring multiple phones at once. You can have voicemails be shared among several phones, and you can even reply to calls with text.
Emails: If You Can’t Respond in Person, Have Your Computer Do It for You
Obviously, a personal response is better than a canned response, but a canned response is better than none at all. Most email systems will let you sent up an automatic reply. You can do your best in a pinch to keep leads fresh by crafting the equivalent of a professional voice mail message to provide your company name, business hours, driving directions, link to your website, phone number and a promise that someone will get back to them within a day.
Check Your Spam Folders
We keep a complete copy of all your leads in your MHVillage account.
If you use a public email system like Gmail, Yahoo or AOL, know that these companies try to keep their users from receiving Spam. While that effort is appreciated, it means you can lose leads if they wind up in the wrong folder. In fact, Gmail changed its settings so some important emails might have ended up in the wrong place. If you do lose one, don’t worry! MHVillage always keeps a copy of all your leads in your account.
A view from 360 Chicago atop the John Hancock Building.
The National Communities Council, a program of the Manufactured Housing Institute, reconvenes for the Fall Leadership Forum Nov. 1 – 3 at the Westin in downtown Chicago.
NCC offers strategic content to explore new ideas, examine trends and offer unique networking opportunities. The Fall Leadership Forum is organized for executive-level professionals in the manufactured housing industry.
Check-in and networking for NCC in Chicago begins Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. The following two days are programmed with not-to-be-missed speakers and seminars beginning 9 a.m. Nov. 2 and continuing through the afternoon of Nov. 3.
The deep and strategic seminar schedule includes…
Sneak Peek at NCC in Chicago
Wednesday Nov. 2
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
“The State of the U.S. Economy & the Role of Housing”, with in-depth analysis and discussion from Keynote Speaker Jonathan Miller, president and CEO of Miller Samuel Inc., who was named “Best Online Real Estate Expert” by Money Magazine.
1:15 – 2:15 p.m. David Funk, director and senior lecturer in the Baker Program in Real Estate at Cornell University, will provide “An Economist’s View on Chattel Lending Trends”.
3:30– 4:30 p.m.
“Creating and Maintaining a Positive Brand in a Digital World” looks at how digital business profiles mean the difference between success and failure. Beth Monicatti-Blank, president of All Seasons Communications, highlights effective ways to respond to both positive and negative reviews while maintaining and growing a positive online business profile.
Thursday, Nov. 3
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
“The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership” is the creation of author and speaker Mike Figliuolo, who will describe how to articulate your leadership philosophy in the form of personal leadership maxims that work as an everyday reminder on your personalized leadership approach.
Legislation Aims to Preserve Access to Manufactured Housing
The House Financial Services Committee passed H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act, by a bipartisan vote of 42 to 18. H.R. 1699 addresses federal regulations implementing the Dodd-Frank Act that fail to recognize the unique nature of the manufactured home financing and sales process. This legislation ensures manufactured housing financing remains available and affordable, without eroding important federal consumer protections established by the Dodd-Frank Act.
H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act, is bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Andy Barr (R-KY), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), Terri Sewell (D-AL), David Kustoff (R-TN), and Kathleen Rice (D-NY). Companion legislation S. 1751 was introduced in the U.S. Senate Aug. 3, 2017 by Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Gary Peters (D-MI).
During the Committee’s consideration of the legislation, Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee Chairman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), H.R. 1699 sponsor Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), and original cosponsors Representatives David Kustoff (R-TN) and Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), delivered strong remarks about the federal regulations that have impeded consumers – particularly those living in rural areas – from obtaining financing for manufactured homes and urged their colleagues to support this important bill.
Testimony on Access to Manufactured Housing
Rep. Barr emphasized the importance of manufactured housing as an affordable housing option.
“If this legislation was to pass, we will no longer face a situation where the federal government is protecting people right out of their home. Instead, more Americans will have access to affordable manufactured housing again. And, I believe greater access to affordable housing should and can earn the support of both Democrats and Republicans. Affordable housing in rural America is not a Democrat or Republican issue – that is an issue of the American Dream.”
Of the 60 members on the Committee, only two members spoke out against the bill.
Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN), whose districts include 1.7% and .5% of manufactured homes respectively, expressed concerns that the bill will remove consumer protections.
Additional champions of H.R. 1699 speaking in support of the bill rebutted these concerns: Representatives Keith Rothfus (R-PA), Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN), French Hill (R-AR), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Robert Pittenger (R-NC), and Steve Stivers (R-OH). H.R. 1699 currently has 58 bipartisan cosponsors.
MHI’s Role in providing Access
H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act, seeks to modify the definition of “high-cost” loans so that manufactured home loans are not unfairly swept under this designation simply due to their small size. It also amends the SAFE Act and the Truth in Lending Act to exclude manufactured housing retailers and sellers from the definition of a loan originator so long as they are only receiving compensation for the sale of the home and not engaged in financing the loans.
The Manufactured Housing Institute’s efforts to aid in passing the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act are multi-pronged.
MHI seeks opportunities to move the legislation through the regular legislative process and also to attach the language to other legislative vehicles. MHI has succeeded in having the House of Representatives vote in favor of this language numerous times with bipartisan support.
The number of successful votes in Congress on this provision, and the inclusion of similar language in the House Financial Services Committee Chairman’s Dodd-Frank reform package (H.R. 10) and the Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations package, are the result of MHI’s persistent efforts.
Please contact MHI’s Government Affairs Department or MHIgov(at)mfghome.org with any questions or concerns.
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