Registration is Open and Pre-SECO18 Workshops Included in Ticket Price
Registration is open and pre-SECO18 workshops are set for the Southeast Community Owners Symposium, Oct. 10-11 in Atlanta, Ga.
This year, the full lineup of Oct. 9 pre-SECO workshops are $100 in addition to the conference ticket price. Kathy Taylor of Hauck Homes and George Allen will offer an Oct. 8 Manufactured Housing Managers Training course, which is a separately ticketed offering.
After last year’s conference, SECO organizers conducted a survey of attendees and used that information to build topics that will be presented at the Atlanta Airport Marriott on Best Road.
Register for SECO18 at SECOConference.com and make sure to book rooms at the Marriott’s recently updated location while discounted space remains.
As the lineup of presenters is finalized, SECO18 offers this list of solo presentation and discussion topics:
- More emphasis on newcomers and those interested in community ownership
- More emphasis on women in the community business – lessons learned, management, and home sales
- Meeting the needs of MH buyers – qualification, affordability, home choices
- Community ownership succession
- Marketing of new homes – generating traffic, social media, staging, sales center
- Community management best practices
- Reflections by industry icons on the future of the industry
- Who’s doing what with chattel financing
- Secret sauce for bringing new homes into your community – without going broke
- Community financing – availability, LTV, DCR, 3-star vs. 5-star
A Detailed List of Pre-SECO18 Workshops Have Been Announced – Tuesday Oct. 9
9 – 10:30 a.m. Renting Instead of Selling with Keith Campbell, Cole Phillips and Chuck Meek
Some community owners prefer to sell manufactured housing to fill vacant sites. Others prefer the rental model for its perpetual income stream. Hear from those who have successfully employed the rental model, discussing revenue, expenses, turnover, pros and cons.
9 – 10:30 a.m. (Room 2) Self-Storage with Steve Case, Paul Chase and Bob Love
If the daily work of managing tenant-occupied properties has reached a maximum, perhaps an accent or alternative is investment in self-storage facility. Discussion will cover how self-storage compares to park ownership, management, valuation and resale.
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Social Media Bootcamp with Darren Krolewski, of MHVillage
If your idea of promoting your community involves newspaper ads, kick-down signs and radio, attend this workshop to address the advantages, and challenges, of today’s internet and social media alternatives – your own site, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, MHVillage and others.
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (Room 2) Technology in Communities with John Hemelgarn, of Rent Manager, and Randy Newby of Community Technology Services
Hear about the latest and greatest capabilities, features and options from one of the leading MHP/LLC property management software program providers. Basic concepts and advanced features will be covered on security camera installation and maintenance, IT support, and audio-video systems and more.
12:30-1:45 p.m. Pre-SECO18 Lunch
Clayton Savannah, a leading manufacturer of factory-built homes specifically designed for communities, is sponsoring the pre-SECO lunch this year. Hear about the newest options, features, and sales tips from Clayton Homes.
2- 4 p.m. Demonstration – MH Placement & Setup with Cole Phillips, Phillips Investment Properties
What’s involved in ordering the right home for a lot? Placing the home on the lot, blocking and leveling it, and connecting utilities. Attend a placement and setup of a home at a nearby manufactured home community.
2 – 3:30 p.m. Passive Investing in MHP/LLCs with Maria Horton and Jefferson Lilly
If owning and managing a manufactured home community seems like it would require more time than you have, or be outside your skill set, you might consider being an MH industry passive investor. Hear from community owners who manage dozens of communities owned by groups of investors.
2 – 3:30 p.m. (Room 2) Community Liability Issues with a panel of owners
What are the “gotchas” in MHP/LLC insurance coverage that you may be overlooking? What are your alternatives when a resident says your pet policy doesn’t apply to his emotional support pig or pit bull? Can a tornado/storm shelter pay for itself? What can you do to make your MHP/LLC residents feel better about dangerous weather?
3:45 – 5:15 p.m. Valuation of Manufactured Home Communities with Ben Braband, Jefferson Lilly and Steve Case
Valuing an income stream by applying a cap rate to NOI is pretty straightforward. However, what is a realistic revenue & expense estimate, cap rate, or estimate of value for vacant lots? Discussion will focus on park-owned homes — rented, under a lease to own contract, or land to be developed.
3:45 – 5:15 p.m. (Room 2) RV Parks with Heather Blankenship, David Gorin and Jayne Cohen
An alternative or complement business to manufactured housing community ownership may RV resorts with rental sites to folks who drive $500,000 motor homes. Some of the nation’s most knowledgeable RV park feasibility consultants and owner/operators will talk about the pros and cons of this interesting, and potentially lucrative, investment alternative.
Insurance, Service & Emotional Support Animals
What are the “gotchas” in MHP/LLC insurance coverage that are easy to may be overlook? What are the options when a resident says your pet policy doesn’t apply to an emotional support pig or pit bull? Can a tornado/storm shelter pay for itself? Discussion will cover what kind of dialogue will make community residents feel better about the potential for dangerous weather?
Rent Manager – Property Management Software
Attend this workshop to hear about the many latest and greatest capabilities, features and options of one of the leading property management software tools. Discussion will cover basic concepts of the software, as well as advanced features surely to impress any accountant, community owner, or investor.
