We’ve been working on a Halloween Night production of “Freak Show” that is coming together quite nicely. The live band is on contract, the magician and an artist reserved, and several folks selected to be in the “Freaks” side show. The decorating committee will be transforming the building into a tent with vinyl material draped from the ceiling and black lights with fog will do the rest to create the scary side of carnival life.
Photos to come in November!
It’s a great day when you find out your efforts have been acknowledged by your peers! Just to be in the same room with so many esteemed icons in the homebuilding industry is an honor for which we at Create-a-Buzz are so grateful! The team has worked hard, and I thank them all for their talent, creativity and dedication! 
Check it out and please share your thoughts. It’s our first vid that takes you through the two floor plans for SeaCountry in Rancho Mission Viejo.
Building in a master planned community has it’s benefits…and shortfalls. As a guest builder, private builders like my clients participate in the marketing programs that includes advertising, signage and an identity on websites and collateral pieces. They drive traffic to our sales offices and it’s up to us to close the deal. It’s an upfront expense that a guest builder doesn’t have to take on, but rather pay at the closing escrow for each home between 1%-2% depending on the community.
But what happens when everyone turned off the lights and you’re still sitting there with a few homes remaining? For us, the directional signs were removed, the flags disappeared, the sales office moved on to bigger and better projects…like the new village about to open – along with the website and advertisements. As a guest builder, you’re already paying a nice sum of money for those programs whether they still there or not, so the money isn’t there to go and redesign, redevelop and reinstall what once was even if the developer would allow it…which they wouldn’t. Further the HOA now controls the community and you have to adhere to the rules on signs and such.
ARGHHH!
What we’ve done is market like you’re a real estate broker. Use their resources and play in their parks, so to speak. Become one of them.
We started by having a broker “soiree” with wine and cheese to re-familiarize them with the last remaining homes in the community. Resale opportunities are often priced higher now that the neighborhood is maturing, so we’re poised well in the value department. It’s just getting the traffic to the sales office!
Second, we started hosting weekend Open Houses with the little arrow signs allowed by the HOA. We advertise in the classifieds rather than the New Home Section and attend the weekly broker pitch meetings to get the top brokers excited about the 3% referral commission, explaining that they basically walk away once the contract is signed…easy money!
Social media gives allows us to continue with the messaging to our fan base and virtual tours with amazing photography provides a great touch point when you send a link as a follow up to visitors and inquiries.
Bottom line – you don’t to be scared of the dark and there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Create-a-Buzz Marketing has relaunched a refreshed and updated service for the Real Estate Professional looking to identify their target market, develop a plan to attract that buyer and speed the sales process through a robust interactive marketing campaign.
These packages can be customized to meet the needs of the property and can include:
Best part is that these services can be paid at the close of escrow, so in most cases you can greatly reduce your front-end marketing expenses…SWEET!
Give us a call and let’s talk about how to get that house sold!
It’s been one heck of a wonderful ride! From being on the opening crew at Ranch Mission Viejo, to taking on the marketing and advertising for SeaCountry Homes in March, 2014. I’ve learned a lot and we’ve done a lot over the year and some months, but with only a dozen homes left and the model homes getting ready to undergo construction for the new homeowners; it’s a bittersweet success.
The good news is that we’ll be back in a future village on the Ranch, but you won’t see us popping up in ads until 2016.
Bottom line…if you’re looking for an amazing home with great features packed in a home that is perfectly sized at or under 2,000 s.f. – get on out to the Ranch NOW and let us show you around the neighborhood!
With PCBC being so close to home, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to join thousands of building industry professionals in San Diego last month. It was wonderful to see so much power and energy in the convention center as colleagues old and new joined to hear the latest in technology, consumer trends, forecasts and overall how great it is to be busy at work again!
With so many new faces and fresh youth entering the industry, this year’s conference seemed to generate interest in more education than in previous years. Its time for the seasoned pros to teach the enthusiastic learners seeking a greater understanding of how the pieces fit together. I’m looking forward to seeing what spins out this great time in renewed growth!
Stay tuned as I transcribe notes and find links for those that couldn’t attend.
TBT