Outhouse

The Outsource Hub for Home Builders

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Outhouse – The Outsource Hub for Home Builders

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People often wonder about our quirky name. Well, we’ve got a secret to share. We take great pride in and are passionate about what we do, but we also know how to have a bit of fun. At Outhouse, we’ve embraced the tech industry’s laid-back culture, complete with remote work perks that give our team extra family time, thanks to a commute-free life.

But Here’s the Twist in Our Tale!

Outhouse, LLC is on a mission to redefine how the world of home building operates. We’re not just another company; we’re a dynamic fusion of three visionaries: Architectural Solutions, Inc., Nexus Multimedia, and Centeon Corporation. In the year 2000, we joined forces, driven by a common vision – to revolutionize the way home builders design, visualize, construct, and sell homes through a cutting-edge, integrated, all-encompassing platform.

Our compass? A set of core values that guide our every move – trust, culture, vision, value, and stewardship. Our brand promise is simple: consistently deliver the right product, provide exceptional customer service, and set the gold standard for production excellence.

Now, with integration and values in mind, our partners decided to embrace the Outhouse moniker, signifying that we’re your go-to “out” source for all things home building. Our tagline? “If you don’t do it in-house, bring it to Outhouse.” Many builders miss the “complete outsource” part, but the savvy ones know the real magic starts with Computer Aided Design (CAD) – the cornerstone of a streamlined, error-free process.

Lay a Solid Foundation with Outhouse CAD

With over a quarter-century of experience and plans drafted for countless homes across the nation, Outhouse knows home building like no other. Beyond expertly drawn plans, our construction documents provide the bedrock for crafting precise sales materials and dynamic marketing assets. What’s more? We seamlessly synchronize any changes you make across all our construction, digital, and physical onsite platforms. Our exclusive process minimizes hiccups and maximizes your profits.

Craft Digital Marketing and Onsite Sales Tools Hand in Hand with CAD

Here’s where the full-service brilliance comes into play. Builders who draft plans in-house typically don’t dive into digital marketing tools like interactive floor plans, renderings, virtual tours, visualizers, or animations until construction docs are done. But not when you partner with Outhouse for CAD. We kickstart your marketing assets well before CAD completion, giving you a head start on the competition. We design and produce your marketing essentials for your sales center in tandem.

Minimize Mistakes, Maximize Gains

Who doesn’t love saving money? Your dedicated Outhouse Account Manager takes the reins for all your projects – from CAD to digital tools to printed materials. This means that whenever there’s a change (imagine moving a wall), they execute it across all platforms. Meanwhile, builders using multiple providers must juggle each one for changes. By embracing Outhouse’s comprehensive suite of integrated services, you can leave the details to us, saving time, money, and adding extra padding to your bottom line.

If You Don’t Do It In-House, Bring It to Outhouse!

In a nutshell, Outhouse isn’t just a whimsical name. It’s a testament to our vision of being your one-stop-shop for construction docs and cutting-edge sales and marketing tools for home builders.

Year-End Takeaways for the Home Building Industry

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As we approach the end of another eventful year in the home building industry, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the key lessons and takeaways that can guide us into a promising future. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, there’s much to learn from the experiences of the past 12 months. Here are some crucial year-end takeaways for the home building industry:

  1. Adaptability Is Key: The year 2023 highlighted the importance of adaptability. Home builders who quickly adjusted their strategies in response to changing market conditions were better positioned for success. Flexibility and the ability to pivot in the face of challenges have become valuable assets.
  2. Digital Dominance Continues: The digital transformation in the home building industry is no longer a trend; it’s a necessity. With homebuyers relying on online research and interactive tools like never before, having a robust online presence, including virtual tours and interactive floor plans, is essential. There is some good news here: the costs of these digital technologies are dropping. This is an excellent opportunity for smaller homebuilders seeking a competitive advantage. Builders who want to stay ahead of the curve in 2024 should consider implementing digital assets they may have believed to be out of reach. Pricing has become much more competitive in recent years. Putting some digital tools in place could mean the difference between staying in the game and being unable to remain competitive.
  3. Supply Chain Management: The global supply chain disruptions served as a reminder of the significance of efficient supply chain management. Home builders should build resilient supply chains to prevent delays and maintain construction timelines. Resilience is essential in every part of the supply chain, from labor to subcontractors to materials and technology. 1
  4. Sustainability Matters: The demand for sustainable and energy-efficient homes is rising. Incorporating green building practices appeals to eco-conscious buyers and helps reduce long-term operating costs. The home building industry is waking up to the importance of green building. Even NAHB and IBS are getting involved by funding a Green Building Scholarship. Please find out more by visiting their website: https://www.nahb.org/advocacy/industry-issues/sustainability-and-green-building/sgb-scholarship-for-ibs
  5. Quality Over Quantity: Prioritizing quality over quantity is becoming the mantra of successful homebuilders. Delivering superior craftsmanship and focusing on customer satisfaction can lead to lasting success in the industry. For an interesting read about improving housing in America, check out what the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University found about the impact of COVID-19 on our current market. They have some interesting statistics on home repair ($420 billion spent in 2020), DIY vs professional, and the demand for quality housing. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/improving-americas-housing-2021
  6. Teamwork and Talent: The importance of a skilled and motivated workforce cannot be overstated. Investing in employee training and well-being can improve productivity, retention, and overall company success. Continuing education for your Online Sales Counselors and Marketing team is imperative. The digital landscape is ever changing. Marketers need help to stay current. Summits and conferences can pay 100-fold. Online Sales Counselors are only as good as their sales experience and education. Help them by ensuring they have all the tools in their toolbox.
  7. Customer-Centric Approach: Home builders who put the customer at the center of their operations tend to thrive. Excellent customer service and transparent communication go a long way in building trust and loyalty. More and more builders are discussing that a customer-centric approach might involve having transparent online pricing. Just listen to what Reilly LePage of Logel Homes had to say on The Home Builder Digital Marketing Podcast: https://www.buildermarketingpodcast.com/episodes/190-elevating-the-online-home-buying-process-reilly-lepage Builder Online thought this was such an important topic that they featured the podcast this month on their Builder 100.
  8. Risk Management: With uncertainties in the market, effective risk management strategies are crucial. Planning for potential disruptions and having backup plans can mitigate unexpected challenges. Conducting market analysis before starting a project, having a robust financial reserve, and securing contracts with backup suppliers are just a few ways to mitigate risk.
  9. Local Market Insight: Understanding the unique dynamics of local markets is essential. Tailoring strategies to meet each community’s specific needs and preferences can make a significant difference. Home builders can always hire an independent market research team. If that is outside the budget, local home builders associations, real estate associations, and chambers of commerce often publish market reports, housing data, and economic indicators for specific regions. Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau, local planning departments, and housing authorities publish data providing demographic information, building permits, and economic data. If all else fails, there are the good old real estate platforms Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin to peruse for statistics, pricing trends, and property listings.
  10. Continual Learning: The home building industry is constantly evolving. Those who commit to ongoing learning and staying updated on industry trends and regulations will remain ahead of the competition. Educational events like the National Association of Home Builders International Builders Show (IBS) and The Home Builder Digital Marketing Summit are key. Summits and Conferences help builders keep up with the ever-evolving industry. Monthly learning like that provided in Builder Town Hall by Meredith Communications is also a great way to keep your ear out.

As we bid farewell to this year, let’s carry these valuable takeaways into the future. The home building industry’s resilience and adaptability have been on full display. With the right strategies in place, the opportunities for growth and success in the coming year are boundless. Cheers to a promising and prosperous future in the world of home building!

Tabitha Warren was an Income Tax Accountant for 15+ years.  In the first months of the pandemic, she took a chance and re-careered to freelance in Marketing.  She currently, and very happily, works with video and photo editing, social media marketing, and now blog writing.

  1. https://buildertrend.com/blog/construction-supply-chain/

Building a House in Arizona: Expert Guidance From Local Builders | Redfin

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Outside view of white home with palm trees

Redfin is featuring Outhouse in an article, and we encourage you to check it out. Although we provide computer-aided design (CAD) and interactive marketing tools to builders nationwide, we are pleased to be included in an article about home building in our home state of Arizona.

Embarking on the journey of building your dream home in the Grand Canyon State of Arizona is an exciting adventure filled with unique considerations. From the vibrant energy of Phoenix’s city life to the tranquility of Flagstaff’s pine-scented forests, constructing a home here requires careful planning and consideration.

In this article, Redfin has gathered insights from seasoned Arizona builders to walk you through the essential steps, from understanding zoning laws to choosing the right materials for the Arizona climate. With practical advice and tips from start to finish, you’ll gain the confidence to manage your building project effectively and make informed decisions that bring your vision of an Arizona home to life.

Read the full article here: Building a House in Arizona: Expert Guidance From Local Builders | Redfin

Consider an Integrated Build/Market/Sell Process for Speed

Whether you live in Arizona or one of the other 49 states, when you are ready to design, build, and sell some new homes, it pays to consider a digital marketing provider like Outhouse, which offers in-house drafting services. Outhouse’s experienced CAD team works with some of the most successful production home builders across the nation on everything from master sets to redline revisions to plot plans. And, while your homes are being drawn, our production teams are simultaneously creating interactive floor plans, renderings, virtual tours, visualizers, print collateral, and more, helping you bring homes to market faster than the competition. Starting with Outhouse CAD as the foundation, integration is the key to streamlining the build/market/sell process.

As we head into the holiday season, Outhouse would like to thank all our clients and friends. We appreciate you and are grateful for the business you bring us throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Why Interactive Floor Plans are a Must

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From “It’s Neat” to “It’s Needed,” Why IFPs are a Must

Remember in the spring of 2020, when literally no one was out looking at new homes, and home builders finally began going all-in on digital marketing? The big question once the world opened back up was whether or not websites would retain the same level of prominence. That question has been answered, and it is an emphatic “Yes!” Even homebuyers who visit model homes typically conduct a majority of their research online before they ever drive to one of your communities.

What was once a rare luxury on a builders’ website, Interactive Floor Plans (IFP’s) have become an industry expectation. Builders who thought IFP’s were more novelty than a functional sales tool can no longer argue the overwhelming evidence that IFP’s engage buyers, resulting in: 

  • Increased time on their websites. 
  • Increased qualified homebuyer leads. 
  • Increased number of options sold. 
  • Creating positive emotional connections to your plans.  
  • Converting leads to active prospects in a faster timeline.   
Analytics help builders see who their potential buyers are, where they are coming from, the most popular options, and a whole lot more.

Builders also find IFP’s equally as valuable to their sales team as they are to the homebuyer. Why? One reason is that comprehensive IFP’s can answer 80% of the questions your sales staff needs to field. The buyer experience is tremendously better when the simple questions are already answered, allowing the sales team to focus on selling instead of trying to help figure out how furniture will work, how options change square footage and price, “…and why do I lose the casita option when I choose the expanded garage?” 

Picking the right IFP vendor the first time is of the greatest importance.

Not all IFP’s are created equal 

When choosing a vendor to build and host what is arguably your most important online sales tool, in addition to the basics, make sure the platform you select has ALL the following advanced features: 

  • Branding – First and foremost, ensure your IFP’s are skinned and colored to match your website, logo, and corporate colors.
  • Lead Generation – The ability to save a custom plan that not only tracks these leads, but also pushes them to your CRM. 
  • Space-Planning – A detailed furniture library with scalable items for every room, including the garage and outdoor living areas. 
  • Live Updates – Dynamic pricing and square footage so as buyers add options the price and square footage automatically reflect that. 
  • Hot Spots – Clickable icons within your plan allowing buyers to open renderings, photos, videos, virtual reality and any other eye candy to keep them engaged. 
  • Device Agnostic – Regardless of the brand of computer, laptop, tablet or phone, your IFP’s work on ALL of them. 
Today’s homebuyers expect advanced features when designing their homes and planning furniture layouts with an Interactive Floor Plan.

Picking the right IFP vendor from the start is of the greatest importance. Select a company that knows what they are doing because this is not a process you want to go through a second or third time. If you find yourself dissatisfied with your IFP’s (or vendor) after creating them, they can’t simply be transferred to another vendor. You must pay to have them rebuilt from scratch again.

20-years ago Outhouse was one of the first to offer IFP’s to home builders. Our platform continues to deliver the most mature, dependable, feature-rich, engaging user experience in the industry. Our IFPs are designed to incorporate your renderings, virtual tours, visualizers and more, making it easy for homebuyers to engage with all of your digital tools. Click here for an example. In 2023, we also gave our administrative backend a massive upgrade, so your interactive floor plans, interactive site plans, and interactive kiosks are now housed in the sleek, intuitive, new Outhouse Interactive Control Center. Contact us today to learn more

About the Author: Stuart Platt is Managing Partner at Outhouse LLC, an industry leader dedicated to providing an extensive and integrated menu of products and services to production home builders across the world. These services include but are not limited to Architectural Drafting, 3D Renderings, Virtual Tours, Animations, Interactive Floor Plans, Interactive Site Plans, Interactive Sales Office Displays, Interior and Exterior Visualizers, Graphic Design, Commercial Printing, and more. Outhouse is the ONLY company in the nation providing all of these services in house.

Join Stuart Platt at the Home Builder Digital Marketing Summit this October 23-24th! He’ll be diving deep into the strategies discussed in this blog, sharing insights on how to create an online experience that resonates with potential buyers on an emotional level. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with Stuart and other industry leaders to elevate your digital marketing game.

Print Is Not Dead – It’s Just Underutilized

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Our first-hand experience with print marketing

Outhouse recently added two new members to our Sales Team: Erin Kearney, Business Development Manager, and Kaelin Kerr, Sales Coordinator. While Erin handles website leads and inbound calls, Kaelin spends most of her time on outbound communications. In addition to emailing and calling, she is also mailing postcards to prospective homebuilder clients and is having great success. Who would think that a tech-savvy 30-year-old would get more replies from a postcard with a handwritten note than she ever receives from emails?

Erin Kearney, Business Development Manager, and Kaelin Kerr, Sales Coordinator

At Outhouse, we are not entirely surprised. Many people think print is dead, but our experience with an in-house print shop tells us otherwise. We are seeing a resurgence in print. As email boxes overflow with sales messages, companies seek other avenues to reach target buyers, and print marketing is growing. With so little “snail mail,” savvy marketers know print isn’t dead – it is underutilized, and they are expanding print campaigns to take advantage.

Print is powerful! The smell of paper and feeling pages between your fingertips – these are things that just can’t be duplicated online.

How Print Came to Outhouse

Outhouse Partner Bill Gelbaugh is the reader in our office. A new book with his name on it arrives in the mail nearly every other day. Retooling the US Housing Industry by Sam Rashkin – check. Internal Family Systems Therapy – check. Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life – check. Anatomy of a Great Home – check. 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die – double-check! With an incredibly wide range of interests, the topic isn’t of paramount importance. Affectionately referred to by staff as “Buddha,” Bill is a seeker of knowledge and has a voracious appetite for books. And, although he owns a Kindle (maybe more than one!) he prefers the hard copy any day. This, in part, is what led him to start his own print business in 1991, with the company becoming primarily focused in the home builder vertical market by 2000.

Outhouse Founding Partner Bill Gelbaugh
Outhouse Founding Partner Bill Gelbaugh

Today, the print division he started is an integral part of the Outhouse family of products and services. One of the first things people notice when they come to our office is the warehouse location. Depending on the day, as you enter, the scent of chemicals may greet you at the door. Our print and sign departments are on site, and the equipment is typically running. With a primary focus on builders, the Outhouse print and sign teams excel at delivering your community brochures and the signage you need for your sales centers on time, every time.

Trained as a professional Graphic Designer, craftsmanship is part of Bill’s DNA. Frequently spotted with his magnifying glass verifying color calibrations, he is serious about superior print quality. This is one of the attributes distinguishing Outhouse from a typical strip mall print shop. Also setting us apart are professional artwork creation, coordinated digital file and asset management, and builder-specific delivery. Yes, we deliver your brochures and price sheets timed to your weekly sales cycle!

When Bill and our founding partners came together to create Outhouse, integration of print and all other services was one of the mandates. Our motto, “Ready to Build, Ready to Market, Ready to Sell,” encompasses this philosophy. A point of pride for our team is the fact that all work is done in-house. This allows us to simultaneously work on CAD, renderings, interactive floor plans, virtual tours, print layouts, etc., reducing overall time to produce construction documents and digital and onsite marketing assets for your new communities. Furthering this continuity, a dedicated Account Manager coordinates each client’s projects, making changes and updates across all platforms so you don’t have to remember these details.

Bill Gelbaugh and Doug Ills in the Outhouse Printshop Verifying Color Calibrations
Bill Gelbaugh and Doug Ills in the Outhouse Printshop Verifying Color Calibrations

“When you touch something, it triggers a reaction. You feel differently about what you touch. You begin to feel you own it. And research shows this makes you value it more.”

Dr. David Eagleman, Neuroscientist

Step Out From the Crowd With Print Marketing

One of the beauties of print is the unlimited potential for customization, thereby increasing the ability to trigger an emotional reaction. Builders can tailor renderings and IFPs to a point, but these platforms typically have technical limitations. On the other hand, print enables you to step out from the crowd and . The options for paper stock, finishes, shapes, sizes, and print techniques such as embossed, metallic, and varnishes are endless. Limited only by your marketing department’s creative minds, there is no other medium that encourages so much freedom. Print collateral also provides homebuyers with something tangible to take home from your sales centers or discover in the mail – a lasting reminder of your beautiful homes once visitors leave your sales center or website.

A handsome brochure presents potential home buyers with a vision unique to your company.

If you’d like to discuss print or simply have a conversation about a good book, feel free to call or set up a time for a video chat with Bill by emailing him at [email protected]. A favorite pastime is sitting down with a good cup of coffee or tea and meeting people to exchange ideas and learn more about each other and the world.

Unlocking Success in the Competitive Home Sales Market: How Interactive Tools and Incentives Make New Builds a Smart Choice

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Architect checking house floor plan for new build on tablet device
Architect checking new build floor plan on tablet courtesy of Envato Elements

For the past few years, potential homeowners have been facing a challenging scenario – soaring mortgage rates that threaten to make their dream of owning a home harder and harder to reach. The low supply of existing inventory due to families not moving from their low-interest-rate homes is making the situation even worse. The financial waves of the housing market have left many potential buyers contemplating their options.  Is it still feasible to dive into the deep waters of mortgage loans when the rates are riding too high? Or should they seek the calmer shores and consider a different route altogether?

In this blog, we’ll explore why the alternative path that more and more prospective homeowners are setting their sights on, purchasing a new build home, might be a better option. We’ll also talk about some of the most alluring incentives that home builders can leverage to take advantage of this market. Finally, we’ll talk about the need for home builders to have an effective website with engaging digital tools to set themselves apart from their competitors.

New builds come with some advantages to existing properties. Among these advantages might be the ability to customize the home, energy efficiency, warranty coverage for the initial year of ownership, and lower immediate maintenance costs. Builders that can market these advantages as cost saving advantages might just win prospective buyers from the resale market.  What home buyer doesn’t want to save on every aspect possible of homeownership?

So, what home builder incentives are the most attractive to new home buyers? As mortgage loan interest rates soar, there are two stand out incentives.  First, closing cost assistance can reduce the financial burden of a new home buyer at the time of closing.  This makes homeownership much more attainable to buyers at these heightened rates. The second is interest rate buydowns! Some builders are offering to buy down the buyers’ mortgage rate to get the prospective buyer to a more manageable monthly mortgage payment. From this writer’s logic, this frees the buyer to only need finances for one of the two things themselves. They either need enough money for a down payment or an interest rate buy down if they want a nice low payment for the term of their dream home.

Housing market affordability is so strained that this Fortune 500 homebuilder is offering a fixed 4.25% mortgage rate in some communities

Check out this article from Forbes!

Builders have a myriad of other incentives aside from these two.  They can offer base price discounts on specific homes. This usually happens with the first few homes in a new development.  They can offer free or discounted upgrades, customizations, or appliance packages.  They can also offer to pay HOA fees for the first year. These are just a few of the incentives available that can make new construction more financially attractive than purchasing an existing home.

Never Underestimate the Value of a Good First Impression.”

You’re with me this far. You’re a builder. You offer some of these incentives, but you want to know how to set yourself apart from other builders when marketing to potential homebuyers. Interactive tools may be key in the real estate market.  These tools offer a more engaging and informative experience to potential buyers, making it easier for them to visualize themselves in a potential new home. It can also make sure they clearly understand what the properties have to offer. 

Don’t believe us?  Here’s some statistical proof provided by the Content Marketing Institute:

  • 88% of marketers say interactive content differentiates them from competitors giving them a significant advantage in a crowded market.
  • 93% of marketers agree that interactive content is effective in educating buyers as compared to 70% for static content.
  • Interactive content attracts 2x the engagement of similar static content.

Those numbers are hard to refute, and they are just some highlights. If you want more information, head over to the Content Marketing Institute’s website to read more of their studies.

Some of the best interactive tools come in a few different categories: visualization, personalization, and lead generation, to name a few. When it comes to visualization, the most useful tools for new home buyers tend to be interactive floor plans, virtual tours, and real-time online booking and scheduling. Interactive floor plans (IFPS) allow buyers to customize layouts and explore different design options. Buyers can visualize a space and personalize it to their needs.  This can be a powerful selling point for new construction homes where there are often many customization options.

Interactive Floor Plans Top New Buyers’ Useful Tools Lists

Virtual tours or 3D tours allow a homeowner to experience a home, whether it is real or 3D rendered, from the comfort of their own home.  Builders can showcase the home in detail. This is incredibly important in times when physical access may be limited or just plain inconvenient.

Further, websites can integrate features that allow buyers to schedule appointments, book showings, or attend virtual open houses. This is a convenience for both the buyer and the home builder!

Once the potential buyer is interested in a builder, the best interactive tools need to be personalized; this can be achieved with real-time updates on available homes, pricing, and promotions. After all, everything else on the builder’s site hooked this potential home buyer; the builder will want to keep them interested! A great addition after purchase might be online sales tools. Many websites allow buyers to complete the purchase process online, including signing contracts and making payments.

Finally, lead generation might be the final piece of the interactive tool puzzle. Home builders can use website analytics to gain insights into user behavior. A data-driven approach can help them refine their marketing strategies and help them understand what features are most appealing to buyers. They might use this information to improve their sales tactics. Moreover, valuable data about user engagement and preferences can be provided to builders from their interactive tools. When potential buyers engage with these tools, builders can collect information and follow up with targeted marketing and sales efforts specific to individual buyers.  

Modern websites can capture leads and integrate with customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Sales teams can use this information to effectively nurture leads and follow-up. The best way to turn a potential buyer into a homeowner is with timely and personalized information. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and social media integration might be the bow on the package. A well-optimized website can rank higher in search and make it easier for potential buyers to find and explore a builder’s properties.  SEO strategies can drive organic traffic to the builder’s site.  With the addition of well-thought-out social media integrations, builders can leverage social networks for marketing and referrals.

To sum it up, modern website assets empower homebuilders to provide a superior online experience, engage potential buyers effectively, and leverage data to optimize their sales strategies.  By staying up-to-date with the latest web technologies and user experience trends, homebuilders can gain a competitive edge in this competitive home sales market. There is definitely room for new home sales to outpace resale with the proper online strategies!

If all of this sounds a little mind blowing to you, a great place to learn about all of these digital tools, and the corresponding analytics would be from the experts at The Home Builders Digital Marketing Summit, and some of the amazing companies sponsoring and hosting the event.

http://buildermarketingsummit.com

Tabitha Warren was an Income Tax Accountant for 15+ years.  In the first months of the pandemic, she took a chance and re-careered to freelance in Marketing.  She currently, and very happily, works with video and photo editing, social media marketing, and now blog writing.

The Importance of a Digital Marketing Ecosystem: A Lesson from Tesla

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Blue Electric Vehicle charging at Tesla Station.
Tesla Image Adobe Stock

When you think of leaders in the electrical vehicle movement, I believe even the Elon haters would have to give props to Tesla. They have moved into a position of power that is rare. One of the chief reasons for this is their self-contained ecosystem. From batteries to auto parts to charging stations and software, Tesla is in control. There is little that is outsourced. 

This streamlined approach makes them significantly more profitable than other auto manufacturers. They also have one of the most powerful computer systems in the world, enabling drivers to control everything from a sleek touchscreen. Tesla also gathers data from their vehicles. Paired with AI, the data from every mile driven gives them the lead in autonomous driving. No one knows when robo taxis will make their grand entrance, but the probability of it happening in my lifetime is exciting!

Tesla Touchscreen Controls
Tesla Touchscreen Controls Adobe Stock

The Ecosystem

What does all this have to do with homebuilder sales and marketing, you ask? It all comes down to the ecosystem. While some builders use individual vendors for renderings, interactive floor plans, print materials, etc., savvy builders understand the benefits of working with a full-service provider like Outhouse. In addition to digital marketing assets like interactive floor plans (IFPs), interactive site plans (ISPs), renderings, virtual tours, visualizers, animations, and digital kiosks, we also have an in-house print and signage shop and a full-service computer-aided design (CAD) department. Clients who use all our services benefit from significant time and cost savings. When you make changes in CAD, those edits carry across our entire ecosystem.  

Our “Touchscreen” – the Interactive Control Center

Like Tesla, Outhouse now has a slick “touchscreen,” our new Interactive Control Center. With the launch of this intuitive administrative back end for our interactive platform, we are setting the stage for a new future in interactive control. A few of the features include:

  • A new look with upgraded graphics for ease of use and improved navigation
  • A clean template with easy-to-see project permissions
  • Choice between light and dark themes, similar to our IFPs
  • The ability to personalize by setting your home page – perhaps a specific community or your interactive floor plan list
  • No more pagination. The plan list is fluid. While not a huge issue for builders with only a few IFPs, builders with dozens will appreciate this time-saver
  • Seamless movement between IFPs and ISPs in the same community. No more toggling between lists of IFPs and ISPs
  • Simplified self-serve reports and the ability to export data in Excel, CSV, JSON, and XML
  • A search box and filters to make it easy to find what you are looking for.

Also coming soon to the Control Center are a dashboard, and everyone’s favorite – widgets. Everything is designed to simplify the management of your interactive tools and data collection from potential clients. 

Tesla’s Super Chargers in a line Adobe Stock

Integration

Integration makes life easier. Ask the owners of EVs manufactured by companies other than Tesla. There’s a reason the most prominent auto manufacturers are signing contracts to access Tesla’s Supercharger network. Constructed in secret, Tesla unveiled their first six Supercharger stations in 2012. From there, they have continued building a Supercharger network nationwide. They understood the need for a strong network of Superchargers for EVs to compete with gas-fueled vehicles. Tesla also fixes and improves their cars simply by issuing a software update. Their ecosystem is fully integrated, from construction to batteries to software to charging stations.

In recent years, Outhouse has enhanced our interactive products to achieve full integration with each other. Starting with our interactive site plan, your home buyers can click on a lot to reveal renderings of the available homes. Click on a rendering, and it opens an interactive floor plan. While engaging with the IFP, home buyers can also view virtual tours and select colors and finishes with interior and exterior visualizers. All of our interactive tools can be neatly packaged into an interactive kiosk for potential homebuyers to peruse while at your sales center.

Outhouse Interactive Site Plan

Before you start your next community, consider how your company might benefit from implementing a complete interactive ecosystem rather than just a few pieces and parts. Today’s home buyers are shopping online; your website should make it easy for them to decide your homes and communities are the right fit for their families. As the EV market grows, you may also want to consider where to place a Supercharger!

10 Lessons Ted Lasso Would Have for the Home Building Industry in 2023

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This image was taken from the official press kit for “Ted Lasso,” distributed by AppleTV+ 

The final season of Ted Lasso was loved by some and flopped for many. I was one of the people who was a tried-and-true fan in the same manner that I’m a fan of the home building industry.  Ted wants us to be better, happier, more hopeful people. The home building industry wants people to find a home for their family and build happy, hopeful lives there. They want us to continue to “believe” in the American dream and a place to call our own. On that note, I believe that Ted Lasso has a few more lessons for home builders. But this time around we’ll take a few quotes from the entire cast. 

The series finale of Ted Lasso shows the team comes together; each has a piece of the iconic “BELIEVE” sign.  They put it together. It’s ripped, it’s tattered, but it’s all there. It’s beautiful. It stands for something.   

When I saw it, I saw the home building industry. It has had a several-year struggle from materials shortages to housing shortages and long waits to labor shortages to skyrocketing interest rates. Like A.F.C. Richmond, it often feels like the housing industry can’t get a win.  

Many of us in the housing industry just need to take some of the Lasso lessons and above all remember to “Believe in Believe.” 

You guys are more distracted than a bunch of cats playing laser tag.”

Ted Lasso
  1. Focus on Relationships: The key point here is focus. One of the lessons from Ted Lasso is the importance of building strong relationships with clients, customers, and colleagues. In season 3, we see Ted continue to prioritize his connections with the team and work to build trust with new players like Dani Rojas. With these fictional characters as well as in home building, focus on relationships creates trust and confidence among all parties. New homes are significant investments, so home buyers need to believe builders and contractors will deliver quality work within agreed-upon terms.

Well, I don’t want comfort.”

Roy Kent
  1. Embrace Change: The willingness of homebuilders to adapt and embrace new technologies and building practices is critical to staying ahead of the curve. By adopting new technologies, trends, and practices, home builders can offer better homes, enhance customer satisfaction, and position themselves for success in an ever-evolving market. Ted Lasso is all about embracing change and adapting to new situations. In the final season, A.F.C. Richmond undergo some significant changes as they adjust to new coaching and playing styles. This inevitably leads them to advance to the Champions League. Embracing change can make many of us champions in our own rights.

Unless it’s Animal Crossing. That sh! t’s ‘clucking’ soothing.”

Isaac Macadoo
  1. Communication is Key: Effective communication is essential in any industry. Home builders should prioritize clear and open communication with clients and trade partners to ensure everyone is on the same page. Ted Lasso is a shining example of effective communication. Ted and the team continuously work to improve their communication on and off the field. Communication takes many different forms, and sometimes we all need to calm down and make sure we are playing from the same rule book.

Right now, y’all brains are basically in London in 1857. They’re blocked up by other people’s dookie.”

Ted Lasso
  1. Prioritize Customer Experience: Ted Lasso understands the importance of providing a great customer experience, and builders should too. Ted works to create a positive and supportive environment for the team. He often takes them on strange and winding journeys if it will result in them understanding the process better. Ultimately, this helps them perform better on the field. Similarly, home builders should prioritize their clients’ experience, from the initial consultation to the final walkthrough. That’s the idea of the home buyer journey.

I’m a work in prog-mess.”

Ted Lasso
  1. Emphasize Quality: In season 3, we see the team working to improve their skills and techniques to produce better results on the field. Ted Lasso is known for his attention to detail and emphasis on quality, which should also be a priority for home builders. Prioritizing quality materials and craftsmanship to ensure projects stand the test of time is a good business practice. Things don’t always have to be perfect, but we in the homebuilding industry should strive to improve every day.

Can I say a bad word? I think you’re being stupid.”

Phoebe (Kent)
  1. Be Authentic: Authenticity is a fundamental aspect of successful homebuilding. It establishes trust, strengthens relationships, and fosters customer and trade loyalty, all of which are vital for sustained success in our competitive market. Authenticity benefits the homebuilding business and ensures a positive and fulfilling experience for the buyer who entrusts home builders with their dreams of a new home. Ted Lasso is all about being true to yourself and your values, which often involves a lot of honesty.

“Time is a construct, like gender and many of the alphabets.”

Zava
  1. Embrace Diversity: Diversity and inclusion are essential themes in Ted Lasso, and these values also play an important role in new home construction and sales. This season, we see the team welcome new players from different backgrounds and work to create a more inclusive environment. Home builders also benefit by striving to gather diverse and inclusive teams to foster innovation and creativity. Like Ted Lasso, homebuilders will find that different viewpoints and experiences enable them to innovate, problem-solve, and attract a broader group of homebuyers.

We are now one. There is no we; there is no you; there is only we and us and the ‘wenus.'”

Zava
  1. Collaborate: Collaboration is vital in any industry, including home building. Prioritizing collaboration with contractors, designers, and other stakeholders helps builders ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. Partnerships also enable builders to manage complex projects, maintain quality control, creatively innovate, and manage costs. I think Zava said it all.

I’ve had more psychotic episodes than Twin Peaks.”

Ted Lasso
  1. Be Resilient: Ted Lasso is all about resilience and overcoming adversity. In the final season, the team faces some tough challenges, but they bounce back and come out stronger in the end. Home builders should also be resilient in the face of setbacks and challenges and work to solve problems as they arise. In the past year, we have faced economic uncertainties such as rising interest rates, inflation, and fluctuating housing demand. Being resilient allows home builders to adapt to these changing economic conditions.

I look like Ned Flanders is doing cosplay with Ned Flanders.”

Ted Lasso
  1. Have Fun: Last but not least, Ted Lasso reminds us to have fun and enjoy the journey. The boys at A.F.C Richmond work hard but also take time to enjoy each other’s company and have fun on and off the field. Home builders should also remember to enjoy the process and take pride in their work while finding ways to have fun along the way.
The Mayfair – by Hampstead Living with Believe sign added

The wonder of Ted Lasso comes from within the process of growth and connection. It doesn’t have anything to do with wins and losses. Just like the continued beauty of home building should be connections and community. Connections to quality business partners and connections to the families we come together to help. We are building a community on so many levels. Community of like-minded builders and vendors. But most of all, communities of new homeowners will be proud to have bought a home from us and will want to come back the next time they purchase. I think we all need to take notes from Ted Lasso and Believe in Believe.

Code Cracking: Unlocking the Power of Analytics in Interactive Floor Plans

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You implemented Interactive Floor Plans (IFPs) on your website months, if not years ago. Maybe you have seen a report that your IFPs are experiencing a lot of visits which is fantastic; but what else can you find out? You ask yourself, what other information can I gain from Google Analytics and how can I take advantage of this data?

Analytics Overview Graph

With Google Analytics 4 or ‘GA4’ replacing the traditional and familiar Universal Analytics (UA) platform, your second question may be, what is different, and how will it affect me?

Information Gathering

First, to gather data from your IFP’s, you need to ensure your IFP provider allows access to this data. Some, but not all, IFP providers already allow builders access to reports showing data on basic information like demographics, time on site, which plans are getting the most views, number of views, etc. However, there is little to take advantage of with this data. It is critical to work with IFP providers like Outhouse, LLC, who allow access to deeper details that provide actionable value. These deeper details include, but are not limited to:

  • How users found your website (clicking an ad, social media, search engines, etc.)
  • Popularity of communities and plans.
  • Popularity of specific options selected.

With this information, your Online Sales Counselors can guide homebuyers to a home that best fits their needs.  Your marketing department can better budget how and where ads are most effective in gaining new traffic. Your plan development team gets a better understanding of what options are most valued by homebuyers.

Analytics Events

Google Analytics 4 – What’s New?

GA4 may improve reports for builders in a few areas. Events are a great way to track meaningful actions on your website. One difference between Google’s UA and GA4 is that UA would count the number of ‘hits’, times a specific option is clicked and viewed. We discovered almost every home builder will find their optional Enlarged Shower in Owner’s Bath is clicked and viewed more so than any other option. From that data you might think it is the most purchased option, but that isn’t always the case. It only means it is clicked more than any other option, but not always kept. With GA4 you can more easily drill down to find what options are clicked and KEPT, giving you more accurate data on the most popular options.

Analytics Events Data

Another example is that Outhouse’s Save Plan feature asks for a person’s Name, Email, and Phone Number to save their plan. However, the phone number is made optional because GA4 shows by requiring buyers to enter a phone number, many would discard saving their plan altogether. With this information, Outhouse adjusted their Save Plan feature to make phone numbers optional. In doing so, this dramatically increases the number of saved plans, creating more hot leads for builders to pursue.

Interactive Floor Plans can be the most powerful tool on your website to engage homebuyers and generate leads. When builders utilize an IFP platform that provides access to deeper analytics, they are truly gaining a better understanding of their buyers to take meaningful actions in selling more homes.

About the Author: Stuart Platt is Managing Partner at Outhouse LLC, an industry leader dedicated to providing an extensive and integrated menu of products and services to production home builders across the world. These services include but are not limited to Architectural Drafting, 3D Renderings, Virtual Tours, Animations, Interactive Floor Plans, Interactive Site Plans, Interactive Sales Office Displays, Interior and Exterior Visualizers, Graphic Design, Commercial Printing, and more. Outhouse is the ONLY company in the nation providing all of these services in-house.

How Photoreal Renderings & Virtual Tours Sell Homes

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Marketing insights from photos of an expedition to Antarctica

Black and white photo of two sets of jagged rocks forming a saddle. Old fence posts in the foreground. Reminiscent of a moonscape.
Deception Island – the caldera of an active volcano. Although taken in black and white, this photo accurately represents the starkness and other-worldly feel of the island.

With even the smallest home builders moving heavily into 3-D photoreal renderings, virtual tours, and animations, I thought it might be interesting to revisit this post from a year ago. This update includes additional information on rendering and virtual reality (VR) tools, plus new images of the latest photoreal renderings, and links to virtual tours. This also is one of my favorite posts, combining my career with my favorite pastime – travel.

A bucket-list trip to Antarctica is one of the most incredible and inspirational journeys. Seeing thousands of penguins and other animals, yet not a single plant anywhere is mind-boggling. The football field-sized+ icebergs, especially the tabular varieties, are astounding. And the monochromatic landscape is other-worldly. I came away with a desire to take better care of our planet, a greater appreciation of finding peace in solitude (this place is desolate!), and the realization I can enjoy summer when the high is just above freezing.

Colorful kayaks and kayakers in water with floating bits of ice, and dark clouds overhead.
Kayaking in Neko Harbor.
Penguins surrounding bright orange duffel bags on a large rock, set on a rocky beach with snow in the background.
The inquisitive penguins.

I also gained some key marketing insights. A recent post, Rules of Engagement, discusses the powerful lesson we learn from penguins, who are the stars of the Antarctic show. They captivate visitors as they gather stones to build nests, guard their chicks, run en masse along the beach to dive for food, and shuffle around checking out us humans. Likewise, digital marketing tools, including Interactive Floor Plans, Interactive Site Plans, and Visualizers, play a starring role on builder websites and are integral to the new home journey. Captivating and engaging homebuyers, digital tools create strong emotional connections and lead to an increase in closing sales.

A lesson also came on the importance of color and texture and how it relates to visual marketing tools like renderings, virtual tours, and animations. Against a backdrop of grey and white, the most captivating photos include glimpses of vivid color, most often provided by humans. Pops of red, orange, and yellow on ships, clothing, and kayaks look stunning in the barren landscape.

Bow of a ship with red trim cracking a giant ice sheet.
Cracking a massive ice sheet in Wilhelmina Bay. Note the power or red.
An expedition team, wearing bright orange and yellow jackets, on an inflatable Zodiac boat cruising through water with chunks of ice
Traveling by Zodiac in the Antarctic Sound.

Colors from nature include teal from glacial ice; clear blue skies; orange, pink, red, and purple emanating from the stunning midnight sunsets; bits of orange and yellow on penguin beaks, necks, and feet; and an occasional rainbow. That’s about it! What really makes Antarctica so dramatic are the textures. Smooth snow, jagged rocks, fluffy clouds. Constantly changing due to weather, they overwhelm the senses.

A black ship with red and white trim next to a giant, triangular, blue-tinted iceberg.
Our ship, anchored next to a massive, blue-tinged iceberg.
Blue icebergs floating in front of a rocky mountain with snow. Clouds overhead, and reflecting in the water.
Cool blue on an iceberg and purple-tinged skies add rare bits of natural color in Neko Harbor.
Bright orange sunset over the ocean against a backdrop of grey clouds.
The most color at any one time, a vibrant sunset, sometime around midnight.

And that brings us to the importance of photoreal renderings, virtual tours, and animations in new home sales. Colors and textures appeal to everyone. They move and motivate us, playing an essential role in marketing strategies. Photoreal imagry brings colors and textures to your pre-built homes. It gives potential buyers a realistic view of your homes, often generating sales before a model is ever built. 3-D Renderings are the first place to start. We still see builder websites with flat, black/white stick drawings. Yuck! These in no way engage the senses like a proper photoreal rendering.

Photoreal rendering for Winslow Homes – daylight.
Same elevation for Winslow Homes – a dramatic dusk shot.

Even more engaging are virtual tours and animations. What’s the difference? Virtual tours, like the ones for DeLuca Homes and KLMR Homes shown here, are user-controlled. Viewers click into a room and then turn the image for a 360° view. Animations, on the other hand, are video tours. Both bring your “model homes” to buyers around the world. Virtual Tours tend to be the most popular as they are more cost-effective, and most users enjoy the hands-on experience.

Invite your buyers to discover your homes with virtual tours. Click the DeLuca Homes kitchen to explore their Mayfair plan.
A stunning home with spectacular views. KLMR Homes Bellos at the Summit.

People love to explore and engage. These are the reasons many of us enjoy discovering the world. When it comes to purchasing a new home, your buyers also want to personalize. By implementing digital and visualization tools on your website, you invite homebuyers to do all three. Contact Outhouse today to learn more about our interactive floor plans, interactive site plans, virtual tours, animations, visualizers, and renderings, plus our interactive kiosks, which incorporate all.

Clouds and a rainbow between two jagged hills straddling a channel with water.
A rainbow – the perfect ending to a storm in the Lemaire Channel.

Print Marketing Sells New Homes

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Brochure of a K. Hovnanian Homes house

People often ask us why a print company specializing in print for home builders is necessary. Heck, today, builders sometimes ask us if print marketing is still a valuable sales tool! The answer to both questions is a resounding “Yes!” We explain why in this post.

The Role of Print in New Home Sales

In a recent episode of the Digital Velocity Podcast, co-hosts Erik Martinez of Blue Tangerine and Tim Curtis of CohereOne talk with Alex Kupski and Jake Hoffman, co-hosts of the Millennials in Print Podcast, about the Power of Print in the Digital Age. They conclude, “The more channels you’re present on and the more channels you’re marketing to people on, ultimately, the more effective you’re going to be. Print, just like social, just like email, just like your website, just like a commercial on TV, is a channel for you to market on. It’s another arrow in the quiver. It’s another way to reach people you might not have before.”

Print marketing works best when paired with digital marketing. Digital marketing is often the most effective way to draw people in. With interactive site plans, interactive floor plans, renderings, virtual tours, visualizers, and Matterport tours, your website is arguably a home builder’s most potent marketing tool. But it is only effective for a home buyer’s few precious moments on your website. Print collateral, on the other hand, has a much longer life span. Brochures and floorplan/elevation minis often sit on a potential buyer’s countertop or table for weeks or months, a lasting reminder of your homes and communities. Not every prospect immediately purchases a home, so print is a great way to keep them focused on yours. 

David Weekley Homes brochure with cactus front cover, and homes on the back

Data shows that print used in tandem with digital marketing is one of the most effective sales strategies as the two mediums strengthen and reinforce each other. A study by InfoTrends found that 66% of direct mail is opened, and 56% of consumers who respond to direct mail go online or visit a physical store. A recent article in SFGate offers some great tips to sync your print and digital marketing efforts:

  • Place QR codes on print materials.
  • Provide digital opt-ins for direct mail.
  • Include social media reviews and comments on print materials.
  • Include hashtags and calls to action on print materials.

Although digital and print marketing take different forms, They work together to engage customers and keep your brand at the top of their minds.

Why Use a Builder-Specific Printing Company?

The challenge builders face that is unique to our industry is the weekly sales cycle. From week to week, home prices may change, lot availability changes, and options may vary. The typical strip-mall printer is not equipped to automate this process. Outhouse built their business to serve a single industry – HOME BUILDING. We do all work in-house, from CAD for your construction documents to print materials for your sales centers. This allows all teams, including architectural, rendering, graphics, interactive, and print, to work in tandem. By doing so, we create accurate, up-to-date print materials that are consistent and coordinated with your digital marketing assets. Utilizing the latest technologies, we print and deliver materials on time every week, on the builder’s schedule. Challenge solved – you send us your edits, and we coordinate these changes across all platforms.  

Professional Artwork Creation: Outhouse provides clients with the considerable advantage of having drafting and rendering services on-site, allowing coordination with the development of their artwork for all printed materials. This coordination offers clients superior accuracy, faster turnaround times, and lower overall costs.

Coordinated File Management:  Another advantage is the ease of managing and coordinating all created artwork with professional digital file and asset management. All artwork is kept up-to-date, consistent, and coordinated between city design reviews, printed sales materials, large format displays, and interactive web products and services.  

Superior Print Quality:  Superior brand standard quality and consistency every time on every product is only possible with the coordination, color calibration, and production of all graphics, printing, and display under one roof. Unlike a mass-market printer like Vista Print, Outhouse is not a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) printer. We believe that good enough is never good enough, and we have the magnifying glasses to prove it! On rare occasions when colors are incorrect or print quality is not up to snuff the first time off the press, we recalibrate and rerun the job.

Builder-Specific Delivery:  Unlike many industries, home building has a weekly sales cycle, and having your print delivered on time is critical. Outhouse understands this. We meet your deadlines your way on your weekly sales cycle.

Woodside Homes brochure with three homes

The bottom line is print marketing still plays an integral role in new home marketing and sales. There’s a reason the Outhouse Interactive Floor Plan has a save button. It allows prospective homebuyers to save their customized floor plans and print them out for further review. 

What about younger generations? Retail Focus Magazine tells us that print is 30% more memorable than digital. This applies to all age groups. You need look no further than nightclubs which hand out leaflets advertising upcoming events, and university welcome packs to know that print still appeals to young people. The magazine also notes the best campaigns are when print and digital work alongside each other instead of trying to compete. A younger audience may be digitally savvy, but they still appreciate a well-thought-out hard copy campaign.  

Although any printer can give you a halfway decent brochure, only a company like Outhouse coordinates your CAD, rendering, and interactive projects with your print materials and sales office displays. Even if our print pricing is a bit higher, you will save significantly more overall through efficiencies in coordination.     

Woodside Homes floor plan
When you update a plan, Outhouse coordinates the changes across CAD, print, and all digital marketing assets.

Interactive Floor Plans Engage Homebuyers

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“Why do we need interactive floor plans on our website?” That is one of the top questions digital marketing experts receive from home builders. This post discusses how interactive floor plans function and why they are critical for marketing to homebuyers.

Interactive floor plan showing selected structural options, furniture layout, exterior elevation thumbnail


What is an Interactive Floor Plan?

An interactive floor plan (IFP) is a digital structural option selection aid and space planning tool that home builders use to sell new construction homes. Unlike a static floorplan with structural options displayed along the side, interactive floor plans allow home buyers to customize a home online by adding structural options, like rooms, fireplaces, porches, alternate kitchen layouts, and more, directly to their plans. With the changes incorporated, your buyers have an accurate picture of the design of their new home. Also known as interactive house plans, many IFPs incorporate exterior house renderings, dynamic (real-time) pricing for options, and a furniture planner. IFPs may also feature hotspots that link to visual enhancements like virtual tours, interior renderings, photos, and Matterport tours. Top-tier IFPs increase viable sales leads by allowing buyers to save their customized plan and transmitting this buyer information to the home builder.

Detail of furniture placement tool showing bed inside in a blue box. The box makes it easier to move small items that makes items easy to move
Resize furniture and place it anywhere. The blue box makes it easy to move items around on smaller devices like a tablet.

How do Interactive Floorplans Sell Homes?

Homebuyers want to know if a floor plan will work for their lifestyle. Will their furniture fit, or might they need an extra room added to accommodate their family? With many households being multigenerational, flexibility is essential. An interactive floor plan encourages buyers to customize their home. This process creates an emotional connection and increases their chance of purchasing. Bokka Group, a customer experience agency for home builders, shows that more than 90% of new home buyers say interactive floor plans play a vital role in their buying decision.

The Outhouse Interactive Floor Plan Advantage

Outhouse created the first interactive floor plan a quarter-century ago, and ours is still the best and most affordable in the industry. Our Contrado VIP Interactive Floor Plans offer robust features starting with a to-scale furniture planner. Accurately scaled furniture is essential. When purchasing a new home, buyers want to be sure their belongings will fit. There are many IFPs with inaccurately scaled furniture. To test, take a queen size bed and lay it over a standard bathtub. The width of the bed should match the length of the tub.

Close up of options pricing tool, exterior elevation preview, and tabs for furniture and electrical component selection
Close-up of options pricing tool, elevation preview, and selectors for structural options, components, and furniture.

The Contrado VIP Interactive Floor Plan also includes an electrical component selector, exterior renderings, and hotspots for virtual tours, visualizers, Matterport tours, and more. One of the most advanced features is dynamic pricing for structural options. This tool calculates, in real-time, options pricing as buyers make their selections. The pricing details can be client-facing or restricted to viewing by your sales team.

Our IFPs also allow buyers to save their customized plans. When they do so, the builder receives a notification with their contact information and a copy of the saved plan. Buyer data can also be delivered directly to a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) through an Application Programming Interface (API). On the backend, Outhouse clients also have access to Google Analytics for a detailed look at IFP traffic, visitor trends, top plans, and more.

Close-up of save your plan box to have plan sent to buyer and and contact info and plan sent to builder
The save plan feature captures homebuyer leads and structural options customization.

Finally, our interactive floor plans integrate seamlessly with our interactive site plans and interactive kiosks through the Contrado Virtual Interactive Platform. Having all your digital assets in a single app makes it easy for buyers to find their ideal home online and in your sales office.

In Summary

In today’s digital age, interactive floor plans are no longer optional for home builders. They play an integral role in the sales and marketing process. They emotionally engage buyers by enticing them to select structural options, arrange furniture, and create their dream home. Research proves they increase time on builder websites and, ultimately, sell more homes. To learn more, contact Kevin at [email protected].

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