home builder marketing

The 40/40/40 Effect

Kevin Weitzel · 05/25/2026 · Leave a Comment

You can’t afford to do “X”?… but what if you can’t afford NOT to?

The Evolution of Buyer Expectations

For years, static floor plans on builder websites have been the norm. But today’s buyers want more, and frankly, they expect it.

Interactive Floor Plans aren’t new. Outhouse introduced the first version back in 1994. Since then, they’ve produced tens of thousands of IFPs for builders across the U.S. and Canada, tracking every interaction along the way. When you combine that data with insights from Google Analytics and real-world builder results, a clear pattern emerges, one that continues to hold up across case study after case study.

The Results

It’s the 40/40/40 effect:

40% increase in leads, and not just more leads, but better ones. More engaged. More qualified. More likely to convert.
40% increase in structural option sales; the kind that drives higher margins compared to base builds.
40% shorter sales cycle; because buyers who personalize their home feel more connected to it… and often sell themselves before they even step foot in the builders’ sales office or model home.

The Bottom Line

Put it together, and it’s a true win across the board: more leads, higher margin sales, and faster closings.

So maybe the better question isn’t, “What does this cost?”

It’s “What is it costing you not to have it?”

Webinar Preview! Marketing Masterclass: 3 Pros, 3 Sizes, 3 Winning Strategies

Kevin Weitzel · 04/27/2026 ·

Laura Williams with Insync Media, Kelly Fink with Milesbrand, Carol Morgan with Denim Marketing, Kevin Weitzel with Outhouse

At the recent International Builders Show (IBS), I had the privilege of sharing the stage with three of the brightest minds in our industry: Kelly Fink, Carol Morgan, and Laura Williams. Our session, “Budget-Friendly Marketing: 3 Strategies for 3 Builder Sizes,” was born from a simple truth: whether you’re a local rural builder or a national powerhouse, your marketing needs to be high-performance, not just high-budget.

As we look toward our upcoming Summer Webinar series, I want to dive deeper into the “Growth Roadmaps” we discussed. At Outhouse, we see how these strategies come to life through interactive content and visualization. If you missed the explosive IBS presentation, here is your roadmap to winning in the current market.

Step 1: Build a High-Performance Website

Your website is your hardest-working salesperson, but only if it’s built to convert. A high-performance site isn’t just “pretty”; it’s a conversion machine that follows a specific psychological flow.

Value Headlines & Keyworded Subtitles: You have three seconds to tell a visitor what you do and why it matters. Use “User-Intent Keywording” to ensure you appear when they search for specific niches like “custom modular builds”.
Clear CTAs & The Three-Step Process: Don’t make them hunt for the “Contact” button. Map out a clear three-step process to clarify the buying journey and lower the barrier to entry.

Visual Storytelling: Use beautiful photography and client stories to build an emotional connection. At Outhouse, we take this further with interactive floor plans and 3D renderings that allow buyers to “live” in the home before it’s built.

Step 2: Create a Multi-Channel Strategy

Even the best website needs a map to lead people there. Success comes from “Cross-Channel Integration,” making sure your email, social media, and organic content all sing the same tune.

The Power of Blogging: We identified the “Top 5 Reasons to Blog,” including building credibility and creating evergreen content that improves your SEO and AI Search (AIO) rankings.
Email Marketing Mastery: From the “True Homes 3-3-3 Campaign,” we saw how targeted eblasts can achieve 21% open rates and contribute to massive sales goals (like 259 homes sold!) by staying top-of-mind with both consumers and brokers.

Step 3: Power-Up the Google Business Profile

For local and regional builders, your Google Business Profile is often your #1 asset. It is the gatekeeper for “AI Mode” searches.

Own Your Niche: Take a page from Kopper Creek Custom Homes. They didn’t try to be everything to everyone; they owned their rural niche, resulting in a 33.2% increase in calls and visits.
Social Proof: Leverage quality 5-star reviews and showcase projects to build trust instantly.

The ROI of “Outthinking” Your Competition

The results of these strategies speak for themselves. Whether it’s Log Masters achieving a 12.5x ROI on their marketing spend or regional builders seeing a 24% click-to-open rate on their emails, the data is clear: strategy beats spend every time.

Ready to see these strategies in action?

Don’t miss out! Register now for our summer webinar: “Marketing Masterclass: 3 Pros, 3 Sizes, 3 Winning Strategies.” Join industry experts Kelly Fink of Milesbrand, Carol Morgan of Denim Marketing, and Laura Williams of InSync Media as they break down proven case studies and show you how to apply these strategies to hit your 2026 goals.

Reserve your spot and transform your marketing results.

Register now

Mobile-First Design for Home Builders: Why Digital Tools Must Match How Buyers Actually Shop

Tabitha Warren · 03/02/2026 ·

Interactive floor plan on mobile phone women pointing at it.

For today’s home buyer, mobile isn’t a secondary experience. It’s the starting point. Before a buyer ever walks into a sales office, they’ve already browsed communities, compared neighborhoods, checked lot availability, and shared links with a spouse or agent, all from a phone. In her latest book on social media marketing, Carol Morgan with Denim Marketing notes, “Approximately 63% of all Google searches start on a smartphone, this isn’t an audience to ignore.”

In many cases, that mobile experience determines whether a community makes the short list or gets skipped entirely. For builders, that reality changes the stakes. If your digital tools aren’t designed mobile-first, you’re not just behind on technology; you’re losing attention at the exact moment buyers are forming opinions. At Outhouse, we see mobile-first not as a trend but as a practical shift in how communities and homes are presented.

Mobile-First Design Isn’t Smaller. It’s Smarter for Home Builders

A common misconception is that mobile-first means “responsive” or “shrunk down.” In practice, mobile-first means designing the experience around clarity, speed, and ease of understanding, especially on smaller screens. For homebuilders, that means:

Clear visual hierarchy instead of crowded information
Touch-friendly navigation that works naturally on tablets and phones
Fast load times that don’t depend on perfect connectivity
Visual storytelling that replaces long explanations

When mobile-first is done well, buyers don’t feel like they’re using a limited version of your website. They feel like they’re getting the best version.

Why Interactive Site Maps Matter More on Mobile Than Anywhere Else

Site maps are often the most-used interactive tool on a builder’s website, and also one of the easiest places to lose buyers if the experience feels clunky. On a desktop, buyers may tolerate extra clicks or small details. On mobile, they won’t. We built our Interactive Geospatial Site Maps with this reality in mind. Instead of forcing buyers to pinch, zoom, and hunt for information, the experience is designed to guide them visually.

Mobile-first advantages include:

Wall-to-wall, immersive layouts without headers or footers competing for attention
Clear lot-level detail that’s readable at a glance
Elevation imagery that helps buyers understand location, views, and surroundings
A full-screen experience that feels native, not bolted on

Bringing the Interior to Life:

Interactive Floor Plans on the go. The mobile journey doesn’t stop at the lot line. Once a buyer finds the right community, they want to see if the home fits their life. Our Interactive Floor Plans are designed to be just as intuitive as our site maps. Instead of squinting at a static PDF, buyers can:

Toggle options and structural changes (like adding a 4th bedroom or a covered patio) with a single tap.
Visualize furniture placement to see how their current belongings fit the space.
Save and share their custom configurations directly from their phone. By giving buyers, the power to “build” their home digitally while sitting on their couch, you create an emotional connection before they ever set foot in a model.

Built for the Way Production and Regional Builders Actually Work

Many new digital tools promise innovation but often come with expensive software, steep learning curves, or workflows that don’t align with how production builders operate. That’s not our approach. With more than 30 years of experience, Outhouse focuses on tools that integrate with your existing processes. Our mobile-first solutions are built around AutoCAD-based workflows, because that’s what most builders already use.

What that means:

No need to switch to Revit or invest in costly new platforms
No retraining your drafting, sales, or marketing teams
Faster turnaround, from CAD files to sales-ready tools in days or weeks, not months
Budget-smart solutions that deliver value without unnecessary complexity

This isn’t about flashy technology for its own sake. It’s about practical tools that help you sell homes.

Mobile-First Benefits for Home Builder Sales Teams in the Field

Interactive site map on laptop in kitchen setting.

buyers through communities. A mobile-first site map and interactive floor plan make those conversations easier. Sales teams can quickly show:

Where a specific lot sits within the neighborhood
Exactly how a specific floor plan can be customized for a buyer’s needs
How elevation and surroundings impact the homesite
What amenities, schools, or conveniences are nearby

And with Progressive Web App (PWA) capabilities, these tools can be installed directly on tablets, providing a full-screen, app-like experience, even when internet access is spotty. For teams working on active construction sites, reliability matters.

A Better Buyer Experience, Without Disrupting Your Workflow

One of the biggest barriers to adopting new tools is fear of disruption. Builders don’t want to slow down sales cycles or overhaul systems that already work. Mobile-first geospatial site maps and interactive floor plans are designed as an evolution, not a replacement. Builders can:

Upgrade existing interactive site maps to a mobile-first geospatial experience
Incorporate interactive floor plans that sync with your inventory
Integrate seamlessly into existing websites and sales workflows

The result is more capability without added friction.

Why Mobile-First Digital Tools Help Builders Win in Competitive Markets

Mid-size and regional builders are often caught in the middle, too large to rely on static tools, but not positioned to chase expensive, enterprise-level platforms. Mobile-first digital assets level the playing field. They help builders:

Stand out earlier in the buyer journey
Tell a clearer story about communities and locations
Support both digital marketing and in-person sales
Present their neighborhoods with confidence and clarity

More homes sold. Less hassle.

Designed for Today’s Buyers, and What Comes Next for Builders

Mobile-first geospatial site maps also serve as the foundation for a broader view of your market. As builders manage multiple communities across a metro area, the ability to view everything on a single, geo-positioned screen becomes increasingly valuable. Imagine:

Seeing all communities in one market at once
Understanding proximity to schools, transit, and amenities instantly
Knowing which floor plans are offered in which communities, down to individual lots

It’s clarity without jumping between tools, and it starts with mobile-first design.

Want to See What Mobile-First Could Look Like for Your Communities?

If you’re curious how a mobile-first approach could improve your site maps, floor plans, sales conversations, and buyer experience, we’d be happy to show you. No hard sell, just a walkthrough and a practical conversation. Reach out to Kevin to see Interactive Geospatial Site Maps and Interactive Floor Plans in action.

If you’d like to learn more, reach out to Kevin.

Learn more

A Lesson for Home Builders from Disney on Customer Experience

Jim Sorgatz · 12/21/2025 ·

Out Door Christmas Gathering with Large Christmas Tree

Disney Has Great Customer Service — Until They Don’t

A recent trip to Disney World provided an important reminder about customer service and experience: The real test isn’t when everything goes right — it’s when things go wrong.

From pre-trip planning through most of our stay, Disney largely lived up to its reputation. Hotel reservations? Check. Dining reservations? Seamless all week. Assistance getting on and off rides due to a bad leg? Absolutely exemplary.

Disney truly shines when it comes to supporting guests with mobility and other challenges — and they do it in a way that makes people feel included, not like an inconvenience. That’s no small thing.

We did encounter a few issues, one of which was a major disappointment. I had booked a special room for one night through the Disney Vacation Club Store. On the morning of our stay, a cast member informed me we’d been moved due to a mechanical issue in the original room.

After explaining that I’m not a DVC member, had purchased points, and may not be returning for years, Disney stepped up. They offered a $250 gift card to cover dinner at Citricos — one of their fancier restaurants — and moved us to a replacement room in the new Polynesian Tower with a spectacular fireworks view.

As my friend and coworker Kevin Weitzel would say, “Not too shabby.”
Despite the disappointment, Disney made every effort to preserve the magic.

Where the Experience Fell Apart

Everything was great… until we got home.

I had purchased a fun tiki lamp at the Polynesian Resort and had it shipped. When it arrived, it was broken. I called customer service and immediately got that sinking “oh no” feeling — the call center was clearly not U.S.-based.

The first representative assured me it would be handled and that I’d receive an email shortly with return instructions.

That email never came.

I called again the next day and was told there was no record of my previous call, so we started over. The representative repeatedly asked for a reference number I couldn’t locate on the receipt. After reviewing it multiple times, she finally asked for a screenshot.

Her first question after seeing it:
“Did you make the purchase with a MagicBand?”

I had.

And that turned out to be the issue. MagicBand purchases are apparently tracked differently than other transactions — despite charging the same credit card on file — which is why they couldn’t locate my order. Once that was sorted out, the return was processed, and a replacement lamp arrived a couple of weeks later.

Lessons That Apply Far Beyond Disney

A few takeaways stood out — and they apply just as much to home builders and their partners as they do to theme parks:

1. Technology must work — and track correctly.
If you’re using tech, it has to function reliably behind the scenes. If you have interactive floor plans on your website, for example, make sure:

Furniture planners are scaling correctly
Dynamic pricing pulls from the right database
Leads are routing to the correct sales team for fast follow-up

Disney isn’t alone here. I’ve had recent inconsistencies between apps and websites from Costco and Bank of America as well. When systems don’t align, customer confidence erodes quickly.

2. When problems arise, don’t hand clients to the “B team.”
Dissatisfied customers are rarely easy — which is exactly why this is when your A team matters most. Clients need to know their concerns are being handled by someone with both the skill and authority to resolve the issue.

3. Consistency prevents (and softens) problems.
This is why Outhouse assigns dedicated account managers instead of using a random project queue system. Clients know exactly who to call — whether placing an order, making revisions, or addressing an issue. Fewer handoffs mean fewer glitches, and stronger relationships mean faster resolutions.

A Home-Building Parallel

This reminds me of a new-construction home I purchased several years ago. During most of the build, the superintendent was excellent — clear communication, quick responses, and deep familiarity with our home.

About two-thirds of the way through construction, he took another job, and a new superintendent was assigned. He was fine, but didn’t have the same knowledge of the home or history of decisions.

On closing day, he couldn’t be there at all. Instead, a builder representative who had never set foot in the home — and wasn’t part of the closing team — handed over the keys. There were still major punch-list items outstanding, and while everything was eventually resolved, the confidence we’d built along the way took a hit. It was a rocky handoff at a critical moment.

A Timely Reflection

A new year is always a great time to step back and assess your customer experience:

Where are you excelling?
Where are handoffs breaking down?
Are your systems and teams aligned?
Are you building confidence — or unintentionally creating friction with clients?

The magic isn’t just in getting things right.
It’s in how you respond when they don’t go according to plan.

Merry Christmas, and cheers to you, your family, and coworkers for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

If you need help with any of your home builder marketing and branding needs:

Good, Better, Best: What Home Builders Can Learn from the Auto Industry

Tabitha Warren · 12/08/2025 ·

picture of 3 different houses in order from worst to best quality. with good better best under them.

If you’ve ever shopped for a new car, you know how the game goes. You walk in thinking you’ll drive home in the base model. But then you see the “better” version: leather seats, Apple CarPlay, maybe even a moonroof calling your name. Before long, you’re test-driving the fully loaded edition, grinning from ear to ear, convincing yourself it’s totally worth it. That, my friends, is the “Good, Better, Best” strategy in action, and it works just as well for home builders as it does for car manufacturers.

Why the “Good, Better, Best” Approach Works

People love choices, but not too many. When you present clear tiers (good, better, best), you help buyers make confident decisions without confusion or overwhelm.

Home builders already use this psychology every day:

Standard finishes (good)
Designer upgrades (better)
Custom luxury features (best)

So why not apply that same logic to your digital marketing tools?

The Digital Marketing Version of “Good, Better, Best”

At Outhouse, we help builders of every size and price point choose the tools that fit their goals, just as you would pick the right trim level on a car.

GOOD: The Reliable Workhorse

Best for: Builders who want quality visuals and efficiency.
Includes:

2D floor plans
Basic static renderings
Standard community maps

This is your “base model”: straightforward, affordable, and professional. It gets your homes online quickly with clear, accurate visuals that attract buyers.

BETTER: The Performance Upgrade

Best for: Builders who want to boost buyer engagement.
Includes:

Interactive Floor Plans (IFPs)
Enhanced 3D renderings with realistic lighting and textures
Custom-branded community brochures

Now you’re adding some horsepower. Buyers can click, explore, and visualize, creating an emotional connection before they ever visit your model home.

BEST: The Fully Loaded Experience

Best for: Builders selling high-end or design-driven homes.
Includes:

Interactive Floor Plans (IFPs)
Immersive 3D tours and virtual reality walkthroughs
Option visualizers and customization platforms
Interactive site maps and lot selection tools

This is the premium package, all the bells and whistles. Buyers can “drive” through your community online, walk inside virtual homes, and fall in love before the slab is even poured.

Match the Tools to Your Market

Just like car shoppers, not every builder needs the top-of-the-line model.

A regional builder focused on affordability doesn’t need VR goggles in every sales office, but they do need clean visuals that communicate trust and professionalism.

Luxury builders, on the other hand, can’t afford to cut corners. Their audience expects a polished, immersive experience to match the price tag.

The key? Know your audience, then choose digital marketing tools that meet them where they are.

The Bottom Line: Be Strategic, Not Flashy

At Outhouse, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions. Our team helps builders find the perfect mix of tools to fit their goals, budget, and buyer expectations. Just like cars, not everyone needs a convertible, but nobody wants to drive a lemon. So what’s your version of leather seats and a moonroof? Let’s find out.

Ready to Choose Your Perfect Fit?

Not sure which digital marketing tools fit your business best?

Contact your Outhouse account manager or reach out to our team.

We’ll help you build a “Good, Better, Best” strategy that drives results and turns browsers into buyers.

Keep Learning: How Strong Visuals Drive Builder Success

If you liked this article, you’ll love our post on Why Your Home Building Brand Needs a Strong Visual Identity.
It digs into how powerful visuals shape buyer perception, and how consistent, high-quality imagery can elevate your brand just as much as the tools that deliver it. Because at the end of the day, great marketing isn’t just about what you show: it’s how you show it.

New Homes Are Cheaper Than Resale

Tabitha Warren · 09/22/2025 ·

Here’s How Builders Can Use This to Win Buyers

For years, buyers have assumed that new construction means paying a premium. Not anymore. According to Zillow, resale home prices have surged 52% since 2019, while new home prices have increased by only 26%. In fact, new homes are now selling for $3.50 less per square foot on average than resale homes, and in some markets, like Raleigh, NC, they’re even 2% cheaper overall.

This change in market dynamics is an opportunity builders can’t afford to miss. The message is simple: new homes are not only brand-new; they’re often the more affordable choice.

The Cost Advantage

Lower purchase price per square foot (new: $161 vs resale: $164). States where homes can still be purchased this low are in the South and Midwest and include: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Fewer hidden costs: buyers avoid roof replacements, HVAC failures, and aging appliances.
Energy efficiency: modern codes mean savings on monthly bills.
Builder incentives: mortgage rate buydowns, upgrades, or closing cost help make new builds even more attractive.

_{Sources: https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-saving-homes-buildings-manufacturing-fact-sheet-office-energy-efficiency-and
https://www.energystar.gov/about/impacts
https://www.zillow.com/research/new-con-existing-price-34235/
https://homelight.com/blog/average-home-maintenance-costs/
https://www.angi.com/research/reports/spending/}

Total 5-Year Ownership Costs

Here’s a breakdown of what buyers really spend over the first 5 years:

Cost Category	New Home (avg)	Resale Home (avg)
Repairs & Replacements	$2,500	$12,500
Energy Bills	$9,000	$12,000
Maintenance	$3,000	$7,500
Warranty Coverage	Included	Buyer pays ~$2,000
Total (5 years)	$14,500	$34,000

Result: New construction saves the average homeowner nearly $20,000 in just 5 years.

How All of Us in the Building Industry Can Market This

Lead with affordability: Position new homes as the smarter financial choice.
Educate buyers: Provide total cost of ownership comparisons in sales centers and online.
Show it visually: Use infographics, calculators, and virtual tours to make the data relatable.
Highlight incentives: Show how buydowns, upgrades, and warranties reduce risk.

At Outhouse, LLC, we help turn data into powerful visuals, including interactive floor plans, renderings, virtual tours, and branded marketing that clearly and compellingly highlight affordability.

Let’s help you capture more buyers by showcasing why new construction isn’t just beautiful. It’s the best value in the market.

Contact us

Why the Smartest Builders Won’t Miss the Home Builder Digital Marketing Summit

Jim Sorgatz · 08/24/2025 ·

If you want to walk away with real strategies, fresh ideas, and actionable insights to grow your home building business, then the Home Builder Digital Marketing Summit, September 24–25 in Atlanta, GA, is the place to be.

“Why this event?” you ask. With so many conferences competing for your time, here’s what makes the Home Builder Digital Marketing Summit stand out:

HBDMS Image showing down town, and attendees raising hands and taking notes.

Scale That Works

Bigger isn’t always better. Sure, massive shows like IBS or mega-hotel events can be exciting, but they’re often overwhelming—too many distractions, too many sessions, not enough takeaways.

The Summit flips the script. With a smaller, more focused setting, you’ll actually get the answers to your burning questions, without being rushed out the door the moment a session ends. It’s all about connection, clarity, and conversation that sticks.

Hosts With Energy

Keeping things engaging are Kevin Weitzel (Partner, Outhouse) and Greg Bray (President, Blue Tangerine)—the same dynamic duo behind the popular Home Builder Digital Marketing Podcast. Their mix of energy, humor, and know-how guarantees no dull moments.

Specialized Tracks

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all program. In addition to the main Marketing Track, you’ll find:

OSC Track – Led by Leah Fellows of Blue Gypsy Inc., designed to sharpen online sales counselor skills.
Leadership Track – Guided by Kimberly Mackey of New Homes Solutions Consulting, focused on leadership strategies that drive sales teams forward.

Each track is powered by industry experts who live and breathe these roles every day.

Industry Voices You Want to Hear

You’ll also hear directly from some of the brightest minds in home building marketing. A few names lighting up the stage:

Patrick Johnson, Head of Home Building Experience / Rilla
Melinda Byerley, Founder & CEO / Fiddlehead
Heidi Schroeder, Senior Consultant / ECI Lasso
Brian Kernohan, Chief Revenue Officer / Lumin AI
Sylka Millner, Director of Business Development / Zonda Homes / New Home Source
Chris Thornton, VP Digital Marketing & Technology / Ashton Woods Homes
Matthew Wilson, Executive Vice President of Innovation / Mironda Homes
Jamie Godwin, Director of Marketing Communications / Kolter Group
Courtney Stewart, Vice President of Client Services / Denim Marketing
Plus many more seasoned voices bringing insights you can apply the moment you return home.

Roundtable Power

Sometimes the best ideas come from the builder across the table. That’s why roundtable discussions are built into the Summit, giving you a chance to swap stories, share challenges, and uncover peer-driven solutions.

Summit Round table: Outhouse Partners leading fun conversation

Real Value, No Gimmicks

At the Summit, your investment goes straight into learning and growth. That means no nickel-and-diming, no “time-share-style” sponsor pitches—just pure education and insight you can put to work. Our goal is simple: send you home armed with fresh ideas to elevate your marketing, OSC, and leadership game.

And because we know great learning happens when people connect, your registration also covers breakfast and lunch both days, plus a lively evening mixer on Wednesday with heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Oh, and one more perk: this year, we’ve secured rooms for just $125/night—so you can enjoy Atlanta without breaking the bank.

Your Call to Action!

The countdown is on! You’ve got 30 days to lock in your spot, arrange travel, and make your way to Atlanta. Seats are filling quickly, and this intimate setting means space is limited.

Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and elevate your marketing game. Reserve your seat today – your future marketing/sales/leadership self will thank you.

“Wow… This Is My Home!” How Interactive Kiosks Are Turning Model Homes Into Sales Machines

Tabitha Warren · 07/28/2025 ·

_{Happy couple using sales kiosk to use interactive site map with helpful sales agent. Image created with the help of ChatGPT, CanvaPro, and Outhouse Rendering}

Picture this: a couple walks into a model home, unsure of where to begin. They’re greeted by a warm smile and an interactive kiosk glowing with floor plans, community maps, virtual renderings, and dream-home inspiration. Within minutes, they’re immersed. They’ve found the lot they love, the model that fits, and a vision of their future. No waiting. No confusion. Just clarity and connection.

Welcome to the modern model home, where interactive kiosks, like those produced by Outhouse, are transforming the sales experience from flat and fragmented to fully alive.

Real Builders. Real Success. Real Sales.

Van Metre Homes (Northern Virginia)

Van Metre Homes introduced wall-mounted kiosks to showcase community layouts and floor plans. The displays blend right into their model home aesthetic. They look more like high-end TVs than technology hubs. Behind the scenes, IT teams can manage content remotely, eliminating the need for in-person updates.

To gauge success, Van Metre conducted a case study. The result? Each kiosk draws 25–50 visitor interactions per week and generates an average of three qualified leads per day.

Outcome: Less paperwork. More leads. A smoother sales experience.

*_{Prospective customer using portable kiosk to explore and Interactive Floor Plan (IFP)}*

Interactive Kiosks: From Browsers to Believers

Across the U.S. and Canada, Iinteractive kiosks help home builders level up their customer experience. With tools like:

Interactive markup: Lets buyers make notes on floor plans, plan furniture layouts, and dream big.
Lot-Fit tools: Match models to available lots and help buyers visualize the perfect fit.
Localized presentations: Like W.B. Home in Pennsylvania, many builders use kiosks to highlight nearby attractions that matter to modern buyers.

Outcome: Buyers go from passive browsers to active planners. Engagement deepens. Sales teams gain insight.

5 Reasons Kiosks Make Sales Centers Smarter

Benefits from Kiosk Deployments

Benefit	Why It Matters
Lead Generation	Forms capture buyer info fast .
Remote Content Control	Updates can happen across properties without lifting a finger onsite.
Buyer Empowerment	Tools like lot-fit and floor plan personalization give buyers control and clarity.
Stronger Community Story	Highlight local attractions and perks that make a buyer feel at home.
Operational Efficiency	Less paper. Less chasing. More selling.

Best Practices for Building a Kiosk Experience That Sells

*_{A freestanding kiosk in a cozy, well-lit model home corner.}*

Want to build kiosks buyers actually use? Here’s what the pros are doing:

Make them look good: Design kiosks that blend in beautifully with model home decor.
Go interactive: Give buyers tools to personalize, explore, and engage.
Keep it fresh: Use a CMS to manage content remotely and keep it relevant.
Capture leads smartly: Let buyers submit preferences and inquiries right from the screen.
Tell the neighborhood story: Use visuals and maps to sell the whole lifestyle, not just the house.

More Than a Screen: It’s Their First Step Home

At Outhouse.net, we don’t just build kiosks. We craft interactive experiences that help buyers fall in love with their future home. From touchscreen site maps to immersive renderings and beyond, we help builders put their best foot forward in the sales center, online, and everywhere in between.

So when buyers walk through your door, they don’t just see a model. They see their home.

Want to see how your sales center could evolve? Visit:

Interactive Kiosks

_{Branded Kiosk Display with Outhouse.net Logo}

Outhouse.net Interactive Kiosks: Smart, Seamless, Stunning

At Outhouse.net, we believe the model home experience should be as beautiful and intuitive as the homes themselves. Our interactive kiosks are designed to do more than just display information: they invite buyers into a fully immersive, self-guided journey.

Here’s what sets Outhouse kiosks apart:

Tailored Content: Showcase site maps, floor plans, renderings, and even photo-realistic virtual tours.
Remote Updates: Change content instantly across multiple locations—no IT visit required.
Lead Capture: Integrated forms turn engagement into real sales conversations.
Beautifully Designed: From wall-mounted screens to sleek freestanding displays, they look like part of the model home.

Whether during a sales tour or after hours, our kiosks ensure buyers always have access to the inspiration and information they need.

Outcome: More engagement. More qualified leads. A seamless experience that sells.

Great Home Builder Social Media Accounts and Posts

Tabitha Warren · 06/16/2025 ·

In reply to a recent blog, a reader wrote into us and asked us for a few examples of great home builder social media. First, we were flattered to be asked this question, and we are happy to give our opinion. If you’d like expert advice, you might want to check out this post by Carol Morgan and this podcast featuring Carol Morgan. I think many of us are always trying to keep current. We read the blogs of several amazing Home Builder Marketers, such as Denim Marketing, Bokka Group, and Meredith Communications, to stay current ourselves. What we’ve learned at Outhouse is that there are quite a few things that make home builder social media great and inspiring at different levels.

The bottom line is a strong social media presence is a crucial tool for brand building, lead generation, and fostering connections with potential homeowners. After years of scouting social media, there are some home builders and related personalities who are truly knocking it out of the park with their engaging and high-performing accounts.

Whether you’re a home builder looking for inspiration or a prospective homeowner wanting to see what’s out there, these examples showcase the power of a well-crafted social media strategy in the home building industry.

Home Building Companies with a Powerful Platform Presence

Larger home building companies are also leveraging social media to showcase their homes, communities, and connect with potential buyers. Here are a few examples of companies that consistently demonstrate a strong platform presence:

Abrazo Homes (@abrazohomes): Known for their dynamic social media presence across various platforms like Facebook, Abrazo Homes consistently shares engaging content that resonates with their audience. Their commitment to storytelling is clearly a key to their success. In fact, you can hear directly from their “Chief Story Teller,” Shane Austin, in this insightful episode of the Home Builder Digital Marketing Podcast.**
Toll Brothers (@tollbrothers): Known for their luxurious homes, Toll Brothers excels on Instagram with stunning, high-quality visuals of their properties and sophisticated design elements. Their Pinterest presence is also noteworthy, offering a wealth of aspirational home inspiration. You can find their well-organized Facebook page here.
Lennar (@lennar): As one of the nation’s largest home builders, Lennar maintains a significant following across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. They effectively use these channels to showcase their diverse range of home models, highlight community features, and share updates with their audience.
David Weekley Homes (@davidweekleyhomes): Historically recognized for their strong Instagram presence, David Weekley Homes consistently shares beautiful, high-quality photographs of their thoughtfully designed homes. Their visual content often emphasizes architectural details and inviting living spaces.
Meritage Homes (@meritagehomes): Meritage Homes stands out for its engaging and varied content on Facebook. They effectively blend community updates, customer stories, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into their building processes, creating a well-rounded online presence.
KB Home (@kbhome): KB Home frequently utilizes Facebook to share important updates, company news, and valuable customer success stories. They also provide helpful home buying tips and resources, positioning themselves as a knowledgeable partner in the homeownership journey.

Individual Builders and Influencers Setting the Standard

Image of Matt Risinger's, RR Buildings', and Perkings Builder Brother's YouTube accounts

Sometimes, the most compelling stories come directly from the individuals shaping the industry. These builders and influencers have cultivated strong followings by sharing their expertise, passion, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the world of construction and renovation:

Matt Risinger (@risingerbuild): If you’re interested in the science behind high-performance building, look no further than Matt Risinger. His Instagram account and incredibly popular YouTube channel, “The Build Show,” are treasure troves of information on building science principles, meticulous craftsmanship, and the latest construction technologies. Expect in-depth explanations, on-site demonstrations, and a focus on quality and durability.
Kyle Stympenhorst / RR Buildings (@rrb_buildings): Specializing in post-frame construction, Kyle’s presence across YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook offers a deep dive into this specific building method. His content is often practical, providing valuable tips and insights for those interested in or involved in post-frame projects.
Perkins Builder Brothers (@perkinsbuilderbrothers): Get a genuine behind-the-scenes look at home building and renovation projects with the Perkins Builder Brothers. Their engaging “Builder Brothers” series on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook provides a relatable and often entertaining perspective on the challenges and triumphs of construction.

What Makes Their Social Media Shine?

These high-performing accounts share several key characteristics that contribute to their success:

Stunning Visuals: They understand the importance of high-quality photography and videography to showcase the beauty and craftsmanship of their homes.
Consistent Engagement: Regular posting keeps their audience interested and coming back for more.
Diverse Content: They go beyond just showcasing homes, offering project updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, client testimonials, and informative tips.
Active Interaction: They actively respond to comments, answer questions, and foster a sense of community among their followers.
Platform Optimization: They tailor their content to suit the strengths of each platform. These builders use visuals on Instagram and Pinterest, community on Facebook, and in-depth videos on YouTube.
Strategic Use of Hashtags: They utilize relevant keywords to increase the discoverability of their content.
Compelling Storytelling: They connect with potential buyers on an emotional level by sharing the journey of building a home and highlighting the benefits of homeownership.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

The world of social media is constantly changing and evolving. To find the most current top performers, it’s always a good idea to explore these platforms yourself and see which accounts are generating the most engagement on their recent posts. Keep an eye on those with high levels of likes, comments, and shares. These metrics are often indicators of a strong and active audience.

By studying these successful examples, home builders can gain valuable insights into creating their own compelling social media strategies and connecting with their target audience in meaningful ways.

**Shane Austin has since moved on from a brilliant career at Abrazo Homes, but his thoughts and wisdom still ring very true.

Got questions about home builder digital assets? Call us today for a chat!

A La Carte or Package Deal? Lessons Home Builders Can Borrow from Automakers

Tabitha Warren · 01/05/2025 ·

interactive site map zooming in on home site.

When it comes to marketing and visualization tools, home builders often face a familiar question: Should I buy individual products a la carte or go with a bundled package?

At first glance, buying just what you need seems efficient. Maybe you only need renderings right now or just a few virtual tours for your latest community. But over time, a piecemeal approach can lead to higher costs, inconsistent results, and more time spent managing vendors than building homes.

The auto industry figured this out long ago.

Built to Standard, Not to Chaos

When you buy a new car, you don’t choose every nut, bolt, and feature separately. A team thoughtfully designed the trim package you selected to meet your needs, whether it’s an affordable commuter or a luxury performance vehicle.

That’s not just convenience. It’s a strategy. The buyer inherits the cost savings delivered by standardized packages, simplified production, and streamlined quality control.

Home builders can benefit from that same mindset.

_{When Outhouse tools are created together, design, scale, and branding stay perfectly aligned.}

Efficiency Through Bundling

Bundling services, like interactive floor plans, renderings, virtual tours, and interactive site maps, can lower costs in the long run. Procurement in quantity allows teams like Outhouse to offer competitive pricing while ensuring consistent design, branding, and technical accuracy across every asset.

For example:

Renderings & Interactive Floor Plans: When the same team creates both, they align perfectly in scale and style, saving time on revisions.
Interactive Floor Plans (IFPs) & Virtual Tours: These tools share data and visual assets, which means your buyers see the same details online that they’ll experience in person.
Sitemaps & Interactive Floor Plans: When designers create these tools at the same time, your buyers experience a seamless journey, from understanding where a home sits on the site to exploring how they would live inside, reinforcing brand consistency and improving usability.

And just like in the auto industry, bundling creates a smoother, more predictable workflow. You spend less time managing separate vendors and more time focusing on what you do best: building dream homes for your buyers.

Simplifying the Buyer’s Journey

A well-structured package also makes things easier for your customers. When your digital tools, renderings: interactive floor plans (IFPs), interactive site maps, work together seamlessly, buyers can visualize their new home faster and with more confidence.

That consistency builds trust and reduces confusion, helping potential buyers move from browsing to building more quickly.

3D rendering, interactive floor plan, interactive site map

How Outhouse Can Help

At Outhouse, we understand that every builder’s needs are different, but efficiency doesn’t have to mean compromise. Whether you’re ready for a full-service visualization package or want to start small and grow, we’ll help you find the right fit.

We offer bundled solutions that bring consistency, quality, and savings together under one roof, just like the auto industry’s most trusted brands. From renderings to virtual tours to interactive tools, our products work together beautifully.

When you keep your marketing materials built to the same standard, you’ll see better results: faster, smoother, and more affordable.

Want to learn more about choosing the right level of service?

Check out our blog: Good, Better, Best: Finding the Right Fit for Your Builder Marketing Needs.

Contact Outhouse, LLC to find out how we can help with all your home-building website needs

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How Photoreal Renderings & Virtual Tours Sell Homes

Jim Sorgatz · 04/23/2023 · Leave a Comment

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.*

5 Tips for Selecting the Right Digital Marketing Agency for Your Home Building Company

Bill Gelbaugh · 10/20/2020 · Leave a Comment

As a successful home builder, you know that the home buyers in today’s world begin their home buying journey online. They are searching for homes and evaluating builders’ new home communities and floor plans via their websites long before they ever decide to make contact with a salesperson and visit a community.

Lady checking out builder website. — An engaging website is critical to new home sales.

You know you need to have a home builder website that generates quality sales leads, and you also want to grow the number of qualified home buyers that visit your site.

You know it would be terrific to have a trusted partner agency to help you navigate the increasing complexities and options that are available in today’s digital marketing toolset. But let’s be honest. You are not an expert in digital marketing techniques and technologies, and you don’t have the time to become one. You are also working with limited marketing resources and can’t afford to waste money on selecting the wrong partner.

We all fear making mistakes, especially when those mistakes will cost us time and money. So how can you move forward with more confidence to find the digital marketing agency that is right for you and will help you sell more homes?

Here are some key questions to consider to help you evaluate a digital marketing agency that you are considering as a partner.

1.) Do they understand the home building industry?

There are a lot of agencies out there that are very good digital marketers but don’t have specific experience in working with home builders. Your local agency down the street may be very good at understanding the nuances of SEO, paid search, email marketing, and more, but do you want to pay them to learn the difference between a floor plan and an elevation, or between a model and an inventory home?

If you are looking for a partner who can help you execute on the tactical level, and will simply take your direction and implement it, then this type of agency may be a good fit for you.

However, if you are not sure what the best steps are to move forward online and you are also looking for strategic advice and guidance and an understanding of what others in the industry are successfully doing, then you will want a digital marketing agency who has not just worked with a few other home builders as clients but is also participating in industry events and sharing ideas on industry best practices.

2.) Can they explain the technical things they do in a way that you can understand and be comfortable with?

Just because digital marketing can be technical in nature, doesn’t mean that you must work with an agency purely on blind trust. It is important that you are comfortable with the direction and tactics that your agency partner is implementing on your behalf. While it is not necessary for them to train you to become a digital marketing expert yourself, they do need to be able to communicate the details of what digital marketing activities they are doing and why they are doing them and do that in such a way that you can understand and be comfortable.

These communication skills will continue to be important well beyond the initial sales discussions when you are deciding whether to work together. While fancy charts and graphs can look pretty and impressive, as the agency reports their progress periodically, ensure they will not just send a canned report but will explain the data and the implications of that report. With every report should come an understandable answer to the question: “Therefore, what’s next?”

3.) Can they describe their process and demonstrate that they understand where to start and how to get you where you want to go?

You feel like your business and the homes you build are unique and special, and they are. But usually, those differences, while important, are a relatively small part of the overall picture of what you do and the homes you sell. This means that an experienced agency is going to be able to see the commonalities between their clients across the services that they offer and define and create their process or framework for successfully serving you.

Having a process to follow does not mean that you will get a cookie-cutter service or that the solutions provided will not be customized to your needs. It does mean that you will get consistency in what they deliver for you and it demonstrates a deeper understanding of how the execution of digital marketing services can help you sell more homes, even when your homes are in a different location or target a different buyer demographic than someone else that the agency has worked with previously.

4.) Does the agency claim to be an expert in everything?

Confidence is great, arrogance is not. It is very challenging in today’s environment for a single agency to be an expert in everything. Be sure to ask where the agency draws the line of which services they will offer for you. For example, at Blue Tangerine, we recognize that we are not experts in helping our clients with their core branding or with logo design, so we have established relationships with several other branding agencies so that we can provide referrals if our clients have a need for those particular services.

5.) Will the agency clearly measure success in a way that you are comfortable with?

When working with your digital marketing agency, it is very easy to lose sight of the ultimate end goal, which is to increase qualified leads so you can sell more homes. This happens because agencies feel, often rightly so, that they don’t have the full control to be held accountable for that result. Instead, they want to focus on metrics like website traffic increases and specific keyword rankings. These are, of course, important metrics that need to be reviewed and will inform the tactical execution of your digital marketing plan and strategy. However, if you double the amount of traffic to your website or your website is now ranking number one for your favorite keyword phrase, and you still do not sell more homes, is that really success?

handshake — Trust between builder and marketing agency is key.

Bonus Tip: Most importantly, are they someone you can trust?

Regardless of how the digital marketing agency you are considering measures up with whatever criteria that you apply, at the end of the day, it’s all about trust. No partnership will ever be successful in the long term if both sides are not able to work together from a position of trust. While trust is something that takes time to develop, here are a few ideas of ways to determine if an agency is trustworthy even before you’ve started working with them:

Do they get back to you in a timely manner, the way they promised to when you filled out the form on their website?
Do they deliver a proposal or quote within the timeframe that they told you they would, or if not, do they keep you up to date with where things stand?
Do they have a demonstrated expertise by working with other home builders?
How do their existing clients feel about working with them?

At Blue Tangerine, we recognize that to be trusted as your digital marketing partner is both an honor and a responsibility. We’d love to earn that trust. If you are ready to start selling more homes, reach out today and let’s talk.

Submitted by

Mila Sorensen, Director of Marketing & Marketing Services
Blue Tangerine.

Blue Tangerine is your website design, development and digital marketing agency all rolled into one – from mobile responsive websites, SEO and PPC to email and social media, we provide full-service solutions to home builders, online retailers, and businesses.