by Michael F.B. Barnabas

The bullet points for the first part of this article series could be summarized as follows:

• Making the Customer – the End User – The Resident/Homeowner Number One
• Simplification in Warranties – Make the warranty system for a customer a one-call-does-it-all solution
• Industry Newcomer Training – if we can't train our people to think and be pro-Industry, then we will continue to have negative image problems
• Financing – making lending more profitable, through common sense steps and sound exit strategies for retail customers and lenders alike
• Realtors – getting them into the game, and how
• Manufacturers – establish and maintain a similar support system that auto retailers or other franchise owners have in marketing, training and support for success
• Treat everyone like you want to be treated

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by Rachael Biermann

Are you looking for new ways to bring potential customers to your business? Try these successful tips and watch your business grow!

• Position yourself as an expert in the manufactured housing industry. In order to position yourself as an expert, you need to actually be knowledgeable and a seasoned member of the industry. Start positioning yourself as an expert by writing and submitting articles for free industry websites, like mhmsm.com. Join online forums and answer questions from consumers and fellow industry members. The media will catch on to your expertise and call YOU if they need someone to speak on manufactured housing, too. What would you find if you typed your name or company's name into search engines?

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by Chad Carr

Editor's Note: This is the second installment of this series. Last month, Chad addressed specific changes to the retail landscape caused by the explosion in Internet usage by Manufactured Housing prospects. In this installment, Chad shares what dealers must do to recapture the prospects they are losing.

A study done in 2007 by MHI found that 77% of all Manufactured Housing prospects began their search for a new home online. This year, a study by the National Association of Realtors pegged that number at 90%.

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by Tim Connor, CSP

In the manufactured housing industry there are average companies and there are good companies. There are exceptional companies and there are poor companies. Each one:

• operates in the same economy
• has the same pool of potential employees
• has the same opportunities to develop and train employees
• has competition
• must deal with the government in some way
• has opportunities for growth
• makes a variety of decisions each day

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by Tim Connor CSP

Prospects buying a home want several things from their supplier. Fair price, quality home, honest answers and timely service (not in order of their preference). 

Surveys of consumers buying a home say that most of them want: timely and responsive service first, quality products and services second, and low price third.

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by Suzanne Felber, LifeStylist®

I'm seeing more and more signs that business is picking up in our industry, and we are slowly moving from a survival mode to a rebuilding stage. Retailers and community owners are revitalizing their centers to attract new customers, but budgets are still a very critical part of the equation.

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by Nadeen Green

…and it is not yet Thanksgiving! But this is not the time for a rant about whether it is too soon for the Christmas holiday to be upon us. Rather, I thought it might be helpful to address what seems to be an eternal question each year… how much Christmas is "too much" Christmas at your community from a fair housing standpoint? I am often asked "Can we say Merry Christmas?" or "Can we place Christmas decorations in our common areas?"

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by Dennis Hill

The Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation is moving full steam ahead with exciting plans to bring back the popular Louisville Manufactured Housing Show in 2011. The show kicks off the New Year and is slated for January 12-14 with numerous manufacturers already signed up to show their homes.

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by Chrissy Jackson

Take a close look at your Guidelines (formerly known as rules and regulations) during this upgrade period. Especially if they have not been reviewed annually for needed changes or revisions, now is an excellent time to do it. Look at the document not only in terms of terminology, but also in terms of lifestyle. Think about how your residents live now, what changes being made during the upgrade process will necessitate corresponding changes in the Guidelines, and if you are changing any exterior requirements for homes coming into the community.

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by L. A 'Tony' Kovach

Try to imagine an automotive Industry without Car and Driver Magazine, or any of the many publications you would find in the automotive field. When someone wants to do research on a topic, while trade organizations can be one resource, certainly others are the trade media in that given Industry. This isn't just theory. We get inquiries at MHMSM.com from people who are not (yet) in the Industry, but are looking to get info or into the business, or who are doing research, etc. We also get inquiries from those in the biz, looking for directions on this or that need.

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by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach

We first reported after the MHI meeting that George F. Allen had launched a trial balloon regarding the sale of elements of his enterprises, in apparent anticipation of retirement.  To those who follow George's writing and use his services, it wouldn't be a complete surprise, as he has already announced what he dubbed his 'Once and for All Tour.' In his blog, he has recently made a clear statement that he plans to continue his work and publishing certainly through 2011, as he works to execute a smooth transition.

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by Greg McClanahan

It is incredibly rewarding when we find a way to give back to someone who has helped us in the past. It is rewarding to help anyone in need but there is something special about 'returning the favor.' As you will read, something marvelous happens to everyone involved when giving, with no expected reward, takes place.

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by Eric Miller

If you follow trends in the news, you know that homes are getting smaller, more people are choosing to live in walkable neighborhoods and the number of intergenerational families is increasing. For obvious reasons these factors are important to businesses, including in the manufactured and factory-built home industries. The U.S. Commerce Department and Census Bureau places great time and effort into gaining this information. Smaller industry-focused trends are perhaps of even greater importance to the industry however, and your help is needed to uncover them.

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by Shawn P. Mullins

Having recently attended the Arizona Housing Association's annual convention, I've heard some encouraging things. We were told that although the uptick will be modest, the overall housing market is improving already, and will continue to improve slowly but steadily through 2014. Additionally, although lending criteria is still tougher than it used to be, there are also more lending options available to our buyers than we have had in a very long time.

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by George Porter

Over the years, I've heard many theories put forward by the owners of rental communities on the way they want homes installed in their community. Usually it has been just one person talking to another about how they do it and what they prefer to see, and it's usually a very casual discussion.

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by Ken Rishel

It seems like years since this Chattel Finance newsletter first raised the issue of Red Flag compliance only to find ourselves being "corrected" by industry associations that said it had no application to retailers and community owners, let alone the associations themselves. In fact, it has been less than three years, and it is interesting that most if not all industry associations are now agreeing with the newsletter, albeit without crediting it for its original work on the subject.

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by Spencer Roane

Some in the manufactured housing (MH) industry suggest that community owners (COs) who engage in lease-option (L/O) financing of MHs should switch to retail installment contracts (RIC) and get licensed under the SAFE Act, or deal with a lender who isolates the CO from the SAFE Act.  Here's another perspective that COs may wish to review with legal counsel.

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by Bob Stovall

Editor's Note: See the end of Bob's article for a special limited-time offer to our readers.

Two important keys to better search engine ranking for your manufactured housing website are fresh content and steady addition of new content. Updating your content shows the search engines that your website is not among the tens of thousands of zombie sites that populate the net. New and fresh content gives you the opportunity to rank for new keywords and strengthen your position for keywords for which you already rank well.

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by Joanne Stevens, CCIM

Super low interest rates of about 4% (and fixed for 30 years) are not having much homebuyer impact on site-built homes. Mostly, current homeowners are the ones taking advantage of the rates by refinancing their mortgages. It's not creating the stampede to buy a home like it did in the early 2000's. Realtors® and lenders say it's because the underwriting is tougher than it was in the past.

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by John Underwood

I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I have heard someone who had influence over my younger years say: "You'll never get a second chance to make a first impression," and I'm quite sure that there isn't one reader that has not heard the same. As a young man, I'm quite sure that I didn't understand the full meaning of those words except that when you met someone important for the first time, you were to be on your best behavior and comb your hair. Having been a consultant in the world of marketing, sales and sales management for going on 25 years, I still believe that I have not fully grasped the depth and importance of this simple phrase that accompanied so many of us throughout our lives. Specifically in marketing and sales, the first impression is a cornerstone of success.

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by Don Westphal

Last month we generalized the need for and benefit of renewing older communities from an industry and individual owner perspective, discussed the various levels of upgrades and detailed the Level I upgrade. I would encourage you to read last months installment if you haven't already done so before reading this month's rumination. Let's move into a little more involved upgrade, a Level II renewal.

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by Zig Ziglar

I'm frequently asked how I can be so productive in the business world and still have time for my personal and family life. The answer is that during my frequent travels I am an absolute "workaholic." When I get home I am then free to do things with my family and enjoy my personal life.

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by Zig Ziglar

US President Theodore Roosevelt has been described as founder of the Bull Moose Party, the man who led his troops up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War, a big game hunter, family man, civic servant and a host of other things.

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