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October is here, which means we are officially entering the last quarter of the year. And I think this is a really important time to ask ourselves a question: What are we going to do with the next 90 days? There is a lot of uncertainty in our industry right now. Interest rates, affordability, consumer confidence, traffic and the economy are all creating questions about what the rest of this year will look like and what we can expect when we head into the spring selling season. We can’t control…
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Why an AI Tool Isn’t the Same as an AI Strategy AI is everywhere in new home sales right now. Chatbots, automated follow-up, texting, dialers, lead nurturing, appointment setting. There are some incredible tools available, and I am certainly not anti-AI. Used correctly, AI can help us respond faster, manage more opportunities and take some of the repetitive work off our plates. But buying an AI tool is not the same thing as having an AI strategy. You don’t just buy it, unbox it, plug it into your website or…
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One of the first things I ask for when I start working with a new builder has nothing to do with conversion rates, lead response times, or appointment-setting percentages. Well okay I ask for all of that stuff. But I also ask for this… I ask to see every follow-up sequence living inside their CRM. The automated emails. The texts. The videos. The call tasks. Everything. Why? Because before I can coach an Online Sales Counselor, I want to understand what the buyer is experiencing. Every email, every text message,…
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In our last blog post about One Team, One Experience I talked heavily about alignment. If the move from online to onsite is done well, it should feel natural from the buyer’s perspective. Exciting, even. The OSC should be building anticipation, not creating confusion. It should sound more like: “I’d love for you to meet my good friend; they’re going to have a much better handle on those specific house questions and help you take the next step.” That is a handoff. Not: “Here’s the appointment. Good luck.…
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Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining an NAHB Shop Talk with a title so good I figured it deserved a blog post of its own: One Team, One Experience: Turning Spring Traffic into Sales. When a topic is this relevant, this timely, and this painfully familiar to anyone in home building, you don’t just leave it neatly tucked inside a one-hour conversation. You bring it back out, dust it off, and say, “Alright, let’s talk about what this really means.” The discussion was moderated by Kelly Fink,…
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Every year I walk into the International Builders’ Show with the same challenge. There is simply too much good content. IBS is one of the few places where you can find yourself staring at your schedule thinking, “I want to be in three different rooms at the same time.” Between sales, marketing, technology, leadership, and customer experience sessions, there is always more to learn than any one person can realistically absorb in three days. That’s honestly part of why I keep coming back. This year is no exception. I’m especially…
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It’s finally here! My new book, Attract, Engage, Convert is now available on Amazon and I couldn’t be more excited! This book is for builders, OSCs, marketing teams, sales leaders, and anyone trying to make sense of what really works and how to set up a successful OSC program. It’s built from nearly two decades in the trenches, helping builders and OSCs create meaningful, intentional online sales programs. And it was a labor of love. Even better, builders are already buying copies for their OSC teams. That’s exactly what I hoped…
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If you’re considering launching an Online Sales Counselor (OSC) program, or reviving one that’s stalled, you may be tempted by the promise of outsourcing. The idea of offloading the responsibility of nurturing your digital leads to a third-party service may sound like a time-saving solution. But here’s the hard truth: There is no easy button when it comes to creating a successful OSC program. Whether you bring your OSC in-house or contract the role out, the same requirements apply: learning your tools, your process, your product, your people, and most…
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When margins are tight, it’s tempting to look for places to cut costs. Too often, the OSC program ends up on the chopping block. On paper, removing a salary line or trimming bonuses may look like savings. In reality, it’s one of the most expensive mistakes a builder can make. An OSC isn’t just another role. They are the engine that converts costly digital traffic into real appointments and closed sales. Without them, your marketing dollars evaporate, your conversion rates sink, and the homes you thought you’d sell this year…
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When it comes to building homes, every builder knows the phrase cost of doing business. But what’s less often discussed is the cost of not doing business the right way. Especially when it comes to your Online Sales Counselor (OSC) program. Profit Margins in Homebuilding According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average net profit margin for builders was 7.0% in 2020 and rose to 8.7% in 2023, the highest in more than three decades. Public builders (like D.R. Horton, Pulte, Toll Brothers) often report consolidated net…
What’s Happening: Events in September
September is always a busy time of the year! But lots of conferences, summits, webinars and podcasts have recently been released or are coming soon in the month of September, which is always great for learning and industry education. I’m lucky enough to participate in some of them! Now through the end of the year, SEBC – This year the Southeast Building Conference went virtual and has all their education available through the end of…
CRM – Should it Integrate with Your New Home Builder Software?
So, I get this question a lot! Or I get this statement… “We don’t want to change CRM’s because it integrates with our contract writing, purchasing, building etc… software we already have.” Here’s the thing. Some of the companies tack on an inferior Customer Relationship Management tool, (CRM) so that you will utilize their entire system. They think this is a value add. It’s not that they mean for it to be inferior. At least…
How Do You Set Up a Professional Online Sales Program?
For smaller builders adding a new person to their team is a big step. So it’s important to start it out on the right foot. A professionally and properly implemented OSC program will convert digital traffic into appointments for onsite agents but it’s more than just a call center. The key factors in setting up the program is to implement it with proper process, competence, and to resist short cuts. Proper Process – There needs…
Buyers Expectations Moving Forward – Choose Your Own Adventure
In episode 6 of our webinar I talked about Buyer’s Expectations moving forward. If you are more of a reader vs. a webinar listener this is the gist of what I talked about. I think that some things are going to be permanent changes in the way a buyer shops for a new home. It’s kind of like a buffet. Some people never thought twice about going to a buffet and touching all the utensils…
WEBINAR Part 6: Selling in a Time of Uncertainty: Pave The Road to Recovery
Register Here! Free Webinar: Selling in a Time of Uncertainty Friday April 24, 1pm ET (11am MT) Six weeks ago, we started on this path of discovery with our friends, colleagues, clients, and industry professionals to lend ideas and insights and provide a forum for feedback for builders of all sizes across the country during these unusual times. The interest is positive and overwhelming – and we will continue to provide support, actionable ideas and…
Webinars: Selling in a Time Of Uncertainty – Part 5: Energy, Optimism, and Action
We are continuing our FREE webinar series “Selling in a Time of Uncertainty.” In Part 5 myself, Carol Morgan Founder of Denim Marketing, and Kimberly Mackey Founder of New Homes Solutions will talk about Energy, Optimism, and Action. Register Here. Panelists: Carol Morgan, Founder, and President of Denim Marketing Leah Kaiz Fellows, Founder and Online Sales Counselor Trainer of Blue Gypsy, Inc. Kimberly Mackey, Founder, and Sales & Marketing Management Consultant of New Homes Solutions…
Selling in A Time Of Uncertainty Webinars
Over the past couple of weeks, life seems to be continually changing in the building industry. I’ve had the good fortune to have amazing industry friends who have pulled together to provide ideas and information during these unprecedented times. Myself, Carol Morgan, Founder, and President of Denim Marketing, Kimberly Mackey, Founder, and Sales & Marketing Management Consultant of New Homes Solutions Consulting, and MODERATOR: Kelly Ann Zuccarelli, SVP, National Builder, Renovation & Condo Program Manager…
How Can We Engage New Home Buyers As Fears Increase Over COVID-19
Builders who already have online sales counselors already have a leg up in helping to alleviate concerns as they engage and interact as the front-line for new home builders. As an online sales counselor, we already work virtually and there is a way that we can help ease some of the fear factor home buyers may be experiencing surrounding COVID-19 especially when it comes to setting up appointments and sales for our communities. I’ve watched…
In New Home Sales, Where Does the Buyer’s Journey Begin?
When I started working as an online sales counselor, we though only 70% of people began their search for a new home online. Back then, in the ancient times of the early 2000’s it was almost as if your website was just a billboard on this new-fangled internet. (do you even know what a billboard is… I mean now they display the current jackpot amounts for Mega Millions and Powerball…) But before we honestly used…
Why Your Online Sales Program Isn’t Working
As an online sales trainer I’ve shopped builders’ websites who indicate that they have an Online Sales Counselor (OSC) and I’m often surprised at the results. I provide information on what I’m interested in, an email and a phone number hoping to take a look at their follow up. You know what I get instead? Crickets. In the majority of these shops I do not get a call in 5 minutes or less, and I…