Builders: Grab Millennial Interest with Pet-Friendly Interactives!

Have you heard results from the recent SunTrust Mortgage survey: 33% of Millennials purchased their new home to have more room (i.e., better space or a yard) for a dog?

Mary Cook's noted in a recemt Builder Developer, that Millennials are finally ready to move out of their parents' home and find their own. They're particularly interested in community, walkable neighborhoods, flexible floor plans and green features.

SalesTouch Highlights Your Pet-Friendly Initiatives!

Did you know a recent Builder article suggested: it's a smart bet to include pet-friendly features -- and to actively market them, as well.  

Take a look at the CPS SalesTouch presentation highlighting Hounds Hollow at the Tehaleh masterplan community in Washington. It's a key feature associated with the Parks & Trails portion of their interactive neighborhood exploration.

How would you feel, as a pet-owner, if you were shopping for a home at this new home community? Welcome, encouraged, confident you'd find other pet owners!

Lots of people have highlighted what Millennials are considering when looking for a home -- and, of course, square footage, location and amenities are factors. One jumps out that you might not have considered: Millennials love their dogs! And, pets are a key component in the home shopping decision!

Engage these home shoppers as soon as they enter your sales office with an interactive touchscreen presentation! They want to explore how your homes meet their lifestyle expectations -- and what better way than offering interactive floorplans with drag n' drop furniture that offers design opportunities at their fingertips? And, you have a great opportunity to introduce your pet features, as well!

CPS will be at featuring SalesTouch at the upcoming #IBS2018 in Orlando -- we're in Booth W5583.  Stop by and we can talk about how you can enhance your home shopper experience!

Yes! 55+ Home Shoppers Value Engaging with Interactives

Today's home buying population includes three distinct demographics: Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers.

Every home shopper is looking for information!

Regardless of age, geography or economic status, home shoppers are empowered by an unprecented level of access to choice and information.

The challenge for today's sales and marketing professionals is to incorporate the shifts in economics, demographics and technologies into a meaningful sales office experience.

Zoe Miller, a principal at Computer Presentation Systems, says, "People ask us whether interactive touchscreen technology -- so  relevant for Gen Xers and Millennials -- would be used by Baby Boomers. We've found that Boomer home shoppers find CPS' SalesTouch to be an important part of their home shopping experience. They really appreciate the interactive floorplans with room options as well as drag 'n drop furniture placement as they are trying out new housing possibilities."

After all, it's not your father's (or mother's) sales office any longer! Home shoppers value a home shopping sales experience that allows them to dream and "make it their own." Boomers are the fastest growing segment on Facebook. Miller notes, "Regardless of age, home shoppers want information! Providing them with the ability to virtually walk the neighborhood and discover nearby shopping, dining and recreation -- and to explore community amenities -- answers their questions and moves them along in their decision-making."

Interested in finding out more about effective technology for 55+ home shoppers? CPS will be at IBS Orlando -- Booth W5583 in nextBUILD. Or, we'd love to hear from you via info@cpsusa.com!

Put Something Apple in Your Sales Office!

Great article by Carmine Gallo in Forbes, recently, How the Apple Store Seduces You with the Tilt of Its Laptops.

SalesTouch Puts Multisensory Experiences into Sales Offices!

Yes, you read that correctly!  Laptop tilt!

Actually, the tilt is designed to encourage customers to adjust the screen to their ideal viewing angle.

In other words, the tilt is encouraging touch! And, not just with the monitor angle but throughout the store.  Apple wants customers to see what is available and to experiment with hardware, apps and websites as a way to learn about their devices.

Gallo suggests interactivity -- what he calls multisensory experience is built into every component of an Apple Store.  Store employees don't demonstrate items; rather, they encourage shoppers to find solutions themselves.  Gallo suggests Apple discovered customers would be more interested in buying, more loyal to the brand by creating an ownership experience!

Our brains, Gallo writes, love multisensory experiences.  The more engaged a customer is, the more likely it is they will engage with your product on an emotional level.

CPS'  touchscreen system, SalesTouch, is all about interactivity.  It is designed to engage home shoppers the minute they walk in the sales office with interesting, useful, emotional images and content.  Whether exploring the neighborhood or trying on structural options, they're finding solutions (where is the local elementary school? where is the optional den located?).

And, just like the Apple store, they're creating an ownership experience!  And, isn't that what home shopping is about?  Take a look at some of the interactive presentations we've created for builders and developers in the Case Studies section of our website.  We'll be at the National Home Builders Association IBS in Orlando in January and there will be a number of touch opportunities available!

Home Builders: Millennials Like to Use Mobile for Customer Service

A recent Retail Customer Experience article by Tom Goodmanson suggests successful brands are always evaluating plans for creating improved customer experiences and building customer loyalty. Today, many find home building to be more retail-oriented than ever.

WarrantyWatcher
Home Buyer Portal Goes Mobile!

What better time to evaluate and solidify customer strategies than the start of 2017? Goodmanson makes several 2017 predictions including: mobile customer service will close the gap between consumer expectations and reality.

Combine those thoughts regarding customer service (Go Mobile!!) with the anticipated tsunami of entry level buyers, highly driven by millennials who are already mobile-oriented, and it suggests that adding mobile to the new home experience makes sense for 2017.

Today's home buyer has high expectations regarding their home and the post-sale warranty process in terms of timeliness, quality and reliability.  Make sure your warranty/customer service organization is capable of responding to those requirements -- as well as the goals of improved customer experiences through mobile access.

Let your home owners submit warranty requests using CPS' WarrantyWatcher software from your website -- and provide the same access to review request status and overall problem resolution history. The Home Buyer Portal is available across platforms and browsers -- from desktop to devices.

We'll be in Orlando January 9-11 for IBS 2017; drop by Booth W5583 and let us show you how WarrantyWatcher can improve your customer's experiences!

Grab Some Construction Scheduling Benefits...here!

Did you have a chance to attend the IBS Education Forum in Las Vegas called The Best Builders are The Best Schedulers?  CPS' Troy Warr partnered with Builder Consulting Group's Noelle Tarabulski to provide an overview of benefits offered using a comprehensive construction scheduling process -- and a roadmap to successful implementation.

Good scheduling improves day-to-day-operations and your bottom line!

What benefits, you might ask.  Many builders report limited success with new automated construction scheduling software, for example. Others mention getting conflicting answers to a single question due to a variety of reports and methods.

Troy and Noelle highlighted several key improvements available as a a result of good construction scheduling practices including:

• Fewer delays -- enhancing your relationship with both vendors and home buyers
• Fewer Cost Variances -- no question, fewer variances results in more consistent forecasting and better profitability
• Improved Quality -- using scheduling milestone checklists as well as inspection templates means spotting problems sooner and minimizing the long-term impact
• Reduced Cycle Times -- improved cycle times not only improve profitability per home but mean you're able to build more homes in the same amount of time
• Accountability, Accuracy and Consistency -- good scheduling practices enable the builder to have a single source of information providing consistent results across the enterprise (builder, vendor and home buyer).

Would improving any of these key indicators be useful to you?  Tara provides consulting services to help analyze, measure and prioritize an organization's construction process while CPS offers FieldCollaborate - a cloud-based, automated scheduling software application available on the job-site with mobile tablet/smart phone access and using desktop/laptop access at the corporate office.

We can talk with you to determine how an improved scheduling process will grow your bottom line as well as enhance day-to-day operations and increase home buyer satisfaction.

Join CPS at IBS 2016: Are the Best Builders the Best Schedulers?

We're excited:  CPS' Troy Warr and Builder Solutions Group President Noelle Tarabulski have been selected to offer an IBS Education Forum: Are the Best Builders the Best Schedulers?

Better Scheduling: Best Builders Use this to Pivot!

Take a look at Troy's Preview -- and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, January 19th at 2pm in Central Hall Booth 9327 -- Continuing Education credits are available!

2016: The Year for Consumer-Generated Content!

The voice of the consumer, according to bazaarvoice's Social Trends Report, continues to rise as the most powerful and trusted content by shoppers.

Customer Comment Board asks for feedback & delivers CGC

Consumer-generated content (CGC) was once called word-of-mouth!  You might recall "sleeper" movies that became blockbusters based on viewers telling their friends.

Today, CGC has grown and extended to include photos, videos, questions, chats and more.  It's transformed into a powerful, trusted and essential form of communication between the public and businesses.

CPS' Customer Comment Board provides on-topic information to shoppers (current ads, video and Tweets) and actively solicits shopper content via comments and staff recommendations.

Social Media Wall invites conversation!

It is a visually engaging wall of information and allows businesses to get some quality insights into their products, service and customer objectives.

Did you know nearly 75% of all Internet users are active on social channels today?  They're sharing opinions, ideas, thoughts and pieces of their lives.  As a result, consumer creation and sharing of product-related photos is skyrocketing.  Over 100 million photos are posted to Instagram and Twitter each day!  CPS' Social Media Wall integrates social content and copy into a traditional marketing mix of images and copy -- curated, of course!

The voice of the consumer has never been stronger -- and the intersection of CGC and traditional marketing is seen as the future of social commerce online.

Interested in finding out more? CPS will be at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas, Jan 19-21 -- Booth C2956 -- and Social Media Wall is a Best of IBS Awards Finalist!

Contact CPS and ask how you can incorporate CGC in your sales center or retail location.

CPS' Troy Warr Providing IBS 2016 Construction Education Session

CPS' Troy Warr is presenting an IBS 2016 Education Session: Are the Best Builders the Best Schedulers?

Tuesday, 2pm: Are the Best Builders the Best Schedulers?

Are you still scheduling by pencil and paper, cell phone or fax?  Did you realize you're wasting time and money -- and potentially damaging your reputation with vendors and buyers?

Or, are you using automated scheduling software and wondering when you'll see some benefit -- fewer dry runs, more homes on schedule, improved vendor communications?

What about planning for the future? Do you see organizational excellence as one of your goals? If yes, what steps have you outlined?

Join us at IBS in Las Vegas on Tuesday, January 19th to get fresh insight into these topics and more! Troy is CPS' lead developer for FieldCollaborate -- a cloud-based, anywhere/anytime construction scheduling software system with a Portal for your vendors and buyers. He will be joined by Noelle Tarabulski, President of Builders Consulting Group.

Mark your Show Planner: Central Hall #9327; 2pm -- and CE credits are available!

2016: What's New in CPS CRM?

Today's new home buying experience, for the home shopper, frequently isn't seen as too very different than any other retail experience. Of course, prices are a bit higher than in a car dealership or a furniture store but overall we see an interest in a seamless -- and efficient -- consumer shopping experience.

CPS CRM provides builders with a unique design and approach to manage the new home sales process through a single experience.  Bob Musa, CPS' President says, "Our job, as software developers, is to harness technology to help make a great buying experience for consumers along with a consistent, reliable and powerful back-end processing environment for the builder."

2016 CPS CRM: Seamless Integration is a keyword!

Several key concepts emerge:

• Supporting a seamless customer interaction: Home shoppers come into contact with the builder and specific communities through multiple channels -- builder website, mobile registration, 3rd party marketing sites, a developer information center and, last but certainly not least, the sales office itself.  No one wants to register multiple times, providing the same (or different!) information.  CPS CRM accepts registration from all sites, seamlessly, and recognizes when a prospect has previously registered, as well. 

• Cloud Enhancements: CPS CRM is, of course, a cloud-based system -- available anywhere/anytime.  We've added another cloud-based application, DocuSign, to our integration processes so agents can generate purchase agreements using CPS CRM and provide anywhere/anytime purchase agreement execution access for buyers -- as well as co-op agents, lenders, escrow agents and the builder -- via DocuSign. And, this is an end-to-end enhancement of the current contract wizard -- prospect registration, floorplan/homesite/option selections, loan program calculations are seamlessly integrated into the DocuSign forms.

• Enriched Back-end Processing: The new home sales, construction and document process is a series of key dates and steps.  CPS CRM facilitates sales processing with easy-to-maintain checklists along with automatic email reminders regarding pending or behind-schedule activities. 

We'll be in Las Vegas for the IBS Builders Show -- stop at Booth C2856 and we'll show you how to enhance your home builder sales process with CPS CRM!

Social Media Wall Selected!! Best of IBS Awards Finalist

Bob Musa, CPS' President says, "Wow; we were thrilled to hear our Social Media Wall has been selected as a Finalist in the 2016 Best of IBS Awards!"  Musa continues, "What business wouldn't be excited to hear such news in this relatively quiet holiday week?"

Let's #GetSocial!

Social Media Wall combines traditional marketing copy and images with curated social media content. A sales office or information center uses it to create social media conversations between sales/marketing staff, home shoppers, buyers and related parties -- as a part of the general marketing program.

"We've found," Musa adds, "that new home marketing has changed over the last decade with the introduction of digital technologies.  Now, technology is customer-facing and Social Media Wall  effectively moves social media off the desktop and mobile device into the sales center."

A key component of Social Media Wall, Musa explainss, is curated content -- meaning that CPS provides a back-end, web-based management tool for reviewing social media messaging and determining which Tweets and posts will display on the Wall.

Look us up at the 2016 International Builders Show -- we'll be in Booth 2856 in the nextBuild area!

What is Your Unique Selling Proposition?

Why should someone buy from you?

Robert Clay, in his blog, Marketing Wizdom Tips No. 1 & 2, suggests that fewer than one business in a thousand can answer that question in a compelling manner. 

Are you that powerful number one or a member of the anonymous 999?

Don't you agree: there's a unique selling proposition here?

Can you tell someone what differentiates your business, what's unique, offering a superior benefit or providing something irresistible? 

There's actually at least two elements involved in that conversation: your actual unique selling proposition and how you tell that story.  We'll let you work on what is unique as we concentrate on telling the story.

Communicating your benefits quickly, clearly and effectively is critical -- and an interactive touchscreen will help.  Guaranteed.  Have you been in a sales location that has one?  It brings energy; immediately engaging visitors and getting them involved in your product. 

We're going to be at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Feb. 8-10.  Talking about our unique selling proposition as we demonstrate how we can help you communicate yours -- stop by!

Jeff Shore's Nationwide Sales & Marketing Survey

Jeff Shore

With over 20 years of new home sales and Fortune 500 experience, Jeff Shore blends hard working, real-world expertise with humor, insight and wit in his unique approach to new home sales training.  CPS has sponsored several of Jeff's sales agent and management training programs throughout the US over the last several years. 

And, we're really excited about the latest opportunity to partner with Jeff during this year's International Builder's Show in Orlando.  Jeff is asking new home sales/marketing professionals to participate in a nationwide sales/marketing survey.  He'll forward survey results to participants as well as discuss What's Hot/What's Not in Orlando at a fun and free event scheduled for Weds., February 8 at B.B. King's Blues Club.

You're invited to participate: take a look at the invitation from Jeff here:

I am conducting a nationwide survey of New Home Sales and Marketing Leaders about what’s working, what's hot and what’s not – and I need your help! This anonymous survey focuses on industry benchmarks, key challenges and emerging trends that will enable all of us to grow and improve together in 2012. Please know that I am doing this to better understand and share with you the current pulse of our ever-changing industry and not to solicit business. In fact, if you participate in our survey, it would be my privilege to send you a copy of the final survey results and analysis at no cost to you. On top of that, I’d also like to invite you to join me for a fun, energizing and free event during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando on February 8th at B.B. King’s Blues Club from 3:00 - 4:30 pm where I will present the results of The Sales & Marketing Pulse 2012. https://www.builderwebapps.com/pulse/ So, if you are a Sales Manager, Director or Vice President, would you please take about fifteen minutes now to complete our survey? If you are a Sales Professional and you think your Sales Leader would benefit from this offer, please feel free to forward this email on to them! You can find the survey here: http://jeffshore.com/pulse My commitment is to make this small investment of your valuable time pay you a handsome return once the survey results are compiled. Thank you in advance for your time and best wishes for a very successful 2012! Jeff Shore