Energy and Innovation Sells Homes

When was the last time you sold 10 homes within 2 weeks of opening, followed by national press about how fantastic your homes are? When was the last time crowds spent more than one hour walking through your
models because they were so interesting? While conducting market research in Phoenix recently, Peter Dennehy and Ken Perlman with John Burns Real Estate Consulting toured a project in Gilbert, Arizona that was unique to them – despite their combined 37 years of experience! Here are some highlights:

• Energy Savings Homes at Lyon's Gate by Meritage Homes are 80% more energy efficient than homes built only 5 years ago. The advanced solar and thermal, the high performance walls, the spray foam insulation and
  all the other features on display in the model come included.

• Creative Marketing: Touring the deconstructed model homes was so much fun, Ken said, " I felt like a kid in a science museum." Walls are torn open, floors are
  jack-hammered apart, and buyers are encouraged to climb around on the
  roof so they can "experience" the combination of products used in the
  homes. Creative demonstrations had buyers staying longer, touching and
  feeling, running the numbers and telling their friends about the
  experience.

• Monthly Payment: The marketing revolved around what mattered most – money. When a builder gets buyers focused on the total cost of homeownership, the math can be
  compelling. Many buyers don't realize a new home with energy efficient
  features can actually be cheaper than a resale on a monthly basis when
  you are considering utility costs.

• Standard: Buyers were surprised and excited to realize these features were no extra cost for a home that was already competitively priced. -- http://realestateconsulting.com/content/energy-and-innovation-sells.... Read more here.