Life After Patriot Homes
Learn more about modular and manufactured housing
Time For a Change
Dec 19th
Change is a very scary word to most builders, especially when there is a cost associated with it. One of the objections I hear many times when looking at existing models and communities that aren’t doing well is that because it’s been slow they don’t want to invest any more money into a community.
@home Builders is doing well in this economy because they understand marketing and their buyers. When sales slowed down to three in a year at The Preserve they realized it was time for a change. The Home Idea Factory did the first two models and as a Lifestylist I had done my homework on what these buyers were looking for. Entertaining at home, taking advantage of the four seasons living that took place around the beautiful pond, river, and forests in the community and families were definitely the focus.
The new model and sales center have been a huge success! Last month they sold 8 homes and now they are taking reservations in the next phase instead of having to offer incentives. If your sales have stalled, the right course of action might be to see if your model, plans, and lifestyle you are displaying are still on trend or if it might be time for a change. The Home Idea Factory can come in and help you with this evaluation to see what is the best approach at the right cost.
Missed Opportunities
Sep 26th
Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the year – the opening of the State Fair of Texas! Millions of people go through the gates looking for entertainment and many are even looking for a new home.
Big Texas is always the focal point of the fairgrounds, and Palm Harbor Homes has been very fortunate to have a home displayed just behind the big guy himself. I can’t imagine how much of an investment this is for Palm Harbor and I was anxious to see the home.
Imagine my surprise when I walked into the home, oohing and ahhing and taking a ton of photos and not one salesperson (there were multiple) approached me or said a word to me. Or to anyone else walking the home for that matter except for talking to them about buying a chair.
What a missed opportunity! These sales people had more traffic in this time period than they probably see in a year, a beautiful home to sell and educate visitors with about manufactured housing and Palm Harbor, but instead they stood there looking like they hated being there. I felt really bad for Palm Harbor that their investment was obviously not being appreciated by their sales team.
When a consumer comes into a model home, it’s for a reason – they are looking for decorating ideas, they are interested in buying a home, or they may be looking for someone else who wants to buy a home, but bottom line there is an interest that brings them in our front door. Consumers don’t want to be sold anymore, they are looking to us for information and to be educated to help them feel secure about their buying decision. Until we open a discussion with these potential buyers, we won’t be able to sell them a home. As a Lifestylist® I make make the homes as beautiful, meaningful and interactive as possible, but it’s still up to the sales team to engage the buyer and sell them the home.
Why Buy a Manufactured Home?
Sep 19th
The days of being able to tell if a home is manufactured or a site built are quickly coming to a close. Today’s manufactured home can offer as many options as it’s site built competition if not more. Technology and manufacturers have come a long way in what we can offer consumers today anywhere in the country.
I just got back from Hobbs, NM working with an amazing retailer – Young’s Factory Built Homes. This isn’t your “old school” retail center – even though they have been in business since 1958 nothing at this retail center is aged or dated. You can tell be the photos that the homes are well presented and would make anyone a proud homeowner. They asked me to come in and add some design trends to their interiors and I’m hoping to share what we accomplished in the next few months.
Making your house feel like a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune – something as simple as adding color with colors in trendy colors and adding a few accessories can make all the difference. Pillows are another easy way to add warmth and softness to any interior – plus they are great to curl up with on a cold day!
If you have a chance stop by Young’s and experience in person the trends we have shown. Tell them The Lifestylist® sent you!
Family Style
Aug 6th
As I’m sitting here watching my grandchildren, nieces and nephews run around having a blast this week I’m realizing what’s missing from most of our model homes – life. Real Life isn’t perfect, and that’s what makes things interesting. It’s those special touches like a handwritten note from a 4 yr old or a handprint on the wall that make us remember how precious life is.
That’s why I love being a Lifestylist – it’s all about injecting those memories that make life exciting into living spaces that then become very personal.
Referrals are Priceless
Jul 23rd
Nothing can hurt or help more than words and they are something that’s truly priceless.
I was checking my LinkedIn page today and saw that a few people had given me recommendations including Sam Weidner Jr who was the VP of Patriot Homes and who had written the following:
“I have had the honor and the privilege to see a true artist at work. I hired Suzanne Felber to help Patriot Homes take a new, innovative, and aggressive role in helping redefine manufactured homes as people new them. Without question she tackled that task with enthusiasm, and a creative vigor unlike anyone had seen in our industry at the time. Suzanne has a brilliant mind for knowing design trends and how to present her designs in a way that attracts buyers from all walks of life. With her help Patriot was able to win over 9 housing design awards including an award for best marketing campaign awarded by the NAHB. If you want your products to look the best the hire the best, Suzanne Felber.”
Service Category: Professional Lifestylist
Year first hired: 2002
Top Qualities: Great Results, Good Value, Creative
It’s one thing when you think that you have given a job your all, but when you receive something like this out of the blue it makes you want to go out and work that much harder, and give that client a big hug!
I’m honored to have worked with Sam and his company, and I’m looking forward to working with him even more in the future!
Simply Summer
Jun 3rd
Summer is here! I was fortunate enough to start mine off with my kids and grandbabies in 
Florida last weekend and it reminded me of those wonderful innocent summers I enjoyed when I was growing up. Special days of running free at my grandparents farm sitting in the raspberry patch stuffing ourselves with delectible juicy fruits, spending time on the rocky shores of Lake Erie floating under the summer sun in an innertube with not a care in the world, and evenings of family dinners featuring fruits and vegetables that we had helped raise and pick on the farm.
Spending time with the kids reminded me how uncomplicated life can be sometimes if we let it and that the more simple our lives are the more sometimes we can enjoy those special times.
Being Supportive
Jun 2nd
I heard some disappointing news today – Michelle Kaufman Designs, one of the best green designers has closed their doors. If you have ever seen one of Michelle’s designs you wouldn’t forget it – they combine beauty, simplicity, form and function into a beautiful green package. This is a woman who saw the future and tried to draw the rest of us to it.
Doing the right thing isn’t always the least expensive way to go, but it’s still the right thing to do. If we don’t support the people and companies that think outside of the box and are willing to give their all to what they believe in we will lose that talent and energy.
Building Green typically has more upfront costs but the savings realized long term can be incredible. Plus the difference we can make in the environment can’t be measured in dollars and cents but how do you put a price on the quality of life for your children and grandchildren?
I am bound and determined to make a difference. I’ve got Michelle’s website up on my other computer and just watching the slideshow is motivating me to think about ways that I can make the Home Idea Factory more green and I’m excited! A Whirlpool Sustainable kitchen definitely in my future and my goal is to use as many local, green-friendly sources as possible.
The thing about Patriot Homes is that they were never afraid to push the envelope and the Weidners always supported what they believed was the right thing to do.
HUD or Modular?
May 23rd
I was in Seguin, Texas recently and was introduced to the team at the Clayton retail center. This beautiful model home was in the front of their location, and what a beauty! Talk about understanding how to do things right – they are doing the details to show this truly is a home, and one that anyone would be proud to own.
What really caught my attention was that this home with high ceilings, indoor and outdoor fireplaces and a dream kitchen was built to HUD specifications, not modular! I was intrigued to see what I have thought all along is true – a great home is a great home no matter how it is constructed. I hope that this home is shared with some of the financial entities and government people who don’t understand how superior factory built housing can be.
If you get a chance you should stop by and take a tour of this home – I promise it will change the way you perceive factory built housing.
Great News!
Mar 28th
Great things are starting to happen in the housing industry, and buyers are realizing that now may be the time to buy.The Dallas Morning News had a great article this morning about a survey that was conducted by Century 21, and results show that first time buyers are now out actively looking fortheir first home. Be sure to do your spring cleaning at your models and make sure they are ready, and your sales team is ready for these buyers!