Spreading the Good News

Are you doing your share to spread the good news? Are you helping spread positive words about manufactured housing? About the diverse placement opportunities (communities, subdivisions, co-ops, private property, residential lots)? About the improvements in appearance and quality (drywall, vinyl lap siding, shingled roof, skylights, innovative kitchen designs and floor plans)? About the customer-friendly finance programs (lower down payments, twice-a-month payments, no pre-payment penalty loans)? About the other quality people who own manufactured homes by choice (professionals, white collar office workers, retirees, single parents)?

Are you taking advantage of every opportunity to improve the image of the manufactured housing industry? Does professionalism show in your dress? In your language? In your way of doing business? In your personal and business ethics? In the way you treat your customers? In the way you treat your employees? In the number of referrals previous customers bring you?

Opportunities abound for each of us to shine in this area. No one person can possibly do it alone. It takes all of us, all of the time, working together to improve the image of manufactured housing, to increase sales – which in turn will increase production – and to continue to make inroads in the areas where zoning and image issues thwart our growth.

Look for speaking opportunities if you are a good public speaker. Take advantage of “Career Day” at your local high school. Talk at a Rotary Club meeting or other business gathering where a speaker is needed. The Chamber of Commerce usually holds a “Business After Hours” in most areas of the United States. Volunteer to host one. Invite public officials and chamber members to see our product, view the lifestyle your community offers and learn about manufactured housing.

Display your community name, logo and phone number proudly on vehicles, uniforms, caps and literature. Employ people who have enthusiasm for our product and are outgoing in dealing with the public. Keep your office and community sparkling – just as if it were an “Open House” every day – and, indeed, it is!

Advertise more than just a low price, low monthly payment or free rent to convince potential homeowners to visit your location. Advertise the beauty and efficiency of the homes you sell, the quality of the lifestyle your community offers, the professionalism of your staff. Spread the good news with well-written flyers, brochures and literature.

Attend zoning meetings, planning meetings; join the Chamber of Commerce; run for a local office; turn your clubhouse into a voting precinct; become a volunteer for Meals on Wheels or the Fire Department. Get involved in the surrounding area and make a difference. Just by being yourself, by making new friends and broadening your horizons, and by constantly being professional, you will be spreading the good news.

The good news is that we are more than just affordable – we are desirable! We are more than just “somewhere” to live – we are a lifestyle of choice! We are more than low investments and low monthly payments – we are efficiency, durability and quality! We are more than just “landlords” – we are real estate investment managers of multi-million dollar properties. We are more than just sales people, managers, activity directors and maintenance crew – we are the people who provide the backbone for the industry that has proven housing solutions, and also has the confidence of the buying public who live in our homes! We are more than just occupants for used-up agricultural land at the edges of town – we are a compatible housing product that fits into any environment through our superior design and engineering capabilities!

We are MANUFACTURED HOUSING – and we are proud of it! Spread the good news – it’s a challenge – from me to you! ##

Chrissy Jackson
President, Chrissy Jackson & Associates, Inc. www.chrissy-jackson.com
President, Florida Writers Association, Inc. www.floridawriters.net
Vice President, Florida Writers Foundation, Inc.
P. O. Box 66069
St. Pete Beach, FL 33736-6069

Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out Chrissy Jackson’s series of Feature Articles:

• Upgrading your Manufactured Housing Community – Introduction: It’s an inside job!
• Upgrading your Manufactured Housing Community – Part II: What values remain?
• Upgrading your Manufactured Housing Community – Part III: Enter your community
• Upgrading your Manufactured Housing Community – Part IV: What to do about older homes
• Upgrading your Manufactured Housing Community – Part V: Retain residents by…
• Upgrading your Manufactured Housing Community – Part VI: Improve the infrastructure, cont’d… coming in October!