Exploring the following top ten should be a periodic habit for every professional. It should be part of every business review from firms small- to-large in manufactured housing.
These top ten items should be discussed internally, until a new habit is formed by those in management, as well as by those who own, advocate for, and/or invest in manufactured housing, The top ten should also be a priority for those who aspire to leadership. How else can one grow without really grasping the following top ten challenges, and following the logical next steps they imply?
In no particular order of importance, here are the bullets of the top ten items of concern in manufactured housing.
- Zoning, placement and local restrictions. To see examples of how this already has been overcome in specific cases, and thus can be – overcome in others, see two of the reports, linked further below.
- Financing – wholesale and retail.
- Capital, beyond the financing above, access to capital is necessary for business growth.
- Perception/Image – during an affordable housing crisis, manufactured homes are not seriously considered by the vast majority of housing shoppers, per third- party research. MHVillage data reveals that less than 1/3 of 1 percent who shop their site actually buy a manufactured home. Ouch. If MHI’s claims are true, their data makes the picture seem even grimmer. But those sobering numbers are opportunities in disguise for forward thinkers with a can-do mindset.
- Recruiting of needed talent, be it trade-work, office, sales, management, production, service, installers, transporters, etc.
- Training, Education, and Motivation. If a location(s) and/or the industry is/are underperforming, part of that must be due to Human Resources type needs. Thousands of manufactured home industry owners and employees alike are thirsting for good information and motivation. Education is a routine attraction for professionals to attend industry events. Education/information, reality checks like this article, and motivation are top attractions to MHProNews, which leads the industry by a country mile in trade media, because the thirst for knowledge that can pave the way to more sales is so great.
- Attracting more and better qualified customers who are considering other types of housing, and successfully engaging with them. Millions rent who could be buying a manufactured home. Millions more are downsizing or upsizing housing every year too. Furthermore, when over 5.6 million housing units were sold in 2018, almost all for sums well above the costs of our industry, during an affordable housing crisis, why were less than 97,000 new HUD Code manufactured homes sold in 2018?
- Breaking out of ruts and problematic patterns of behavior. Asking honest questions. Seeking objective answers. Many in the industry either accept the status quo, or don’t stop and think about how much better business could be. That means that many don’t consider what is needed to achieve more profitable growth. Think management by objective (MBO), change management, inspirational dissatisfaction, and more.
- Customer satisfaction and referrals. Customer satisfaction doesn’t depend on a perfect product. Rather it depends upon a marketing and sales process that prepares a customer for reality, helps them to appreciate that reality, and then makes them happy with reality. With some 8.8 million mobile and manufactured homes in America, if only one out of ten of those helped sell another new manufactured home every year, then the industry would be selling 880,000 new manufactured home shipments a year, not under 100,000 new homes shipped that actually occurred in 2018. Keep in mind, that the National Association of Realtors ™ (NAR) chief economist, Lawrence Yun, PhD. said in 2018 that the nation needs some 8.3 million more housing units. To do that, said Yun, builders have to get really busy. Only factory builders can hope to achieve the needed growth, is what Jeff Bezos’ Amazon’s Alexa Fund decided last year when they invested millions into a prefab housing startup.
- Everything else.
Both for publishing and for business development services, the parent company of MHLivingNews and MHProNews – dba’s of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC – have a primary focus of dealing with evidence, facts, and realty. Using demonstrated methods with the proper insights and resources yield better and more profitable outcomes.
When it comes to items like those above, for example, education, consider what others have said. The first person to speak on this video is someone who heard a talk that was motivating to them, even years later. The entire video is laced with what others have said about our pro-growth work. You will see people you know. None were compensated in any way, in fact, many paid us and thanked us for helping improve their operation. If you’ve seen these 2 videos before, look at them again through new eyes, and with the top ten items above in mind.
Savvy pros know that wishful thinking can’t be relied upon. Pragmatic, proven methods can be trusted. Lessons learned can be applied to achieve more profitable growth.
As an educational plug, see the video below to discover how even a modest-sized family operation could grow rapidly and profitably, by learning and applying the right principles. They were already successful, but became more successful after working with MHProNews’ L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach on a consulting, training, and marketing project.
The company in the video made an investment in their own business, and it paid for itself through more profits. In this example below, the firm had over 400 percent growth, for an already successful company. Other examples exist from other sectors of the industry. Would you like to learn more about that? Check out the video.
Then ask yourself, would you like to have similar growth too? If so, click here or call L. A. “Tony” Kovach’s office at 863-213-4090. Our methods are proprietary, and our clients commit to keeping them proprietary. That said, you can get a very good sense of what takes place from the unscripted interview video, above. Note there was no payment or other consideration made for Fath doing this video, he says why he did the endorsement near the end of the discussion.
The true story of Rollohome should not be overlooked or forgotten. They went from a start up to 60,000 new homes sold in 2 years. Manufactured housing is just scratching the surface of its potential today.
If Rollohome could do it, why not many others today?
Readers like you and from firms of all sizes have made us the runaway number one – #1 – trade media in our industry’s history. Thank you. We are also the most praised and endorsed industry trade media ever, with third-party citations from NAR, CFPB, an item read into the Congressional Record, plus periodically named by others in the mainstream news media, and more.
Please see the Friday evening report below for just how “read hot” MHProNews is. Our thanks to readers, supporters and sponsors for making that possible and true.
Notice to Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) members. Some have asked why MHI news isn’t often published here? Fair question.
For those who don’t know, or need a reminder, keep in mind that it was MHI who asked some years ago not to have all of their reports published here, as was previously done. MHProNews published all MHI reports for years, we were also paid, until they said, please stop doing so going forward. Note, that they also stopped giving the Journal of Manufactured and Modular Housing a monthly article before they asked MHProNews to stop, and yet Jim Visser at the Journal rarely editorialized.
So, for whatever reasons, we at MHProNews were not alone. It was all MHI’s idea, it’s documented, and it was not our notion. By contrast, MHARR continues to sponsor MHProNews. Interesting factoids, aren’t they?
One more note, our editorial stances are our own. Sponsors may or may not agree with our editorial topics or perspectives. That freedom gives us the ability to cover a breadth of topics no one else in the industry even comes close to matching.
There are many reports, news, and commentaries this past week that delve on these issues.
There are clearly issues to be navigated. We believe in pragmatic reality, not mere rah-rah. That’s what the Top Ten should tell you. But above and below you will see reasons why some are exceeding expectations. The industry is just scratching the surface, which means that tremendous growth is possible for those willing to work smarter than others.
With no further adieu, please check out the “read hot” reports week that was from 2.25.2019 to 3.3.2019. Keep in mind we don’t turn each hot-linked headline into one of those hot-linked text image boxes. Each news item, report, post, and analysis are there to live out the mantra for our tag line, Manufactured Housing “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” © as we explore “News through the lens of manufactured homes, and factory-built housing.” ©.
What’s New from MHARR
HUD Whitewash on DOE Rule Costs, More Washington Manufactured Housing Updates | Manufactured Housing Association Regulatory Reform
HUD WHITEWASHES ALLEGED DOE ENERGY RULE COSTS PROCEDURAL CHANGES SHOULD APPLY TO ANY DOE MH RULE REVISED DTS PLANS RELEASED – CHATTEL STILL IN LIMBO 2018 PRODUCTION UP – BUT SHORT OF 100,000 HOME BENCHMARK UNFINISHED BUSINESS – HUD MONITORING CONTRACT REFORM CONGRESS TAKES UP GSE REFORM HUD ANNOUNCES MHCC/SUBCOMMITTEE
What’s New on the Daily Business News on MHProNews
Saturday 3.2.2019
Friday 3.1.2019
In Manufactured Home Marketing, Size and Results Matter!
New Inductees Into State’s Manufactured Housing Industry Hall of Fame Announced
New Inductees Into State’s Manufactured Housing Industry Hall of Fame Announced
Thursday, 2.28.2019
“Whose Got a Problem?” Coach Lou Holtz Wisdom = “If Enough People Care”
“Whose Got a Problem?” Coach Lou Holtz Wisdom = “If Enough People Care”
Millennials Driving Home Ownership Rates Back Up, Plus Manufactured Housing Market Updates
https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/millennials-driving-home-ownership-rates-back-up-plus-manufactured-housing-market-updates/
“Billion Dollar Empire Made From Mobile Homes,” What Washington Post’s Peter Whoriskey Didn’t Report
https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/billion-dollar-empire-made-from-mobile-homes-what-washington-posts-peter-whoriskey-didnt-report/
Independent Businesses, Affordable Manufactured Housing, Open Markets, & Robust MH Sales Growth
Independent Businesses, Affordable Manufactured Housing, Open Markets, & Robust MH Sales Growth
Wednesday 2.27.2019
Sparks Fly! Rep Jim Jordan’s Broadside of Convicted Perjurer, Michael Cohen, Plus MH Market Updates
Sparks Fly! Rep Jim Jordan’s Broadside of Convicted Perjurer, Michael Cohen, Plus MH Market Updates
Housing Economists Projections from NAHB, CoreLogic, Nationwide, and MHVille
Housing Economists Projections from NAHB, CoreLogic, Nationwide, and MHVille
Tuesday 2.26.2019
Berkshire Chairman Warren Buffett Announces Support for 2020 Hopeful, Behind the Curtain
Berkshire Chairman Warren Buffett Announces Support for 2020 Hopeful, Behind the Curtain
Monday 2.25.2019
2018 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Report, Clayton Homes, Shaw Data Revealed, Facts Others Lack
2018 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Report, Clayton Homes, Shaw Data Revealed, Facts Others Lack
12 Reasons to Oppose a New Manufactured Home Post Production Association
12 Reasons to Oppose a New Manufactured Home Post Production Association
Sunday 2.24.2019
6 Things Missing From Warren Buffett’s Annual Letter
12 Reasons to Oppose a New Manufactured Home Post Production Association
There are reasons why manufactured housing is selling less than in years gone by. Legacy Housing, along with others, believe there is room for serious growth. Their graphic below is a reminder of what once was, because it should be a measuring rod for what could be again. Or more.
So under-performance is opportunity in disguise.
Some Have Tried to Copy, But Have Missed the Mark
We’re not knocking any competitor or other firm when we say – as but one example – that story telling videos are largely done the wrong way in manufactured housing. The proof is in the bottom line results. Clayton, for example, spends millions on marketing. Clayton sponsored Duck Dynasty, which for a time was the hottest show on TV. why didn’t they sell 500,000 homes a year, instead of less than 50,000?
By contrast, we’ve taken specific locations, and by doing a combination of items like those discussed in the Tom Fath interview above, have had compelling videos that are authentic interviews. A native American and his wife are in the video below. They were paid nothing, yet gave an insightful story that is persuasive because it is an interview that was unscripted and authentic.
Or we’ve done interviews with professionals, that can be good for the public (B2C) or useful with professionals (B2B). An example is below.
Serious growth is never an accident. Understanding the top ten, and learning proven ways to turn problems into profits is something every growth focused professional should want for their operation. That’s this Sunday morning installment of the week in review for manufactured housing professional focused “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis, commentary.)
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Related Reports:
You can click on the image/text boxes to learn more about that topic.
MHI CEO Dick Jennison’s Pledge – 500,000 New Manufactured Home Shipments
Positive, Uplifting Third-Party Reports Favor Modern Manufactured Housing, So What’s Going Wrong?
https://manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/conquest-capitalism-thoughts-of-chairman-warren-buffett-billionaires-campaign-to-control-trillion-dollar-affordable-housing-market/
https://manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/warren-buffetts-moat-understanding-manufactured-housing-requires-grasping-strategic-economic-moats/
https://manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/conquest-capitalism-thoughts-of-chairman-warren-buffett-billionaires-campaign-to-control-trillion-dollar-affordable-housing-market/
https://manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/manufactured-housing-institutes-three-stooges-seco-leaders-george-f-allen-spencer-roane-tom-lackey-and-rent-to-own-scams/
https://manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/radically-aspirational-black-history-affordable-housing-social-justice-and-manufactured-homes/
“The Illusion of Motion Versus Real-World Challenges” | Manufactured Housing Association Regulatory Reform
Motion – or, more accurately, activity – in and of itself, is not necessarily synonymous with, or equivalent to, realprogress, or, in fact, any progress at all.
