1/3 of 2012 is already in the history books. Manufactured home shipments have continued on an upward trend. The political and business climate continues to stay in flux, but this is a presidential election year. All of the U.S. House and 1/3 of the Senate will stand for election. There is plenty to talk – and read – about.
It is also time to launch our new May issue's Featured Articles here on MHProNews.com. Knowledge is power – but only for those who seek – and use it. Let's get started with this month's Featured Article rundown.
Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 3, No. 8, 2012
Alphabetically by Category
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)
• “What’s in a Name?”
by Nadeen Green, JD
The fact that you are reading MHProNews.com to gain insight into the manufactured housing industry shows that you are engaged and embracing the world of online information and communication. That likely means that at the least you correspond with emails, and that it is also quite possible that you interact with prospects, applicants and residents at your communities through your own online website, a third party ILS, or even social media.
• Creating a Budget
by Chrissy Jackson
Simply put, a budget is a tool. When effectively used, this tool can enable you to have a manufactured home land lease community that is financially sound. A community owner or manager will be able to predict the financial performance of the community for the next 12-month period. A budget will allow you to plan for large, capital expenses and other high dollar improvements.
FINANCING
• Promissory Notes How to take, buy or create a Note, then sell it for cash
by John Merchant, JD
Many manufactured home communities and some MH retailers have – over the years – created their own notes. The following is an outline of the things and elements that should be considered when wanting either to create a note which a property owner is considering taking back when he sells the property, either as 1st or 2nd lien secured loan to purchaser. The note holder/payee wishes to sell at or shortly after closing…or is looking at such a note with the idea of purchasing same.
• Terms of Engagement
by Andrew Peters
It’s easy for professionals in the housing industry to forget just how extensive the language of mortgage lending can be. We’re often quickly reminded, however, when we try to explain a complex concept to our clients, the home buyers. But when it comes down to it, the home buyer or consumer is the singular reason for our existence. It’s important that they know or understand some of the basic facets of the process, and that starts with the vocabulary.
GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS
• “Mobile Homes” and Tornadoes
by Margaret Clark
(Editor's Intro: The following is a letter written by manufactured home community owner Margaret Clark to KWWL-TV reporter, Kera Mashek. Ms. Clark was writing in response to a televised report on 'mobile home' safety in tornadoes. We wanted to bring this to the attention of associations, retailers, communities and all those involved in the manufactured home industry.)
by Kurt D. Kelley, J.D.
For the last six months, I’ve served on The Woodlands, Texas Chamber of Commerce Health Care Program Committee. These efforts culminated on April 27th with a conference that featured health care providers, hospital CEO’s, health insurance professionals, and a Congressman. As business owners and managers in the manufactured housing industry, these issues affect us more than those who don't run a business.
• Manufactured Home Shows – Touring a Model Home at Tunica 2012
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
Manufactured home trade shows are a wonderful way to bring products and professionals together in one place. The home shown in this photo gallery carousel below was selected at random from over 70 models on display at the 2012 Tunica Manufactured Home Show.
• Manufactured Housing Institute and National Communities Council 2012 Congress and Expo Photo Report
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then there are tens of thousands of words captured in the photos that follow. The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and the National Communities Council (NCC) held their 2012 Congress and Expo April 10-12 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV.
• The Industry's Need to Profitably Communicate
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
Trade media exists because there is a need to communicate facts and ideas relative to the industry being served. A robust online trade journal (e-zine) complements and supports what associations and good businesses within an industry do. Trade media arguably makes the industry served more money. But this column's focus is that trade media can address issues that are not as easy for associations and businesses to tackle.
• National Industry Awards Presented at 2012 National Congress & Expo
Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV – April 11, 2012. Members of the manufactured and modular housing industries gathered today at an awards luncheon to recognize individuals and companies for outstanding achievements. The National Industry Awards, presented during the 2012 National Congress and Expo for Manufactured and Modular Housing, recognized the highest achievers from all sectors of the manufactured and modular housing industries.
• Frames
by George Porter
A Manufactured Home is a more complicated piece of engineering than most other homes. Our building code makes us have a multi-purpose chassis. Strangely, we don’t move all that much after the first installation, but HUD said many years ago that we must have a frame (transportation system) and I guess that is how the game will be played.
MANAGEMENT
• Do you know the single factor that determines; employee productivity, profits and sustained success?
by Tim Connor
OK, have you figured it out or are you just waiting for my take on this topic? Come on – give it some thought – it might prove interesting. And who knows, you might learn something about your management philosophy, approach and yourself.
Yes, I will tell you what I believe this factor is but I’m going to ask you do a little work first.
• Is there Anything New under the Sun? Getting Bottom line Results for Manufactured Housing.
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
If you are holding a smartphone, an iPad or are looking at a laptop, etc. you already know the answer to this article's headline's question. But to potentially benefit from the second line, you first have to see the deeper meaning of the title question.
MARKETING
• Your Attention Please
by Jeff Templeton
A recent study found that the average American sees approximately 1600 advertisements a day. In a single day! Those ads are seen online, in newspapers, magazines, billboards, TV, radio, on the sides of buses, and many other places. How many of those 1600 are memorable? How many grabbed your attention? How many were you even aware that you saw? In this world of constant motion and action, your ad needs to stand out.
• Everything Old is New Again
by Katy Weldon
Something amazing is happening to older mobile and manufactured homes in certain areas of California. They are in demand!
Mobile and manufactured homes built in the 1970’s and 1980’s are once again a sought after commodity. This is a trend brought on by two separate, yet linked factors. Namely, the Boomer generation and the economic downturn.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION
• Fear, worry, and stress – are you a victim?
by Tim Connor, CSP
If you are not aware of the simple fact that fear is the major contributor to stress, illness, failure, worry and a whole host of other negative circumstances and outcomes, well, you must be living in the wilderness. In the manufactured housing business world, there are certainly some (many?) who are impacted by fear often
• Zig On Doing Things Poorly
by Zig Ziglar
Several years ago I was teaching a Sunday school class at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.Recalling G. K. Chesterton's paradoxical“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly,” I made the statement "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly, until you can do it well."
SALES
• Patience – The secret tool for sales success
by Tim Connor
I just finished reading for the fourth time – one of my favorite books,The Power of Patience by M. J. Ryan. As I was reading, it struck me anew how important this trait is in selling. Why patience, you might ask? Selling is about action, taking charge, pushing, prodding and not taking no or maybe for an answer.
• Sales Tips 101 – Objection Handling; Isolating the Objection
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
Let's begin a periodic series of articles on some classic – but often unused or overlooked – sales tips and strategies. We will begin with the topic of Objection Handling; Isolating the Objection.
Before diving in, let's start with a few basic premises and values that should be considered as fundamental in any sales training course. Ideally, you and your company's goals should include:
Of course, you will want to spend some time on the Daily Business News too. How often? Why, daily of course. Regular readers tell me that they pick up useful ideas for their operation by reading the Daily Business News AND it is the only place online in factory-built housing that you can new, relevant business-daily content.
Besides the plugs, you will pick up tips and ideas on sales and marketing weekly at the Cutting Edge blog. Are you an executive that needs to do a report for upper management? You will find some fascinating stats by scrolling through these articles, some are sure to spark your thinking. Words of Wisdom remains one of our most popular features.
There is no 'finally' with MHProNews.com, because there is so much to see, read and do! But you can also pick up or share some inspiration on the Inspirations blog.
Please check out our growing numbers of sponsors, who make all this possible for you.
Someone asked me, Tony, why do you call your blog the Masthead? Two quick reasons: The masthead was the traditional name for the who is who listing for a print publisher. And on old (and still some new), larger sailing vessels, the masthead was the perch atop the main mast. That location gave someone with eagle eyes or a telescope a vantage point to see what was coming.
Please check back this weekend for the next Masthead blog post. Your thoughtful feedback and comments and suggestions are welcome. # #
Post by
L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals
Office – 815-270-0500
latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://LATonyKovach.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
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Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right. – Henry Ford
