The original Latin meaning of the word we use in English – Radical – meant to get to the root of an issue. We are using the word radical in that sense, of getting to the root or cause of an issue, in order to successfully address it. While we enjoy at this time a nice boost in new home shipments from manufacturers, experts like TxMHA's Chairman, Ronnie Richards, are warning us that this rise could be cut short due to regulatory challenges.

We can jump from symptom to symptom, and address issues as they arise. But can we go to the root causes of the challenges that face manufactured housing?

My thought,yes.

Some might point to the notion that regulators are 'the bad guys' in this picture. Not to debate or diminish that notion, but doesn't the true issue run deeper? Aren't there regulators – Texas' Joe Garcia and Timothy King from New York come to mind – that want to work with the Industry in positive ways? Answer, yes.

So while we have to engage successfully with regulators, we need to think beyond them to find the true root of our problems. Let me point to just one part of the Industry's challenge; a critical one. One sentence. Here it is. We need a more robust engagement and better alignment with manufactured home owners.

Let's agree on the above and the following premise. When tens or hundreds of thousands of manufactured home owners, associations and business professionals are actively aligned, we will see less regulatory hassles and more political support.

The reverse is also true.

This is not theory, we saw this happen at least twice in under a year, when resident MH home owners made negative statements to 2 different congressional committees on issues facing manufactured housing. When we don't have manufactured home owners aligned with us, we will only see more regulatory and political hassles in the months and years ahead.

Should someone want to debate or disagree with that point, by all means, share your written thoughts and reasoning. We are open to publishing other viewpoints on this in Industry Voices.

Ju-Jitsu

Even if you or a colleague of yours happen to be – for example – a community owner who has less than stellar relationships with your customers, are there good reasons those residents may move towards active, engaged alignment with us? Yes.

This is no theory. Jim Ayote and the Florida Manufactured Housing Association directly interfaces with Manufactured Home Community (MHC) resident groups in their state. They work together where they can find common ground with those MHC resident groups. I'm told that in New York, Nancy Geer and their association does something similar.

In many states, there are no manufactured housing 'home owner groups.' Nor are they necessary for this purpose. All that is needed is to reach out to your own customer or resident base. You as an owner/operator could do this solo or in coordination with a community association or your state association.

The same threat that Ronnie Richards pointed in his recent column that faces MH business owners also threatens the resale values and access to financing of millions of manufactured home owners. Even if you had less than great relationships with residence or customers, an intelligent outreach now is a possible path to healing and alignment. Why?

Because nothing heals quite like common interests! This may be a rare ju-jitsu moment, where we can take negative energy and turn it into positive energy. We will either overcome this challenge together, or we may hang separately. The 'hanging' won't be instant or overnight, it would take time. But we need to look ahead and see what is coming, because now is the time for all good industry members to come to the aid of their common interests.

What is certain is that enough consumers, businesses and associations lining up can yield a better political and regulatory environment. This isn't just a pretty thought, it may be the best one that can work for our industry.

The soft and easy touch

Regardless if you have great relationships with home owners or problematic ones, let me suggest a 'soft and easy' process that can move more homeowners closer to 'yes, we can work together.' Send them a link or in your newsletter and/or monthly statement to the following:

http://www.ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com/alert

Tell them that to protect your home values, they need to read the article linked on the page above and then call their Congressman and Senators.

Don't just do this once. Do it every at least monthly until it gets done. Money, PACs and lobbyists are all great and useful. Nothing will likely be more persuasive than thousands of manufactured home owners – voters! – contacting their Senator and Congressional Representative.

To underscore the point, imagine the reverse. If you were a politician or a regulator, wouldn't you want to know why their offices are NOT hearing from manufactured home owners about HR 3849?

Common sense tells us there is no superior substitute for engagement with home owners. Sure, you can chose not to, but only by risking your interests and theirs alike.

MHLivingNews, Home Owners, Associations and You

MHLivingNews.com or MobileHomeLivingNews.com or ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com are all the same website with different web addresses. Use the one you think easiest to remember and share.

There are fringe benefits to implementing this approach, which can result in more business for your firm. Since the website is meant to Re-Discover and Spotlight the Manufactured Home Lifestyle, the more traffic on the site, the more prospects for homes will result over time.

Help us help you help your MH Homeowners

Here are some ways to do this that can help:

• Send out a link to your customers for MHLivingNews.com or one of the website links above.
• Create a link on your website to MHLivingNews.com. Because the site debunks many anti-MH myths, it will be useful to closing more sales.
• If you have a newsletter or billings that you mail or hand out to residents, include a brief comment like the one above.

We are already approaching the first 100,000 page views on the new MHLivingNews.com site, a good start! To have those numbers so quickly suggests that we have a winner with the public. But if we want to be successful and impact regulators and politicians before Dodd-Frank befalls us formally, we must accelerate the process. Your doing the three bullet points above can make that happen in a simple, straightforward way.

Let's get “radical” and get to the root of the problem, in the best sense of the word 'radical.' Let's connect with home owners and begin the process of becoming ever more aligned with them.

“We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. “ – Ben Franklin. ##

L. A. "Tony" Kovach
MHLivingNews.com = Re-Discovering and Spotlighting the MHLifeStyle
MHProNews.com = MHMSM.com = Industry News, Tips and Views Pros can Use

Services: B2B and B2C Ads, Proven MH Marketing & Sales Systems, Websites other Industry Solutions.

Office –815-270-0500
latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
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Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right. – Henry Ford