“Tony, everyone I’ve met in this industry has been top shelf. Just good people.” With such words our videographer, Charles Drake, spoke about the various professionals he has met during our journeys for the Inside MH Road Show episodes, as well as numerous video interviews with pros at events like the annual, upcoming Tunica Manufactured Housing Show.
As I reflected on those words, there is no doubt that Charlie is right.
We’ve met many good people who are MH homeowners. They ranged from retirees who were salt-of-the-earth from the working class, to millionaires who sold valuable conventional housing to live in style in a quality, appealing manufactured home, and all types or groups in between.
We’ve interviewed and spoken with individuals of Asian, European, African, Latin American and North American ancestries. We have pros from key MH industry segments on camera, as well as video with public officials and other professionals and experts.
Image and Education by Telling the MH Industry’s Stories
There may be no better way to begin to dispel the various myths and misconceptions about modern manufactured homes (MH) than by videos with the home owners, professionals and independent third party experts who know MH best.
Of course, at some point, people must see and experience the MH product first hand.
But until some of those myths, outdated or false notions are dispelled, millions would never consider MH at all. Since some 90% of home shoppers are looking online, having online videos and reports that tell the powerful truths about our homes is a common-sense way to advance the industry.
We’ve shot videos from as far west as Nevada and heading east to states along the Atlantic coast, and so many states in between. It’s an ambitious, evolutionary project with a revolutionary goal.
The Goal?
That goal is to promote the acceptance, understanding and respect for MH – and thus the increased sales – of manufactured homes. We believe that with financing now available and given current market conditions, MH could and should be selling at record levels in any state. Its not. Why not? At the heart of it is a lack of proper understanding by the public of our amazing product. Whose job is it to change that sad reality? Its obviously up to pros like you and us.
This image/educational plan – which an award-winning state association executive called “a pioneering effort” for MH – is working.
A major university-level educator researching our industry recently praised what he seen as the quality work we are sharing with the public. He and other professionals see the value of informing, inspiring and promoting the MH Industry via articles and videos. Investors from the U.S. and abroad see the value. The list goes on…
The fact that it’s working should make it obvious that more should be done.
Jan Hollingsworth, Matthew Silver, Soheyla and Tamas Kovach are all playing unique roles in advancing various elements of this pioneering effort.
But our growing MHProNews and MHLivingNews team is just part of the picture. Because ultimately, it is the MH Pros and home owners who behind the scenes or in front of a video camera are making this happen!
Sharing the Good News of MH, Telling the Good Stories about MH Pros and Homeowners
For years, we’ve said that every challenge that the industry faces finds its potential answer with the pros active and “retired” who are in MH. The investors and the tens of billions in potential capital that could be coming into MH would be icing on the cake.
Let me share one quick story to finish today, to make the point.
Tom Fath hales from an award-winning third generation MH family. We’ll share a video with Tom talking about industry issues – focused on HR 650/S 682 – and financing – soon. But for today, let’s note that Tom and his family understand the pressing need to change the image of our industry. They are not whining about what they don’t have; they are pro-actively going after what’s needed to change the MH image in their market – and beyond.
With his family’s and their team’s support, Tom recently ran for the town council in his community. Here below is the outcome of the 5 wards in the race for seats on the Westville Town Council.
Westville, IN – November 3, 2015 election results
Town Council, Ward 1
Michael Albert (D) 180 (55.05)
Nicole Clem (R) 147 (44.95)
Town Council, Ward 2
James Bechinske (D) 253 (100)
Town Council, Ward 3
Lisa Mayes (D) 151 (47.04)
Thomas Fath (R) 170 (52.96)
Town Council, Ward 4
Regina Ruddell (R) 221 (100)
Town Council, Ward 5
Olga Pecanac (D) 186 (57.76)
Ronald Stallings (R) 136 (42.24)
Please note that of the 5 seats on the town council, Regina Ruddell ran unopposed and garnered 100% of the votes. Regina is a resident in New Durham Estates, where we’ve interviewed her and others for part of a segment in the Inside MH Road Show.
Olga Pecanac was featured in two episodes of Inside MH, the most recent one was published just before their town’s election. As the interview linked here shows, Olga is very open and positive about being pro-MH.
Tom also won his race. He is active in their chamber of commerce. Tom is active in a local parish. Their team recently hosted an event that drew dozens of professionals to an open house of a staged model home in their community. Here is a video example of one of their model homes in New Durham Estates.
If you do the math, after this election, 3 out of 5 ward members are positive about MH. Can you see the value to that in their town? Can you see the value to accomplishing something like that result in your market too?
These are among the many steps the Fath’s are taking, and it is and will continue to make a difference for the image and success of their business and for the broader MH industry too.
My closing message today is this. YOU be the change in YOUR market. Establish a short, middle and long range plan to profitably change the image in your market.
It is working together – in concert – with pros like yourself that positive image change will happen in MHVille. Action trumps apathy, anger and anguish every time.
Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Set the planning and wheels in motion now, to make your next Thanksgiving one that will be memorable for you, your team and for the customers you serve.
We are an industry with good people and have a great product. Together with other forward thinkers, we must tell that story. Happy Thanksgiving to all! ##
