Columbia,
S.C.–A new website, www.FreeHelpForBuilders.com,
has been established and is now available to provide free marketing
assistance
for NAHB builder members nationwide. The site was developed as an
outreach and
industry benefit by a group of professionals holding the Master in
Residential
Marketing (MIRM) designation from the NAHB.
“With
the slowdown in the housing industry, it has become more obvious that
some
builders struggle to adjust to the new market realities,” according to
Bill Webb, MIRM, a new home consultant from Amelia Island, Fla., who is
responsible for organizing the efforts of the volunteers.
“For years
many MIRM’s have offered assistance through other volunteer activities.
With
the popularity of the internet, we felt that is was time to transfer
our
efforts to a site that would be easy to find and that would provide
no-cost
assistance on a variety of marketing topics.”
Currently
the site has ten areas of expertise listing
experts in those specific topics
who provide up to two hours of free consultation to any builder needing
assistance. Volunteer participation is limited to those holding the
MIRM
designation. In addition, there is a separate listing containing
volunteers who
are instructors in the MIRM designation program who will identify a
entry point
for those builders unsure of where to start. A blog has also been
created to
provide responses to general questions and problems that have been
addressed by
volunteers.
To
take
advantage of the program, a builder must simply visit the website,
click on the
area of concern and then select from the lists of experts on the site.
The
builder is then responsible for making the contact with the selected
expert.
Volunteers are prohibited from soliciting business. Builders seeking
assistance
must be members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB.)
“Often
free offers are tied to some sort of sales pitch and that discourages
those
needing help from participating,” said Hal Von Nessen, MIRM. site
webmaster. “Volunteers who solicit additional business will be removed
from the site. Because the free consultation is limited to
two hours, it
may be appropriate for builders to seek additional assistance for their
situation.”
There
is
also a blog associated with the website so that participants can leave
comments
regarding the results of their requests. As requests come in,
volunteers can
also add to the blog with insight on their discussions that may be of
assistance to other builders with similar questions. In addition to the
link on
the web site, the blog can be accessed directly at http://freehelpforbuilders.blogspot.com/.
Any
individual holding the MIRM designation may volunteer to participate.
There is
a link on the site to request information on volunteering.
These
IRM
faculty members providing insight into a starting point are:
Bill
Webb,
MIRM. Bill Webb MIRM, LLC., Amelia Island, Florida
Hal Von Nessen, MIRM, CMP, CSP, CAPS, RESH Marketing, Columbia, South
Carolina
Dan Levitan, MIRM, IRM Fellow, CMP, CSP, CAASH, Dan Levitan and
Associates,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Roger Fiehn and Associates, Houston, Texas
Volunteers
and their area of expertise:
RESEARCH
Bill Webb, MIRM, Bill Webb, MIRM LLC., Amelia Island, FL
Hal Von Nessen, MIRM, CMP,CSP, CAPS, RESH Marketing, Columbia, SC
John H. Schleimer, MIRM, CAASH, Market Perspective, Roseville, CA
Daniel Levitan, MIRM, IRM Fellow, CMP, CSP, CAASH , Fort Lauderdale, FL
Ross Robbins, MIRM, Homebuilder Coach, Littleton, CO
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
SITE
SELECTION
John H. Schleimer, MIRM, CAASH, Market Perspective, Roseville, CA
Daniel Levitan, MIRM, IRM Fellow, CMP, CSP, CAASH , Fort Lauderdale, FL
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
PRODUCT
STRATEGY
Daniel Levitan, MIRM, IRM Fellow, CMP, CSP, CAASH , Fort Lauderdale, FL
Ross Robbins, MIRM, Homebuilder Coach, Littleton, CO
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
Lita Dirks, MIRM, Greenwood Village, CO
PRICING
STRATEGY
Bill Webb, MIRM, Bill Webb, MIRM LLC., Amelia Island, FL
John H. Schleimer, MIRM, CAASH, Market Perspective, Roseville, CA
Daniel Levitan, MIRM, IRM Fellow, CMP, CSP, CAASH , Fort Lauderdale, FL
Ross Robbins, MIRM, Homebuilder Coach, Littleton, CO
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
Jim Hale, MIRM, Fonville Morisey & Barefoot, Raleigh, NC
MODEL
HOMES
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
Lita Dirks, MIRM, Greenwood Village, CO
Mary DeWalt, MIRM, Mary DeWalt Design Group, Austin, TX
Kay Green. MIRM, Kay Green Design, Orlando, FL
BRANDING
Bill Webb, MIRM, Bill Webb, MIRM LLC., Amelia Island, FL
Hal Von Nessen, MIRM, CMP,CSP, CAPS, RESH Marketing, Columbia, SC
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
ADVERTISING
Hal Von Nessen, MIRM, CMP,CSP, CAPS, RESH Marketing, Columbia, SC
Mitch Levinson, MIRM, mRELEVANCE, Chicago, IL
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
INTERNET
Bill Webb, MIRM, Bill Webb, MIRM LLC., Amelia Island, FL
Hal Von Nessen, MIRM, CMP,CSP, CAPS, RESH Marketing, Columbia, SC
Mitch Levinson, MIRM, mRELEVANCE, Chicago, IL
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
SALES
TEAM
Bill Webb, MIRM, Bill Webb, MIRM LLC., Amelia Island, FL
Gian Hasbrock, MIRM, MCSP, CGP, CRS, Critical Wheel, Durham, NC
Ross Robbins, MIRM, Homebuilder Coach, Littleton, CO
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX
Jim Hale, MIRM, Fonville Morisey & Barefoot, Raleigh, NC
Melinda Broody, MIRM, Melinda Brody and Company, Altamonte Springs, FL
CUSTOMER
SERVICE
Bill Webb, MIRM, Bill Webb, MIRM LLC., Amelia Island, FL
Roger Fiehn, MIRM, Houston, TX