Only spec houses are built to sell, thus they are the quickest way to prove your worth in the market place. Only spec houses can be sold as an unoccupied NEW house. I have a long track record of my spec houses outselling the "others". You're right! That is my marketing machine! Real Estate Agents pass my name to other builders and of course the builders that profit from my handiwork keep me busy. My contribution is the design of the product and that is the main reason any product sells better than another.
Beauty & Functionality! We all need to get out there and prove that design matters rather than sitting around theorizing and waiting to see some analysis of what other people are doing. Don't be afraid, put your work to the test! Pleasing a single end user is easy, please the open market and you'll know you're handiwork resonates. You can't argue with consistent sales. If we're going to provide a significant influence in the housing game, we must design spec houses. Over 80% of all new houses being built are spec houses. Do the math.
If all you do is custom houses for end users, you're going to have a hard time knowing what your work is worth or how your designs resonate in the market place, since they can take decades to sell as USED houses for USED house prices. Creating a consistent sales record is far more involved than just making things pretty. Curb appeal is 90% of the reason someone stops the car and gets out. That's just the bait. What sells the house is how the spaces flow and work together. People have to be able to visualize their lifestyle working inside the house. All it takes is one awkward condition and you can turn people off. Real Estate Agents are a great resource of info for determining what the demographic in each area is looking for. We may have the skills to solve design problems in a creative way, but you need to listen sometimes too. I learned just as much from my builders and agents as they have from me.
Builders can only get one loan at a time in most cases, so they have to deal with multiple banks to profit from the Walmart business model. There has never been a better time than this to get them hooked on design! They are all looking for a different angle and I've convinced several that there is no urgency to buy a copy when there is always another copy waiting for them. Unique houses do create an urgency in the buyer! The general public hates cookie cutter houses, they usually have litte choice. Give them a choice!
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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-10-2012 12:42
From: Mike Mense
Subject: scientific proof
The brush is too broad. Some architects add value, some don't. If you consistently add value, you won't need a marketing department.
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Mike Mense FAIA
Owner
mmenseArchitects
Anchorage AK
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