New Homes Chicago

Contest Prize: Fantastic Chicago Apartment

2011-08-26T06:59:00.000-05:00

Ever want to live in a luxury apartment in a Chicago real estate high-rise?

There's one available in a prestigious Chicago tower, and this apartment is free.

It's the grand prize in the HGTV Urban Oasis 2011 contest; a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom luxury residence in the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.

The 35th-floor unit was designed for the contest by HGTV interior designer Vern Yip to represent some of the best in Chicago architecture and history.

To learn more about this great prize, check out our story:

Fabulous Chicago Real Estate Up for Grabs

We'll give you a peek into the home and tell you how you can enter to win.

Be Cool: Xplode

2011-08-05T15:32:00.003-05:00

These days, the best way to grow your business in the Chicago real estate market is to be cool—technologically cool, that is. New technology is coming out everyday, and you need to be in the know.

The Chicago Association of REALTORS is hosting the Xplode Conference on Friday, August 19 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago in order to teach real estate professionals how to expand their businesses through the use of technology.

Learn the latest tips and get advice from 25 social media, marketing and technology pros.

Some speakers include:

-Stephen Schweickart, co-founder and CEO of VScreen, the nation’s leading video services company within the real estate industry

-Kerm Foltz, Director of Agent Sales at Market Leader, a leading provider of software and marketing solutions to the real estate industry

-Ginger Wilcox, head of industry training at Trulia.com where she focuses on developing educational programs to assist real estate agents and brokers in growing their businesses

-David Friedman, President and Founder of Boston Logic Technology Partners, Inc. where he specialized in helping professional stay competitive online

Topics discussed will cover blogging, social media, digital transactions, mobile marketing, the revolution of video and search, syndication and digital listings.

After the conference is over, you are sure to be cool!

Get more details and register at http://chicago.xplodethis.com/. Also, visit the Xplode Facebook and Xplode Twitter pages for any news leading up to the conference.

Chicago Firm Designing World's Tallest Building

2011-08-04T18:33:00.000-05:00

Trump International Hotel and Tower is one of the city's tallest parcels of Chicago real estate, and it was designed by Adrian Smith.

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world, and it was designed by Smith, too.

Now, the Chicago architect is at it again, designing what will be the tallest building in the world by far.

Smith and his Chicago-based firm, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, have developed plans to build the Kingdom Tower by a Red Sea port in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The building will reach more than 1,300 meters. In comparison, the tallest building in Chicago and the country is the Willis Tower, and that stands at a mere 442 meters high.

Kingdom Tower will provide housing to an area that desperately needs it. The project is the first phase of
Kingdom City, a community that will cost about $20 billion and take around 10 years to construct.

Want to know more about Adrian Smith and Kingdom Tower?

Check out our story:

World's Tallest Building Designed by Chicago Real Estate Firm

And check back to Chicagoland Real Estate Forum for updates on this exciting project with Chicago ties that is taking place across the world.

Chicago Firm Designing World

2011-08-03T12:07:00.000-05:00

Social Chicago Real Estate Conference

2009-09-16T10:00:00.004-05:00

The Social Chicago Real Estate Conference is just around the corner, on Tuesday, September 29th. The one day conference is targeted for builders, developers, marketers and job seekers in the real estate industry and will cover topics all pertaining to social media.

Those in attendance will learn how social media can build their company, product brand and professional appeal. You'll also learn the tricks and tactics on how to increase traffic to your Web site and to turn that online traffic into sales.

The day will consist of six one-hour long sessions from local and national social media experts. Among the list of speakers are Mitch Levinson, Carol Flammer, Rudy Bachraty, Sara Bonert, Kelly O'Brien, Julie Wernau and Nita Tuskan.

The show is presented by mRELEVANCE and New Home Notebook. Registration is now open, so mark your calendars and don't miss this fantastic opportunity to learn more about social media.

Chicago Real Estate News

2009-08-01T16:12:00.004-05:00

Chicagoland Real Estate Forum is an excellent source of real estate news for the Chicago area. From new homes to townhomes to condos, the blog covers stories about Chicago neighborhoods and communities. Looking for information on Open Houses? Or HBA classes? Home Tours? or even the latest national housing news and statistics? Then, this site is for you!

You can also follow Chicagoland Real Estate Forum on Facebook! http://www.Facebook.com/ChicagolandRealEstateForum

Sell More Homes with Social Media

2009-04-22T10:10:00.002-05:00

Social media is not just for teenagers anymore. National speakers and mRELEVANCE founders, Carol Flammer and Mitch Levinson will present "Sell More Homes with Social Media" at the 2009 Southern Building Show on June 4 from 4 to 5:30 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Ga. If you decide to attend this class you will learn how home builders, developers and others in the home building industry use social media for competitive advantage. From social media to social networking, blogging and social bookmarking, see case studies of how builders, developers and new home communtiies are benefiting from social media optimization. Also find out how to incorporate a blog and sites such as Active Rain, FaceBook, My Space, Blogger and others into an effective Internet marketing program.

The Internet is rapidly evolving. Do not miss this opportunity to learn how to maximize your return on investment (ROI). Social media marketing and optimization, search engine marketing, an effective Web site, email marketing and social networking are all components of a successful Internet marketing program. Learn how to take your traditional public relations online as an integral part of reputation management.

Don't miss out on your opportunity to attend this class on all things social media. Register today to attend or exhibit at the 2009 Southern Building Show.

Levinson Elected to MIRM Board of Trustees

2008-10-08T22:47:00.004-05:00

The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) recently announced the election of Mitch Levinson, MIRM, CSP, MBA to the IRM Board of Trustees. Elected to the Board for a three-year term by his peers, Levinson will provide leadership and guidance on the development, enhancement, and promotion of IRM products and services.
Levinson is managing partner of mRELEVANCE, a public relations, social media and internet marketing firm with offices in Atlanta and Chicago.
Founded in 1977, the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) is the educational arm of the NAHB National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC). The Institute was created to guarantee the highest skill level of sales and marketing professionals for the housing industry. The IRM offers several prestigious educational designations, including Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP), Master Certified New Home Sales Professional (MCSP), Certified New Home Marketing Professional (CMP), and Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM). The IRM also recognizes an elite group of members, known as Fellows, who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to promoting sales and marketing education throughout the building industry. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/IRM.

Have Questions? Contact mRELEVANCE at 770-383-3360 x30 or visit the marketing RELEVANCE website for home builder marketing tips and tools.

Mitch Levinson and Carol Flammer Speaking at IBS 2009

2008-09-29T14:32:00.002-05:00

mRELEVANCE Managing Partners Carol Flammer, MIRM and Mitch Levinson, MIRM were selected by the National Association of Home Builders to speak on social media and Internet marketing at the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

Flammer will discuss the effectiveness of social media for home builders, specifically tips for using social media sites as part of your Internet marketing strategy. Flammer has previously presented how social media can enhance SEO to home builders in Atlanta, Raleigh, N.C., and Milwaukee, Wis. With 20 years of experience as a public relations practitioner and founder of Flammer Relations, Inc., Flammer draws from her experience as publisher of Atlanta’s most popular real estate blog – AtlantaRealEstateForum.com. Her submission was one of only 24 topics chosen from more than 250 entries submitted to the National Sales and Marketing Council. Flammer’s social media panel includes other industry experts and fellow MIRMs Dina Gundersen, Marketing Director for Monte Hewett Homes in Atlanta, and Kathie McDaniel, Director of Marketing and Advertising for Highland Homes in Lakeland, Fla.

Levinson's Internet Marketing topic will demonstrate how to effectively evaluate website tracking reports and use this knowledge for competitive advantage and increased sales. His course is sponsored by NextBuild, the technology-focused track of the International Builders’ Show curriculum. With over 18 years of direct experience selling and marketing new homes, combined with an MBA in Computer Information Systems and e-Commerce, Levinson has used this unique combination to teach similar classes in Chicago, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Wis., and Des Moines, IA. Levinson is founder of Mitch Levinson Consulting, MLC New Home Marketing and MLC FlatFee Realty, and has offices in Chicago and Atlanta. Highland Homes’ Kathie McDaniel will present with Levinson.

Turnberry Homes Turns to Public Relations

2008-08-03T13:34:00.001-05:00

Nashville homebuilder Turnberry Homes has selected mRELEVANCE as its Internet marketing, public relations and social media firm of record. The real estate focused agency has launched integrated public relations and Internet marketing strategies for the homebuilder.

“mRELEVANCE uses multiple channels to tell the Turnberry story to consumers and the media,” said Ron Benkert, Chief Operating Officer of Turnberry Homes. “Their expert use of Internet marketing and new media combined with their traditional public relations expertise spreads the word through a wide range of outlets to reach a variety of consumers who are ready to purchase a home.”

Tennessee’s largest homebuilder in its price point, Turnberry Homes presents finely crafted homes in the most distinctive sections of Nashville and Williamson County, Tenn., including the Brentwood, Cool Springs, Franklin and Nolensville communities. Focused on creating a rewarding experience and a custom home for each client, Turnberry employs a professional staff of structural and interior designers to lead buyers through the process of tailoring their homes to their lifestyles.

As Turnberry has discovered, delivering relevant messages about process and quality to relevant audiences through relevant media is imperative in today’s market. mRELEVANCE thoughtfully analyzes Internet traffic and traditional media messages to target marketing and public relations dollars for maximum results.

Turnberry Homes was founded in 1997 by Richard Bell, whose 30 years of experience in the Southeast include building homes for celebrities in Palm Beach, Fla. Now Turnberry Homes continues a tradition of making every homebuyer feel like a star with beautiful, livable homes from the $300,000s to over $2 million. For more information, visit www.TurnberryHomes.com or call 615-376-7001.

mRELEVANCE, LLC, is a real estate focused marketing firm designed to meet builder and developer needs in a changing marketplace. Moving beyond the previous advertising model, mRELEVANCE reaches buyers through the media they experience with the primary messages that motivate them to take action. Through the combined talents and resources of public relations and social media firm Flammer Relations, Inc., and the power of Internet marketing services at MLC New Home Marketing, mRELEVANCE implements a combination of traditional PR services and up-to-date Web 2.0 tools (e-mail marketing, search engine optimization, social media and others) to create results for clients. With a staff of 14, mRELEVANCE has offices in Atlanta and Chicago. For more information on how you can connect to buyers and build relevant relationships, visit www.mRELEVANCE.com or call 770-383-3360 or 847-259-7312.

Have You Embraced Web 2.0?

2008-05-29T10:05:00.002-05:00

Have you fully embraced Web 2.0? Do you add fresh content to your website monthly, weekly or daily? Do you have a way to add news to your current website? Is your site search engine friendly?

As Social Media and Web 2.0 become mainstream and more new home builders and developers embrace this SEO friendly technology, you will need to answer these questions and formulate a plan for incorporating these tactics into your marketing mix. Otherwise you will become harder to find on the Internet and further "behind" your competitors.

Many “websites” are now built as blogs or incorporate a blog as the site's news feed. You don't have to launch a stand alone blog to take advantage of this communications tool. More than 100,000 blogs are launched each day. Not only can blogs help to give you a competitive advantage in attracting online shoppers, but many blogs are emerging as credible news sources which means a story on your site could catch a reporter’s eye and end up in a print publication.

See what others are saying about blogging about real estate trends and topics.

“If You’re Thinking About Blogging about Real Estate”
Real Central Virginia.com

“Write like a Blogger”
Seth Godin’s blog

“The New World of Web 2.0”
Realty Times.com

Homebuilders Blog for Competitive Online Advantage

2008-04-25T13:47:00.002-05:00

Launch a Blog, Get More Traffic

Homebuilder, developer and real estate agent websites benefit from increased Search Engine Optimization (SEO) when these sites take advantage of blogs. Blogs increase referral traffic and organic SEO by providing fresh content on a regular basis. MLC New Home Marketing can build your blog and teach you how to use this powerful tool. Contact us to learn how blogging can help you gain and maintain a competitive advantage.

Additionally, if you are interested in launching a full scale social media campaign, MLC New Home Marketing can extend your reach into cyberspace by blogging on other sites for you. Contact us to consult on your Internet strategy and learn how to use the Internet as a tool to increase your leads and sales.

Homebuilder Websites

2008-03-04T23:05:00.003-06:00

Are you thinking about updating or launching a new website?
Does your current site cause homebuyers to take action?
Do you add fresh content to your site on a regular basis?
Was your site optimized when it was built? Can the search engines find it?

These are just a few of the many questions that an Internet marketing firm can help you discover the answers to. Each homebuilder, developer and new home community will have different answers based on their target demographic. The right real estate focused Internet marketing firm will understand your business AND know how to attract search engines and direct traffic to your site. Effective real estate for homebuilders and developers on the Internet involves many facets from tracking and analysis to search engine marketing. Contact MLC New Home Marketing today to find out how you can optimize your online presence and take your website to the next level.

Tracking & Analysis

2008-02-24T23:16:00.000-06:00

What can you learn from your Internet tracking reports? Do you review them on a regular basis? Should you look at them monthly? weekly? daily? Do you know what to look for?
We will discuss these questions and many more this Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. est, during a webinar on Agent Direct News. Fellow MIRM, Carol Flammer, will help me present a lively discussion on tracking.

This webinar is designed to help homebuilders and developers maximize Internet exposure, increase Search Engine Optimization, and keep visitors on their sites longer.

Learn how to unlock these “secrets” from your site’s tracking reports.

Increase Internet leads
Increase click throughs
Increase the number of contact forms completed
Determine where to spend online marketing dollars
Increase your SEO
Evaluate your website
Determine how your company is viewed by Search Engines

Tracking & Analysis . . . everything you need is there

Internet Marketing for Homebuilders

2008-01-30T22:56:00.000-06:00

The Internet Marketing for Homebuilders course has been successfully developed and launched. It has been well received by classes at the HBAs in Atlanta, Chicago and Milwaukee. This seminar is designed to help homebuilders, marketing directors and others in the real estate industry understand how to use the Internet more effectively. Key concepts covered include:

How to drive more traffic to your web site and to your sales center
What you can learn from your tracking reports
How blogging influences SEO
Search Engine Marketing
What potential homebuyers expect to see on your website

For more information on where this course will be offered next, visit Mitch Levinson Consulting.

New Courses

2007-06-18T10:10:00.000-05:00

I am conducting a focus group at the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago later this week to discuss teaching a new course. There has been a lot of interest in Internet Marketing, but most local HBA's and NAHB have not offered a complete course on this topic. We are taking the initiative to put this course together for HBAGC and GAHBA (Greater Atlanta HBA) and will also offer it to any builder or real estate professional who is interested in learning more about Internet Marketing. Contact us at MLC New Home Marketing for more information!!!

New Real Estate Company Concept

2007-03-17T13:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,

It is with great excitement that we announce the launch of our new company and website – www.mlcFlatFeeRealty.com! Specializing in marketing and selling homes, MLC FlatFee Realty is a full service brokerage firm that strongly believes our home sellers should benefit most from the appreciation of their home. By offering our services for a FlatFee instead of commission percentage, our customers are able to sell their homes at a significant savings!

At MLC FlatFee Realty, our mission is to use technology and expertise in order to provide our customers with honest, professional full service residential real estate services…at the RIGHT price.

As friends and family, we want you to be the first to experience MLC FlatFee Realty and share in our excitement as we launch our new business. Please visit our website, review our listing packages and services, and forward our information to anyone looking to buy or sell real estate. Also, if you know anyone who might want to work with us as an agent, we are always looking to grow!

Customer Relationship Management for Homebuilders

2007-03-07T17:29:00.000-06:00

Residential homebuilders, large and small, struggle to determine the best methods of managing homebuyers through the entire sales and construction process. In strong markets, they create VIP and ‘grand opening/new release’ lists that focus on constant and repetitive communication and quick sales at time of lot release. In weaker markets, a specific follow-up strategy by your sales and marketing team to keep prospects interested and your pipeline full is critical to successful builders. Buzzwords and acronyms, like Customer Relationship Management (CRM), are used to describe products and services that help to automate this communication process.

Although I do not like buzzwords because everyone has a different meaning for them, I deal with them every day. To me, CRM is more than simply having a website, e-mailing information to prospects, and trying to get the customer to the point where they write a contract…that is only the beginning of the process. CRM in our industry is different than any other industry, but it does involve using technology to communicate with and process customers throughout the entire sales and production cycle.

Think about it, to effectively manage your relationship with your customers (and their expectations, of course), can you stop communicating with them at the time of contract? No, you need to maintain an effective relationship for each customer from lead generation and prospect management, through the contract and selection process, and past closing and the warranty period.

There are really five critical stages in an effective CRM strategy for homebuilders, a strategy that defines and develops each and every customer-facing process. (Please see diagram.) Each stage must contain both business processes and software applications that are designed to work together toward a common goal. Internal communication throughout these five stages, combined with external interaction with other transaction participants, such as design center, mortgage, and title, help reduce operational redundancy and mistakes, increase customer satisfaction, and directly impact the bottom line.

Lead Management – is the process of getting potential homebuyers into the sales centers through traditional advertising and marketing, and internet/new media technology. The goal of this stage is to generate leads and convert them into prospects by visiting the sales center.

Prospect Management – are the processes designed to convert sales center visitors into contracted buyers. Follow-up sales strategy for active communities, waiting list and future product release correspondence and communication, even sales center design and model merchandising are key components of this category. The goal of this stage is to turn prospects into buyers.

Buyer Management – is the process of electronically creating home configurations and spec homes, processing contracts, selections, options, and change orders in order to save time and reduce redundant data entry from an operational perspective, and keep production on the same page. From this stage on, managing buyer expectations is more critical than ever.

Customer Service Management – is the process of tracking and identifying Quality Assurance issues, customer communication, and ensuring expectations can be manageable and monitored for continuous improvement; product improvement, vendor improvement, and installation improvement. The keys here are communication and expectation!

'Customer for Life' – is the process of maintaining communication with homebuyers for them to become repetitive customers, customers for ancillary products and services, and “Raving Fans” promoting word-of-mouth advertising, referrals, and increasing customer satisfaction scores. If you are successful in the first four stages, this one is easy!