January 13-15 – Louisville MH Show, Louisville, Kentucky
January 26—Utah Legislature convenes, Salt Lake City
February 2 - Nevada Legislature begins in Carson City
February 17-19—Oregon Home & RV Show, Salem, Oregon
February 19 – ID Board Meeting, Crane Creek, Boise
March 4-5—Nevada Continuing Education, Reno & Las Vegas
March 17-20—Utah Continuing Education Classes
March 18 – Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City
March 19 – Nevada Board of Directors Meeting, Reno
April 14-15 – MHI Congress, Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
April 16-17—Nevada Continuing Education, Las Vegas & Reno
April 29-30 – Great SW Home Show, Tulsa, OK May—Idaho and Utah Annual Meeting, Convention & Golf May—Utah & Idaho Board of Directors’ at Annual Meeting
June 14-16 –MHI on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
August 20—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho
September 16—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
September 27-29—MHI Annual Board Meetings
October 27-29— Idaho Continuing Education Classes
November 5-6—Idaho Continuing Education Classes
November 19—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho
December 9—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
For more information email:
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Government Relations
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Dale Zabriskie Zabriskie & Associates
New Leadership in Utah Legislature
Both parties in both houses of the Utah State Legislature have new leadership for the upcoming general session which starts on January 26, 2009. The new Senate President is Michael Waddoups, a Republican from Taylorsville in Southwest Salt Lake County. He replaces John Valentine from Orem in Utah County. Valentine had served two terms as President, both times defeating Waddoups. This time Waddoups prevailed. Waddoups manages condominiums and commercial property. He has previously served as Majority Leader and also Chairman of Rules Committee. He was first elected to the Utah Senate in 1996. The new Senate Majority leader is Sheldon Killpack from Davis County. He runs a private charter school. He was first elected in 2004. He replaces Curt Bramble, a CPA from Utah County. On the Democratic side, Pat Jones becomes the first female leader in the Senate. She is the co-owner with her husband of the Dan Jones and Associates public opinion survey company. She replaces Mike Dmitrich who retired. She served in the House and moved to the Senate in 2006.
On the House side, the new Speaker is David Clark from St. George. He replaces Greg Curtis who was defeated in the general election. Clark served as Majority Leader in the past session and ran unopposed. Clark has served in the House since 2000. He is a banker. The new House Majority Leader is Kevin Garn from Davis County. He served in that position before, but resigned to run unsuccessfully for Congess. He returned to the Legislature in 2006 and is now back in his previous job.
The House Democrats have not yet named their leadership, but are expected to do so soon. They too will have a new leader. The current Minority Leader ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seat in the recent election. The new leader is expected to be David Litvack from Salt Lake City. He has been the Assistant Minority Leader. Committee assignment and chairs are yet to be named in both Houses.
PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR PAC TODAY!
Four Website Success Tips
Four Website Success Tips
1 – Strategy
Bring prospective clients into a website for the purpose of selling a home. This may sound silly, but most websites in the industry never get to the end purpose of easing a prospective buyer into purchasing a home. For every click your client makes on the website there should be a logical progression toward getting a lead by either a phone call or email. It has to be thought through.
2 – Navigation
Don't do too much! Some websites have too much information on the front page and this can bring confusion to aprospective client. Front pages should really have little more than three options, say, a closeout sale, a special featured home, and floor plans. Each of these three strategy paths can be monitored to see what the clients are choosing and this can be modified or accentuated according to how the clients respond.
3 – Design
The design should always support the strategy and it should portray professionalism and trust. The best way to build client trust is with pictured testimonials of your clients. On your front page picture a happy family in front of a new home saying how well you treated them and howeasy it was with “Bill Salesman” by our side. Quiet complementary colors create a harmonious look and also aid in establishing trust. Don't be loud and flashy!
4 – The Hook
Ask them for their business by using of a graphic bug or pitch which in effect gets them to “contact us now”. Another hook is to give them a “privilege” to view a “special price” that routes them through a simple registration. Remember all you need to start is a name, phone and email, so keep it SIMPLE. Offer an incentive for them to contact you, give to get. When they contact you respond immediately, if you wait too long it will be a strike against you. Get back to them ASAP!
With retailer lots shrinking because of new flooring financing requirements, now is the time to get that new website strategized and selling homes. You can beat the slowdown by getting a better sales technique and implementing your new strategic website.
Max Marble 503-378-7166 or
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Calendar of Events
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 9 – Utah Board of Directors, Salt Lake City, UT December 10 – Nevada Board of Directors, Reno, NV December 24-January 1 – Happy Holidays to all! January 13-15 – Louisville MH Show, Louisville, Kentucky February 17-19—Oregon Home & RV Show, Salem, Oregon February 19 – ID Board Meeting, Crane Creek, Boise March 4-5—Nevada Continuing Education, Reno & Las Vegas March 16-17—Utah Continuing Education Classes March 18 – Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City March 19 – Nevada Board of Directors Meeting, Reno April 14-15 – MHI Congress, Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV April 16-17—Nevada Continuing Education, Las Vegas & Reno April 29-30 – Great SW Home Show, Tulsa, OK May—Three State (ID, UT & NV) Golf & Convention, Reno, NV May—Joint Board of Directors’ at Annual Meeting, Reno, NV August 20—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho September 16—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah September 17—Nevada Board Meeting, Reno, Nevada October 27-29— Idaho Continuing Education Classes November 5-6—Idaho Continuing Education Classes November 19—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho December 9—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah December 10—Nevada Board Meeting, Reno, Nevada
News From Other States
News From Other States
OREGON – An agreement between Oregon’s Department of Business and Consumer Services (DBCS) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will give some county governments the authority to handle document processing and taxation of mobile home. In previous years the DMV has handled mobile home fees and taxes in the same manner as automobiles. Under the agreement extension, counties can act as their own agent and give mobile home owners an ownership document like that provided to traditional home owners. Owners will be able to transfer the homes and acquire a title at a county DCBS office or through a title company.
WASHINGTON— Port Townsend-based architect, Randy Fax has taken a cue from local minimalist builders and created five new modular home designs that emphasize simplicity and affordability. The sizes of these dwellings range from 14-by-28 foot condo-sized units to a much smaller 10-by-12 foot “Outlaw” model. The homes result in no construction waste, as compared to site-built residences that often produce 10-15 percent waste. It is an ideal entry level home at $100 per square foot. Additionally, Kulshan Community Land Trust is partnering with Seattle’s Method Homes to design a factory-built residence or dwelling built onsite using wall panels. The goal is to locate the units in densely populated areas as in-fill homes. A group called Countywide Housing Affordability Task Force (CHAT) is promoting these panel units to create more affordable housing and reduce impact fees.
COLORADO— Modular Construction is the perfect fit for the Aspen resort’s employee housing. In just 12 days, a 44,000 sq.ft. 36 unit housing complex was crane set in the midst of one of the Rocky Mountain’s most upscale ski villages. Thanks to The Neenan Company and Barvista Building Systems, more than 120 workers have attractive, energy-efficient (LEED cert.) housing.
CALIFORNIA— Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for an investigation of building code protocols and emergency policies after two major fires destroyed over 600 manufactured homes. The losses may prompt tougher fire retardant building codes for new homes.
LOUISIANA— Bossier Homes has created a portable house for the Santa’s Workshop on the Louisiana Boardwalk. The new, log-cabin style manufactured home has 2,315 sq ft, superior quality and is fully furnished. It is a real Christmas promotion for MHomes.
New Leadership in Utah Legislature
OREGON – An agreement between Oregon’s Department of Business and Consumer Services (DBCS) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will give some county governments the authority to handle document processing and taxation of mobile home. In previous years the DMV has handled mobile home fees and taxes in the same manner as automobiles. Under the agreement extension, counties can act as their own agent and give mobile home owners an ownership document like that provided to traditional home owners. Owners will be able to transfer the homes and acquire a title at a county DCBS office or through a title company. 
