OutThink

Build It & Post It

May 1, 2025
By Tabitha Warren

TikTok is Now Essential Marketing for Homebuilders

If you think TikTok is just for teenagers, think again. It’s rapidly evolving into a powerful search and discovery engine, and yes, that includes finding new homes. Consider this foundational statistic highlighted by Atlas RTX: “84% of home buyers use the internet as their primary research tool…” In today’s digital landscape, TikTok represents a significant and growing slice of that online activity, particularly for demographics crucial to the future of homebuilding. For builders aiming to connect with modern buyers, establishing a presence on TikTok isn’t just a novelty; it’s becoming a strategic marketing imperative.

Showcasing Properties in a New, Dynamic Light

Static photos and full-length virtual tours have their place, but TikTok’s short-form video format demands a different approach – one that can be incredibly effective for showcasing homes. Builders are using engaging, fast-paced videos to:

Offer Quick Walkthroughs: Highlighting key areas and features in under 60 seconds.
Spotlight Unique Selling Points: Zeroing in on a stunning kitchen island, a spa-like bathroom, or energy-efficient windows.
Use Trending Sounds & Styles: Making property tours feel current, relatable, and shareable.
Tell Visual Stories: Capturing the feeling of living in the space, not just the dimensions.

This dynamic format grabs attention quickly and allows builders to convey personality and key features in a way traditional marketing often struggles to match.

Reaching the Next Generation (and Current Buyers Too)

While TikTok initially gained fame with Gen Z, its user base has significantly broadened. Millennials, now the largest cohort of home buyers, are active on the platform, as are increasing numbers of Gen X. Builders can use TikTok to:

Build Brand Awareness Early: Connect with potential buyers long before they are actively searching.
Target Specific Demographics: Utilize TikTok’s algorithm and ad tools to reach relevant audiences in specific locations or with particular interests (e.g., first-time buyers, eco-conscious consumers).
Humanize the Brand: Show the faces behind the company, share construction progress, and create a more relatable image.

Leveraging Trends and Influencers

Smart builders on TikTok don’t just post, they participate. This means:

Highlighting Trendy Features: If home offices are trending, showcase your best office spaces. If outdoor living is hot, feature your patios and decks.
Engaging with Comments: Answer questions and interact with potential leads directly on the platform.
Considering Influencer Collaborations: Partnering with local home decor or lifestyle influencers can expose a builder’s projects to a large, engaged, and relevant audience, generating buzz and credibility.

Behind the Scene images courtesy of Canva Pro

Building Community and Trust Beyond the Sale

TikTok offers builders a unique channel to build relationships, not just generate leads. Sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the construction process, introducing the build team, offering quick home maintenance tips, or answering frequently asked questions in a casual video format can foster trust and community around the brand. This authenticity resonates with modern consumers.

Log In or Lose Out

The way people discover, and research homes is evolving rapidly. TikTok is no longer a fringe platform but a major player in the online attention economy. Homebuilders who embrace it, mastering its unique style and leveraging its reach, are positioning themselves to connect effectively with today’s buyers. Those who ignore it risk becoming invisible on a channel where their future customers are increasingly spending their time. In the current market, being active and strategic on TikTok isn’t just marketing; it’s essential business development.

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Like Iconic Brands and Well-Designed Homes, Skilled Craft Never Goes Out of Style

April 18, 2025
By Jim Sorgatz

Bill Gelbaugh brings the same precision and visual appeal to camp cooking that he delivers at Outhouse.

In today’s world of ever-increasing automation, the role of the craftsman may no longer occupy the center stage it once did—say, during the Renaissance—but the need for skilled craft has never gone away. Whether it’s clothing, jewelry, furniture, or homebuilding, there is still something deeply human—and deeply valuable—about a well-built item. A custom home, for example, with thoughtful design elements and finishes shaped to a buyer’s personality, has a presence and soul you can’t replicate with mass production.

My dad was one of those rare craftsmen. He started a one-man remodeling business at the age of 40. While technically his own company, he served just three clients—two prominent Phoenix attorneys and Rex Maughn, the founder of Forever Living Products. Rex owned properties like Mormon Lake Lodge in Flagstaff and Southfork Ranch in Dallas—yes, that Southfork Ranch. These clients didn’t shop around. They didn’t ask for quotes. They trusted my dad implicitly and paid him hourly, not because it was cheaper, but because they knew he’d deliver something unique, beautiful, and lasting. I’ll never forget the time he was asked to saw down the legs of a $10,000 antique table just to make it fit below a window with a view. That level of trust only comes from knowing the person doing the work is a true master of their craft.

Technology and Craftsmanship – A Winning Pair

Here at Outhouse, we still believe in that kind of craftsmanship. Much of our work is technology-driven, but it takes more than software to create the kind of visual clarity, consistency, and brand integrity our clients expect. It takes a trained eye, experience, and people who genuinely care about what they’re making.

Bill preparing a meal in the Northern Arizona forest.

A Print Department Founded by Craftsmen

Over thirty years ago, the Outhouse print department was founded by three such people: Bill Gelbaugh, Dorian Boese, and Doug Ills. What they built together wasn’t just a production team—it was a workshop, grounded in artistry, precision, and pride in the finished product. Bill brings a meticulous sensibility to everything he touches, from client branding to color theory to campsite organization. He takes camp cooking next level, creating sumptuous, vibrantly colored vegan meals prepared with bespoke cookware . Doug, a lifelong graphic artist, is also an avid photo restorer who brings old memories back to life with an almost reverent attention to detail. And Dory—well, Dory is a man who appreciates nuance. As a devoted bourbon aficionado, he shares weekly tastings with friends, each pour accompanied by storytelling and quiet discernment. These aren’t just hobbies: they’re reflections of character. Together, the three of them infused Outhouse’s print department with the integrity and intentionality that still defines our work today.

A man with style – Pressroom Manager Dorian Boese at the Barrett-Jackson Auction.

We Elevate Builder Brands

That same care is evident in how we treat your brand’s visual details. Bill, for instance, often catches inconsistencies in logos or brand colors that others miss. He’s been known to zoom in pixel by pixel to ensure a logo prints cleanly on a brochure or displays clearly on a touchscreen. It’s the kind of attention that doesn’t just protect a brand—it elevates it.

Doug Ills restoring a vintage photo

Brand Consistency Is Paramount

And that brings us to a critical point. Brand consistency matters. You may recall a time, a couple of decades ago, when fast-food chains raced to trademark color combinations. Red may dominate the landscape, but it’s the specific hues, pairings, and logo integrations that make each instantly recognizable. Homebuilders are no different. Your brand guidelines: the way your colors appear online, in print, and in your sales environment are essential to how buyers experience your brand. That’s why you need partners who not only understand that but obsess over it.

At Outhouse, our team of visual professionals ensures that your interactive floor plans, site plans, and renderings reflect your brand precisely as designed. Colors are accurate across platforms: website, brochures, signage, and more. Each run of printed material is consistent. Every rendering and virtual tour carry your identity forward with integrity and impact.

A delicious meal prepared in a meticulously curated setting created by Bill.

Proudly Made In the USA

We take pride in that all our digital marketing tools: interactive maps, renderings, virtual tours, kiosks, visualizers, as well as our print collateral and sales center signage are produced by our team right here in the USA. Our home office in Phoenix, AZ houses the print facility that started it all.

TikTok’s Blueprint

April 15, 2025
By Tabitha Warren

Viral Trends Forcing a Rethink in New Home Design

A split screen of classic, slow to produce, blue prints vs TikTok's constantly evolving word of trends — _{A split screen of classic, slow to produce, blue prints vs TikTok’s constantly evolving word of trends}

Remember when home design trends evolved over years, maybe decades? Then, BAM, in comes the hit platform TikTok, where a 60-second video can launch a design craze overnight. From hidden pantry doors going viral to the sudden ubiquity of “cloffices,” the social media giant isn’t just for dance challenges anymore. It’s becoming a powerful, if sometimes unpredictable, force shaping buyer expectations and, consequently, influencing the very blueprints of new construction homes. For builders and designers, understanding this rapid shift is key to staying relevant.

_{Split screen of TikTok trend video & a dated kitchen created in Canva Pro}

Open Concepts & Flexible Spaces a Layout Revolution?

The desire for open-concept living isn’t new, but TikTok has amplified it, showcasing seamless flows between kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms perfect for entertaining and family life. Videos often highlight the airiness and connectivity these layouts provide. Beyond just openness, there’s a growing demand for flexible spaces. A room might need to serve as a home office during the week, a homework station in the afternoon, and a yoga spot on weekends. Builders are responding by designing floor plans with bonus rooms, lofts, or dens explicitly marketed for their adaptability, moving away from rigidly defined room purposes.

Home office & Yoga Gyme hybrid space generated by Adobe Firefly — _{Home office/Yoga Gym hybrid space generated by Adobe Firefly}

The Rise of Hyper-Specific Room Requests

TikTok thrives on showcasing unique and aspirational home features, often turning niche ideas into mainstream demands. Dedicated home offices became essential during the pandemic, but TikTok introduced us to the “cloffice,” a cleverly converted closet space, appealing to those needing a compact workspace. Elaborate, hyper-organized pantries (sometimes with secondary “prep kitchens” or coffee bars hidden within) are another viral hit. Mudrooms with custom built-ins for coats, shoes, and even pet supplies are frequently highlighted. While not every buyer needs these specific features, their visibility on TikTok means builders are increasingly fielding requests and considering incorporating them as standard options or upgrades.

From Modern Farmhouse to Maximalist Flair Aesthetics and Finishes are Key

Visual trends spread like wildfire on platforms like TikTok, influencing homeowner preferences at an accelerating pace. While the enduring appeal of Modern Farmhouse persists, we’re also witnessing significant interest in aesthetics like Maximalism, with its bold embrace of colors, patterns, and textures; Biophilic Design, emphasizing natural light, indoor plants, and earthy materials; and the allure of moody, dramatic interiors. Specific finishes, as noted by industry observers such as Coldwell Banker, are also gaining viral traction, with “Bold Wallpapers” emerging as a popular choice for creating striking accent walls or transforming entire rooms, often inspired by online showcases.

Builder Kitchen, plain colors, easy for a lot of people to like — _{Sego Homes Rendering, follows classic concepts of design, but also on trend: healthy, green, available smart technology.}

However, builders often navigate different landscapes. While customization remains a powerful tool for showcasing possibilities in model homes and catering to pre-sale buyers, the need for broad market appeal in spec homes often necessitates a more neutral foundation. Color palettes leaning towards versatile browns and grays, along with universally accepted tile and fixture choices, provide a safe harbor, ensuring a wider range of potential buyers can envision themselves in the space should a deal fall through. This doesn’t negate the influence of trending aesthetics but rather highlights the strategic balance builders must strike between capturing current design enthusiasm and ensuring long-term marketability.

Smart Homes are Non-Negotiable

Smart home technology is frequently featured in TikTok home tours and gadget reviews. Integrated lighting controlled by phone, smart thermostats learning preferences, keyless entry systems, and whole-home audio are becoming baseline expectations for many tech-savvy buyers. Green Builder Media writes about tech mega trends and the evolution of technology in building regularly. The advances and demand are astounding. Builders at all levels are increasingly integrating robust Wi-Fi infrastructure and offering smart home packages as standard or easily accessible upgrades, recognizing that a “connected home” is now a major selling point fueled by online visibility.

Balancing Trends and Timelessness

TikTok’s influence on home design is undeniable, pushing builders to innovate and adapt faster than ever. The challenge lies in balancing fleeting viral trends with timeless design principles that ensure a home’s broad appeal and long-term value. While incorporating a trendy feature might attract buyers today, core elements like a functional layout and quality construction remain paramount. The blueprint for new homes is indeed being sketched by social media, but savvy builders will use the eraser wisely, blending the best of the ‘now’ with designs built to last.

At Outhouse.net, our highly customizable interactive floorplans can help builders showcase their flexible options. We can help builders give homebuyers the home of their TikTok fantasies. Contacts us now to find out how.

The Power of Sales Office Displays

February 19, 2025
By Stuart Platt

K. Hov sales office images by Outhouse contractor Matt

Why Homebuilders Can’t Afford to Overlook This Essential Tool

Every touchpoint with a potential homebuyer matters in today’s competitive homebuilding market. From the first moment they walk into a sales office, the experience they have can shape their entire perception of the builder. Investing in creative, high-quality sales office displays isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about standing out, making an impact, and driving more sales.

Yet, some builders are moving away from dedicated sales offices, choosing instead to rely solely on digital interactions or remote appointments. While technology has its place, eliminating or minimizing the role of a well-designed sales office can be a costly mistake. Here’s why sales office displays remain a crucial part of the homebuyer journey and why skimping on this aspect can put a builder at a disadvantage.

Creating a Lasting First Impression

The moment a homebuyer steps into a model home sales office, they begin forming an opinion about the builder. Are they professional? Do they pay attention to detail? Can I trust them to build my future home?

High-quality displays, such as vinyl wall wrap graphics, floor plan displays, and wall-mounted site plans, create an immersive, informative, and visually appealing environment that reassures buyers they are in the right place. A thoughtfully designed space instills confidence, whereas a sparse or uninspiring space can leave buyers feeling uncertain or even skeptical about the builder’s credibility.

_{Adobe AI generated couple interacting with a Sales Kiosk.}

Standing Out from the Competition

In many markets, homebuilders compete in the same neighborhoods, sometimes even across the street. A compelling sales office design can be the differentiator that helps one builder stand out from the rest.

Imagine two homebuyers visiting back-to-back sales offices. One builder features stunning wall graphics showcasing the lifestyle of the community, engaging video displays with customer testimonials, and an interactive site plan that allows buyers to visualize available lots. The other builder offers only a few brochures and a generic table with a sales rep. Which experience is more memorable? Which builder will leave a stronger impression?

Investing in creative and high-quality displays sends a message that the builder values their product, brand, and, most importantly, customers.

The Psychology Behind Visuals and Tapping into Emotion

Homebuying is an emotional process. I dare you to deny that. Buyers aren’t just choosing a house; they’re envisioning their future. A well-designed sales office fosters positive emotions, making homebuyers feel excited, inspired, and comfortable. Here’s how:

Trust and Confidence: Professionally designed displays communicate stability and professionalism, making buyers feel they’re working with a reputable builder.
Excitement and Aspiration: Lifestyle imagery, high-quality renderings, and engaging video content help buyers imagine themselves living in the community.
Clarity and Understanding: Interactive maps, floor plans, and community overviews eliminate confusion and make it easier for buyers to visualize their options.

Without these elements, a sales office can feel impersonal, transactional, or even forgettable. We want to inspire buyers to take the next step. Creating a memorable environment is worth it if buyers remember you after they walk out the door.

Wall wrap of motorcyclist in garage — _{Visually stunning garage wall wrap demonstrates the emotional appeal of wall wraps}

What’s Lost Without a Sales Office?

Builders who eliminate or scale back their sales offices risk losing a key element of the sales process. A well-staffed and well-designed space allows sales teams to:

Guide buyers through the decision-making process in a controlled, branded environment.
Build relationships and answer questions in real-time.
Reduce buyer hesitation by providing visual and tangible reinforcements of the community’s value.

Without a dedicated space, buyers may rely on online research alone, where competing builders have just as much visibility. Worse, buyers may lose interest or become overwhelmed without the personal guidance and reassurance a sales office provides.

Weighing the Quality vs. Cost Investment

Some builders hesitate to invest in high-end sales office displays due to cost concerns. However, opting for cheap or outdated materials or skipping displays altogether can be even more expensive in the long run. Poor presentation can lead to lost sales opportunities, reduced buyer confidence, and a weaker brand reputation.

On the other hand, high-quality, well-designed displays have a lasting impact and require minimal updates compared to the revenue they help generate. A well-thought-out investment in sales office displays pays for itself through increased buyer engagement, higher conversion rates, and stronger brand loyalty.

The Bottom Line: Sales Office Displays Drive Results

For national production homebuilders, the sales office is more than just a place to meet buyers. It’s a critical tool in the sales process. The right displays create an engaging, informative, and emotionally compelling experience that turns interest into action. In a market where first impressions and differentiation matter, builders can’t afford to overlook the power of a well-designed sales office.

Now is the time to invest in displays that showcase your brand, engage buyers, and set your communities apart. After all, a strong first impression leads to a lasting relationship and, ultimately, more home sales.

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The Bots are Coming: Are We Ready for the Disruption Ahead?

March 10, 2025
By Jim Sorgatz

_{Jimdroid – Created by Tabitha Warren with a little help from A.I,}

The past six months have been nothing short of a revelation. Last fall, I experienced an ischemic stroke—an event that was a bit terrifying and life-altering, but also utterly fascinating. While the recovery process has been grueling, it has also given me a rare, firsthand understanding of the intricate connection between the brain and the body—something most people never have to think about.

When a stroke occurs, blood flow to the brain is cut off, damaging nerves and severing their connection to various parts of the body. In my case, I lost control of most of my left side. However, I was fortunate—my face, speech, vision, and cognitive function were largely unaffected. Even more encouraging, my doctors reassured me that I had the potential for full recovery since I could still move my fingers and toes. What they didn’t immediately share, though, was just how difficult that journey would be.

After months of intense physical therapy and relentless effort, I have regained control of most of my muscles. Just last week, I celebrated a significant milestone—full range of motion in my shoulder. Walking, however, remains a work in progress. I can do it, but let’s just say I won’t be winning any style points.

This experience has given me a deep appreciation for something most of us take for granted: the brain-muscle connection. Under normal circumstances, our muscles simply do what they’re supposed to without conscious thought. A stroke doesn’t damage the muscles themselves but disrupts the neural networks that control them. Recovery, therefore, isn’t about healing muscles; it’s about retraining the brain to find new pathways through endless, repetitive exercises.

What Does This Have to Do with Robotics?

We all know the robots are coming. Many of us have chuckled at videos of Tesla’s Optimus robot tripping down a hill. Skeptics argue that humanoid robots are still decades away from being truly useful, but my stroke recovery has given me a fresh perspective—I now firmly believe they’re coming much sooner than we think.

Why? Because AI learning mirrors stroke recovery in many ways. Just as my brain must repeatedly attempt movements to forge new neural pathways, AI systems refine their capabilities through repetition. The more they practice, the smarter and more autonomous they become, adapting to new tasks without explicit reprogramming. We’ve already seen remarkable advancements in autonomous driving—Tesla’s latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) version 13.2 shows just how close we are to full autonomy.

The Impending Disruption in Homebuilding

It doesn’t take much imagination to picture robots swinging hammers on job sites. But what will push the homebuilding industry toward this reality? Tariffs? Immigration reform? The growing need for affordable housing? The catalyst may not be clear yet, but one thing is certain: innovation is essential for reducing construction costs and ensuring builders can continue to thrive.

Remember Katerra? In 2015, it looked like this technology-driven, off-site construction company would revolutionize the industry. But despite massive funding, the company ultimately collapsed in 2021 due to a combination of overspending, the pandemic, and lender failures. However, Katerra was just the tip of the iceberg. Since then, AI has advanced at an exponential pace, and robotics is poised to play a crucial role in the next wave of construction innovation.

Are We Ready for What’s Next?

Probably not. Most industries are slow to embrace disruption, and homebuilding is no exception. But the shift is inevitable. That’s why homebuilders and trade contractors need to start preparing now—adapting to new technologies and finding ways to integrate AI and robotics into their processes before they get left behind.

At Outhouse.net, we’ve always been at the forefront of innovation. From launching our first interactive floor plan over 20 years ago to developing interactive site maps, kiosks, animations, virtual tours, and visualizers, we’ve continually pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in digital marketing technology. And we’re not stopping anytime soon. We, too, understand the need to stay ahead of the curve.

The future is coming fast—are you ready?