OutThink - The Outhouse Blog

The Outsource Hub for Home Builders

International Builders Show

Is 2025 the Year to Break Out of the “Home Builder Box?”


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There are many brilliant people here at Outhouse, and one of them is our content creator and social media manager, Tabitha Warren. An enthusiastic advocate for the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, Tabitha made the bold decision to leave her full-time job as a tax accountant in her mid-thirties. But instead of retiring, she pivoted to a new career in digital marketing, joining our team at Outhouse while also helping other companies build websites. It wasn’t an easy transition, but through determination, hard work, and a relentless drive to learn new skills, she made it happen. Today, she’s a Canva expert, crafting stunning graphics and managing social media for most of our marketing efforts. What’s even more inspiring is her constant quest for the “next big thing.” Her curiosity and drive to adopt cutting-edge technologies push me, the old guy, to keep learning and reaching for more.





Tabitha Warren in front of husband Anthony





Tabitha Warren,  enjoying some free time with husband Anthony





In a way, Tabitha’s journey mirrors the challenges the home building industry faces. As she mentioned in her January 10th post, “Navigating Labor and Supply Chain Issues,” the industry enters another year trying to stay ahead. It’s not a lack of demand—there are plenty of families looking for new homes—but labor and supply chain bottlenecks, coupled with sticky inflation, that are driving home prices higher (thank you, pandemic). And let’s not forget the high interest rates that persist even after a couple of Fed rate cuts (thanks, lenders).







Builders and contractors who adapted quickly survived. 







The housing crash of 2008-2010 showed us that builders and contractors who adapted quickly survived. For many, that meant streamlining operations, letting go of staff (not-so-affectionately called “right-sizing”), and embracing new, cost-saving techniques. Some even chose to be acquired by other companies. Many long-time construction workers faced similar crossroads, and those who were willing to adapt to new careers—sometimes temporarily—are the ones who have thrived today.

The reality is, like the stock market, the home building industry is volatile. It’s a constant roller coaster ride with high highs and low lows, and rare are the moments when things are smooth sailing. The key to surviving and thriving? Being agile. Builders who can pivot quickly, streamline processes, adopt new methods and technologies, or even revert to time-tested strategies when necessary will be the ones who come out on top.





Image of a house blueprint transitioning to 3D exterior rendering










This is exactly why we built the Outhouse CAD department with this roller coaster in mind. Many homebuilders already rely on us for renderings and interactive tools, so it only makes sense to put our 30+ years of CAD expertise to work and help with drafting services. Here’s how outsourcing your drafting to us can benefit you:

• Uniformity for the Field Crew: Our approach ensures that your plans maintain a consistent look and feel across the board, no matter who the designer is.
• Compatibility is Key: Our 2D plans integrate seamlessly with other Outhouse services or external consultants—no hassle, just smooth collaboration. 
• You Own the CAD Files: Whether you build one home or a hundred from a single set of plans, the CAD files are yours to keep. 
• Accelerated Delivery of Marketing Assets: We can produce your interactive floor plans, site maps, virtual tours, visualizers, renderings, and brochures simultaneously, allowing you to hit the market faster and more cost-effectively.







Embrace the future (or more precisely, the present) with 3D photorealistic renderings, 360-degree virtual tours, and interactive floor plans. 







If your website still sports black-and-white stick drawings and static floor plans and site maps, it’s well past time to think outside the box. Embrace the future (or more precisely, the present) with 3D photorealistic renderings, 360-degree virtual tours, and interactive floor plans. Interactive tools are far more engaging than static images—they allow homebuyers to digitally add structural options, rearrange furniture, and even take virtual walks through rooms with integrated VR hotspots. These experiences help families emotionally connect to your homes, turning casual browsers into serious buyers. Plus, interactive features are proven to increase the time visitors spend on your site, which often leads to more sales. In today’s tech-savvy market, these tools aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re essential. Younger homebuyers, especially, love the gamified, interactive experiences.


















Outhouse.net excels at providing all the digital and print marketing assets that today’s homebuyers expect when shopping for new homes, including 3D renderings, virtual tours, visualizers, interactive floor plans, and interactive site maps for your website. And we don’t stop there—we also offer interactive kiosks, print materials, large format signage, and display options for sales offices.

Looking for more ways to expand your horizons? The International Builders Show in Las Vegas, happening February 25-27, is a fantastic place to explore the latest in construction technology and trends. If you’re attending, make sure to stop by and say hello to Outhouse principals and our OSC partner Blue Gypsy Inc. in Sales Central, West Hall W311. We’ll be sponsoring coffee and snacks throughout each day, and we’d love to meet you. All are welcome—even if you have a floor pass only!







Optimizing the Design-Market-Sell Continuum – Tips for Home Builders – Part 1


 
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As the 2024 NAHB International Builders Show gears up to roll out the red carpet this week, it’s the perfect backdrop for a little fireside chat on elevating your home building game. With the industry’s brightest minds converging in one spot, buzzing with the latest trends and innovations, we at Outhouse are seizing the moment to sprinkle some of our own seasoned advice into the mix. Let’s dive into the art of perfecting the design-market-sell trifecta, shall we? 





With so much information, this post is being broken into two parts. In Part 1 we cover CAD, Rendering, and Print Marketing – the essentials every builder must have. These are what we would call the more physical items, the ones used for design review, neighborhood presentations, in your design centers, and for the construction of your homes. In Part 2 we will discuss website tools. Although renderings fall into both categories, our second post focuses on digital tools that are more interactive. 





Part 1: The Essentials – CAD, Rendering, and Print Marketing 





In the realm of home building, there are a few non-negotiables: CAD, rendering, and print marketing. These are the bread and butter, the tools that transform a blueprint dream into a sticks-and-bricks reality. 






VP of Operations Darin Keezer with CAD tips
Darin Keezer, VP of Operations




CAD (COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN) 





Imagine having a magic wand that ensures your construction documents are flawless, a foundation as solid as the homes you build. That’s what good construction documents do for you.  Here at Outhouse, under the guidance of our VP of Operations, Darin Keezer and his cadre of seasoned pros with over 30 years of experience working exclusively with production home builders, we offer CAD services that are a cut above. Here’s why: 





  • Uniformity for the Field Crew: Our approach ensures that regardless of the designer, the plans maintain a consistent look and feel, making life easier (and error-free) for those on the ground. 
  • You’re the Boss: The files? They’re yours. Whenever you want them, wherever you need them sent, consider it done. 
  • No Nickel-and-Diming: We’re all about transparency. No per-lot-use or other hidden fees, just straightforward billing for the time spent on your plans. 
  • Compatibility is Key: Our 2D plans play well with others, making them a breeze to integrate with additional Outhouse services or other consultants. 





While the CAD magic happens, why not simultaneously kickstart your marketing with some stunning renderings, virtual tours, visualizers, interactive floor plans, interactive site plans, and print collateral? It’s all about multitasking. 






Outhouse partner Stuart Platt




RENDERINGS – A WEBSITE STAPLE





A well-crafted rendering can speak volumes, turning the intangible into something almost touchable. In today’s market, where digital home tours are gaining ground, the allure of a beautifully rendered image remains undiminished. While virtual tours and visualizers are becoming more mainstream, renderings are still the essential source of product visualization. Colored renderings should be a staple for every home builder website. Black/white stick drawings are a huge turnoff. For as little as $195, Outhouse can create a very nice 2D rendering. For a bit more, most builders opt for 3D photorealistic renderings, as they provide a far superior picture of a home. With realistic landscaping and the ability to include special lighting like dusk shots, the renderings are often more appealing than a photo of a newly constructed home, which is frequently on a dirt lot with a couple of “twigs” for trees. Today’s home buyers expect the essential marketing tools, and renderings fall into this category.  Here’s how we make your projects pop: 





  • From Meh to Marvelous: Ditch the bland for the grand with colored renderings that capture the imagination of your buyers. 
  • The Devil’s in the Details: Outhouse partner, Stuart Platt, swears by the golden rule: the more accurate your CAD, the more stunning the rendering. It’s that simple. 






Outhouse Partner Bill Gelbaugh with print media tips
Outhouse partner Bill Gelbaugh




PRINT MARKETING – YOUR PROJECT IN THE SPOTLIGHT 





In an era where digital is king, print marketing retains its crown for creating tangible connections. With an onsite print department dedicated to print media for production home builders, here at Outhouse, LLC, we understand the importance of every stage of production home building printing and the vital steps to making your project a success. This includes on-time delivery to your sales centers. Bill Gelbaugh, our print guru, knows the ins and outs of making your projects shine on paper. Here’s his blueprint for success: 





  • Plan with Precision: Like laying a foundation, choosing the right quantity, size, and type of print material sets the stage for everything that follows. 
  • Choose Wisely: Not all printers are created equal. Opt for one that knows the ins and outs of the home building industry. 
  • Attention to Detail: A single typo can throw a wrench in the works. Proofread like your project depends on it (because it does). 
  • Clear as Day: When it comes to special requests or concerns, communication is key. The right printer will make your vision a reality. 





That is our humble advice to ensure your print media materials turn out just as you envisioned and on budget. Remember, at Outhouse, LLC, we have more than 25 years of experience in specialized homebuilder printing. 










MEET US AT IBS! 





And there you have it, folks. A sneak peek into the alchemy of blending design, marketing, and sales into a seamless continuum. But wait, there’s more! Swing by IBS this week for a cup of joe on us at Sales Central in the West Hall, Room 311. Outhouse and our friends at Blue Gypsy Inc. can’t wait to meet you. 





Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll dive into the digital deep end with website tools that make your projects not just seen, but experienced. Until then, happy building! 


Education Sessions We’re Digging at IBS 2022


 
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With the International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando only a week away (Feb 7-10), we wanted to give a quick overview of some of the great educational sessions presented by Outhouse, industry partners, clients, and friends. The event may be smaller this year, but the programing is top-notch!  We also look forward to exploring the show floor, attending The Nationals, the VIP Builder Party, and meeting up with you all.  Speaking of the Nationals, the Home Builder Digital Marketing Podcast featuring our own Kevin Weitzel is a Silver Award winner.  We are excited to be in the running for the Gold!





Here are a few of the sessions we look forward to attending.





Strategies & Success Secrets for Creating the Online Home Shopping Experience Buyers Expect 





Featuring Outhouse’s own Kevin Weitzel, and Greg Bray of Blue Tangerine 
Thu, Feb 10  \  1:45 pm – 2:45 pm EST  \  W308-C
Homebuyers now have an online expectation that must be met and are more comfortable than ever purchasing a home without having to physically visit it.  Join us for an engaging discussion with a group of top industry technologists who will show you the online experience your customers expect and expose how e-commerce technologies can drive new home sales.  





The Power of Dynamic Thinking:  Embracing Change as the New Normal





Featuring Al Trellis of Home Builders Network and Kevin Oakley of Do You Convert 
Mon, Feb 7  \  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST  \  W304-A
In this Master Workshop, a powerhouse panel of industry experts explore the concept of dynamic thinking and how you can create a culture of change across your organization that constantly allows for improved operations, competitiveness and profitability. From design through delivery, you’ll explore and rethink all aspects of your business.





Marketing Strategies for the Future: Level Out & Level Up





Mollie Elkman of Group Two, Kerry Mulcrone of Kerry & Co., Bryan Mecsey of Zillow, and Karen Schroeder of Mayberry Homes
Mon, Feb 7  \  1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST  \  W304-C
As the clouds part and things begin to level out, now’s the time to reassess your marketing efforts and set a course that keeps you ahead of the competition. This Master Workshop has you covered! The Marketing Umbrella approach is about thinking broadly when it comes to research, strategy, branding, content, digital and experiential marketing. We’ll explore the five elements for building a marketing plan with low spend and big results, and dive deep into the most effective tools out there. 





Managing Through Success Complacency: Keeping Your Team on Top of Their Game





Chris Hartley and Cory Charles of K. Hovnanian Homes, and Jennifer Cooper of Evolution Marketing
Tue, Feb 8  \  3:45 pm – 4:45 pm EST  \  W311-C
How do you keep your team on top of their game regardless of market conditions? By sharing a proven process, a panel of experts will take you through the steps that support sales, marketing and training to ensure your team does not fall victim to a great market. Learn how to build, develop and grow powerhouse teams that focus on customer experience, sales and marketing. Understand what roles are vital in today’s world, how to train your teams for success and how to get buy-in for roles that you need in the future. 





Extreme Makeover Sales Edition: Empowering Your OSC to Guide Sales Conversion & Customer Experience





Featuring Ingrid Prince of Century Complete, Leah Fellows of Blue Gypsy, Cori Masters of Beacon Homes – Shared Drive, and Heidi Schroeder of ECI | Lasso
Wed, Feb 9  \  9:15 am – 10:15 am EST  \  W315
Are you letting your OSCs take the lead, and are your customers getting what they want? If not, it may be time for an Extreme Makeover of your lead handling process. In this fast-paced, game show style session, our five OSC experts will provide their unique and spirited views to this process. Receive unmatched advice as you learn today’s best practices for lead qualification and conversion while giving your customers the experience they desire.





From Prospects to Profits: A Systemized Process for Sales Success





Featuring Erik Cofield from Association of Professional Builders
Wed, Feb 9  \  9:15 am – 10:15 am EST  \  W311-C
Numbers tell a story, and learning to generate and read numbers within your sales process allows for tremendous insight and smart, accurate decision making. But no manual process can deliver the numbers, the story and benefit of an automation one. In this interactive session, learn how to systemize your sales and leverage your numbers into formulas, decisions and a process that will lead to a great level of success. 





How K. Hovnanian Uses AI & Digital Engagement to Put Buyers in Control of Their Buying Journey





Bassam Salem of AtlasRTX and Dana Spencer of K. Hovnanian
Wed, Feb 9  \  10:15 am – 10:45 am EST  \  Tech Bytes – W230
K. Hovnanian Homes has been at the forefront of new digital technologies to reduce friction between builder and buyer throughout the entire customer journey. Explore how they use their website as an important salesperson, and learn about their wildly successful digital assistant, ‘Ana’, text messaging, and other automated technologies that have helped them revolutionize the digital homebuying process. 





Does Your Website Have a “Buy Now” Button?





Greg Bray of Blue Tangerine, Carol Morgan of Denim Marketing, and Paul Gortzig of Bokka Group
Wed, Feb 9  \  11:15 am – 12:15 pm EST  \  W311-A
Car dealers have perfected selling cars online — even allowing for a variety of options and upgrades. Why haven’t home builders figured this out? This session focuses on what home builders need to add to their websites to make “Buy Now” possible. Integrating technology with marketing messaging and learning how the sales team supports the customer experience for early adopters is key. 





The New Rules for New Home Sales: Reevaluating Your Sales Process & Tactics in a Digital World





Matt Riley of New Home Inc, Chad Sanschagrin of Cannonball Moments, and Myers Barnes of Myers Barnes Associates
Wed, Feb 9  \  11:15 am – 12:15 pm EST  \  W315
In 2020, builders hurried to adapt to a shift to complete online selling. From home tours to closings, every step evolved to a virtual system. In 2021, the unprecedented demand pushed builders and new home sales professionals to their limits. In the haste to keep up, did you institute the best practices? Have you maintained the fundamentals you need? This advanced session will help you look at what works and where you can improve your sales system. 





Is Your Sales Team Ready to Keep “By Appointment” Going?





Kimberly Mackey of New Homes Solutions Consulting, Melanie Mickie of Engel & Volkers, and Linda Hebert of Diversified Marketing and Communications
Thu, Feb 10  \  11:15 am – 12:15 pm EST  \  W311-C
For years, sales trainers have preached the value of setting appointments versus simply relying on walk-in traffic. After everything we have experienced in the past two years, have our sales teams finally seen the wisdom in doing so? Data shows that scheduling appointments creates a far better customer experience and equates to approximately 50% better closing rate. Working by appointment also generates more quality time with buyers, fewer tire kickers, more qualified buyers and much more. Join us to learn the systematic approach to help your sales team recognize the continued value of working by appointment and build their sales flow.





Uncover Hidden Gems in Local SEO Optimization





Cabe Vinson of Blue Tangerine
Thu, Feb 10  \  11:15 am – 11:45 am EST  \  Tech Bytes – W230
You understand the importance of SEO. You’ve spent a lot of time and money to optimize your content, site, profiles, meta data and more. Yet you still find yourself asking the question: “Why isn’t my business showing up at or near the top of the search results?” In this Tech Bytes session, uncover some strategies you can implement now to build upon your SEO foundation and improve your local search result rankings.





60 Design Ideas in 60 Minutes





Featuring Dave Miles of Milesbrand, and more
Tue, Feb 8  \  9:15 am – 10:15 am EST  \  Tangerine Ballroom – West Hall F3
In this fast-paced session, industry-leading architects, interior designers, developers and builders will share the most current design ideas and strategies that you can use to update your elevations, renew floor plans, animate streetscapes, enhance amenities and develop dynamic neighborhoods. Using a wide array of drawings and photos, the panelists will show you how cutting-edge design can capture your buyer’s attention and make the sale.





Tools for Growth & Protection When the Market Ebbs & Flows





Mike Dildine and Jared Maybon of Highland Homes
Wed, Feb 9  \  3:45 pm – 4:45 pm EST  \  W304-C
Markets will always have their highs and lows, and for many small business owners, those variations can stunt or slow desired growth, or restrict holding the status quo. This session will highlight the tools used to help builders and remodelers not only accelerate growth beyond their goals, but also protect them from losing traction when conditions of uncertainty, even unprecedented ones, surface in the market.





Meredith Oliver and Kerry Mulcrone in a fun session at IBS 2020


Create a Positivity Bias


 
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The Better Thinking: Think Better. Be Better daily emails from Ronda Conger at CBH Homes have become an integral part of my daily routine. Her series of simple quotes that pack a considerable punch compels me to begin each day focusing on what is truly important. If you don’t follow Ronda or have not had the opportunity to hear her speak, you are missing out on a great source of positivity. She is a big personality and a tremendous inspiration to the home-building community and others. Her insights come from thought leaders representing diverse beliefs and cultures, including famous people, motivational speakers, respected brands, spiritual gurus, and many others. The one trait they all share is a love for life. Today’s Better Thinking quote as I write this post is by another big personality:





Surround yourself with only people who are going to LIFT YOU HIGHER.  — Oprah Winfrey





Oprah knows well the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are going to lift you higher.  We see the ups and downs of her life play out in the public eye.  We also see that every time Oprah faces adversity, she triumphs, returning greater and stronger with the help of others.





Another recent quote from Better Thinking comes from one of the most prolific athletic footwear and apparel corporations  in the world, encouraging us to always strive for excellence:





BETTER IS TEMPORARY.  At Nike, the desire to be the best is a journey, not a destination – better is always temporary.





Equally important is seeking out peace and happiness.  Take this quote for example from the Zen Master who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called “an Apostle of peace and nonviolence” when nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize : 





If in our daily life we can SMILE, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but EVERYONE WILL PROFIT FROM IT.  ––  Thich Nhat Hanh 





The power of positive thinking can never be overstated.  After a relatively slow July here at the office, I was thrilled to see this empowering message welcoming  August:





Hello August,
This month, EXPECT TO BE VICTORIOUS, expect to win, and expect to shine.





To that, I say, “Go, August!”  





There are so many nuggets of wisdom in the Better Thinking series that it is difficult to pick a favorite. One of the most meaningful in recent weeks is on creating a positivity bias. Daily affirmations like the one below provide a boost of energy and foster a mindset of success. I find this especially helpful on those days when getting out of bed feels like a chore.





CREATE A POSITIVITY BIAS.  Purposefully start each day on a positive note. As soon as you awaken or your feet hit the floor in the morning, start the day by saying…”Today is going to be a great day” out loud.  — Dr. Daniel Amen





If you have seen the award-winning Broadway musical DEAR EVAN HANSON, you know Evan does his own spin on this quote each morning.  The show’s storyline might be a little silly, but the music is uplifting, and the overarching message about fitting in and finding our place in the world appeals to us all.  Evan is a teenage boy on the spectrum, which means facing more significant challenges than most.   Rattling off a short list of positives, he begins each day with:





TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY, AND HERE’S WHY…  — Evan Hanson





As summer vacations come to a close, kids are heading back to school, offices continue to reopen, and live events and trade shows are resuming once again for home builders and related trades and sales and marketing professionals.  These include the International Builders Show (IBS), Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC), Southwest Builders Show (SWBS), and the Home Builder Digital Marketing Summit which we will co-host with Blue Tangerine early next year.   There are a lot of unknowns ahead.  Tempering the excitement of seeing business friends and colleagues in person is a bit of trepidation as new Covid variants come our way.  Greater uncertainty may be the “new normal,” so I appreciate the stream of motivational messages from Better Thinking and other sources.  Taking their message to heart, I plan to proceed with a bit of caution but also a massive dose of positivity.  Today is going to be a GREAT day, and here’s why…!     


Musings from Home Builder, Author & NAHB Speaker Alan Trellis


 
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“The future cannot be predicted, but futures can be invented.”
— Dennis Gabor





Randomness and circumstance combine to create the daily environment in which we must live, and hopefully thrive. But to believe that these alone determine our destiny is to incorrectly account for our own decisions and actions. Our future is as much about what we do with the hand we are dealt as the hand itself. It is up to each of us to be the best that we can be – to do the most that we can do. Poor circumstances can make this harder, and at any given instant guarantee that our best will be unacceptable, and the most we can do be insufficient. But if we consistently address both the good times and the bad with courage, determination, and thoughtful creativity, we can always impact the outcome of our lives and our decisions. We can always, to some degree, invent our own futures.










“If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.”  
— Reid Hoffman





This quote relates directly to an article I wrote entitled “When Truisms Collide”. In that article, I discussed how two conflicting quotes, generally considered as truisms, could be in direct conflict and yet both be true. The answer to this inconsistency is relatively simple – which truism is correct depends entirely on the circumstances and environment of any given situation. Mr Hoffman is entirely accurate in his assessment if there is huge pressure to get to market and grab market share before a competitor beats you to it. This would be particularly true in the case of new technology-driven products, where obtaining a foothold is the highest priority.





For a homebuilder, particularly one with an excellent reputation, I would argue that it is equally important that while our new product need not be perfect, it should not be embarrassing. The cost of reputational damage must always be weighed against the advantages of being first to market. History is filled with unsuccessful product pioneers, whose market share was stolen by the second round of  better designed, better performing, and better priced  alternatives.










“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”.
— Dr. Suess





Many great quotes are similar in that they are variations on a core theme. The fundamental message contained here is “Be Positive”. “Every cloud has a silver lining” and ”Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism leads to strength” are just 2 other examples of this pro-positive theme. Yet here, Dr. Suess has expanded the base message of positive versus negative to one of appreciation versus lament, with the added message that everyone get’s to decide the outcome of this contest through their individual perspective. To quote another quote, we each get to determine if, in our mind, the glass is half full or half empty. The amount of water in the glass doesn’t change- how we chose to see it is what changes.










“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way”
— Napolean Hill





Most of us dream, at some time, of doing great things. Yet true satisfaction and long term success come from hard work, commitment, and attention to detail. Big things consist of myriad small things, and getting these right is the foundation on which big ideas, big plans, and big business success are built. As builders, we should understand, better than most, the importance of a solid foundation, and strive to do the nagging, every day small things we must deal with in a great way. Only then, will you be capable of accomplishing great things





Submitted by





Alan Trellis, Author, NAHB Speaker, and co-founder of Home Builders Network.





Alan Trellis













With 40 years of experience as a custom home builder and consultant for the home building industry, Al is co-founder of Home Builders Network, which provides management consulting, marketing, residential design, and land planning for home builders throughout North America.  Collectively, their clients build 3,000 homes per year, for a sales value of $1.2 billion.  Al is the author of many books on residential construction; has served as chairman of the NAHB Custom Builder, Education, and Business Management committees; and is a leading speaker at the NAHB International Builders Show (IBS).