This is the Transparency that Smaller Builders need to Embrace

And it’s too bad that it takes one of their clients to be bold and recognize this simple, simple fact.

Aren’t Hauser and Churchill (no longer available) and Stonehaus all going broke and filing for bankruptcy? NO. They are simply reorganizing and downsizing. This has been a difficult time for everyone, but sales are still happening in Belvedere. This project has get loads of traffic on open house days, Thursday through Sunday. It gets loads of traffic other days, too. Lots of people come walking through to see the house sites. And we’ll permanently be there soon, sitting on the front porch, sipping our ice tea! Feel free to say hi if you see us there, and ask more questions!

Inspire confidence through transparency and honesty. Acknowledge your financial issues (if you’re a builder in this market and say that everything is A-OK and hunky dory you’re most likely delusional or a liar) and encourage buyers to join you in the experience.

When you’re marketing a community like Belvedere, where much of the draw and value lies outside the four walls of the house,

Where you live (no longer available) should reflect your values. Belvedere is a place built around the idea of embracing community, healthy living and environmental stewardship. In our neighborhood, there’s a place for all families with townhomes, cottages, and single family homes to suit the family of one or four. (ed. note: what about families of 5+?)

… it takes more than building houses to encourage inspiration and confidence. It takes engagement of the consumers as well. Inspiring confidence also takes follow-through on promises (no longer available): (bolding mine)

Belvedere started out as a dream about building a community the right way. Not a developer’s dream but a dream shared with the community about how they wanted to live. Together we breathed life into that dream and Belvedere was born.

I wrote a post in January of this year titled “I hear rumors all the time;” the rumors that are so prevalent in this volatile market can do far more damage than a CEO candidly stating where his company stands.