Marketing

[Denise]

I was hired as on-site manager of a manufactured home park in Louisiana in January of this year. I have been enforcing the rules, collecting rents, overseeing all maintaince needs of the park , and marketing the park. I have gotten only two homes per month since I was hired on here. I get a small bonus for each which is very nice. I have the ability to earn much more money here as I get an added larger bonus if I can fill six spaces in one month. I have had and array of issues to address with the tenants here over the past four months. Everything you can imagine. The owner is in another state and he is less than pleased with my performance on the marketing end. Reason for this being that is intention was to buy the park make improvements fill up the park with nice new homes and sell it in about one year. I replaced a girl that was here for 2 yrs. and didn't have a house delivered here at all. I would like to know besides phoning, faxing and visiting the dealers within a forty mile radius on a weekly basis what other avenues should I be exploring? I put flyers up anywhere I can think of, I give everyone I meet a card and my pitch for my park, and I call references that I get from tenants here in the community.I have never managed properties of any sort before now and I love it very much. I have alot of very happy tenants and some that think I am a you know what. I only have one year here to do what the owner has in mind and then he will sell. Please give me all the advice you have. I am not about to see this golden opportunity for a single mom that came from nothing fall by the wayside. Thank you very much, Denise

[rmurray]

Almost every park is offering some sort of spiff to the dealer or sales person...sometimes these can be very large...

I have often thought that a better appraoch would be to offer that same spiff to your current residents...They know your park and can be a great source of leads..Paying them...maybe with some free rent...ought to be considered..

In our area..parks are paying from $500 to $1000 to the dealer or sales person...this seems to be a lot when average rent is less than $ 200...

to most residents..this is a fortune..

Good Luck

[Art Abrams]

Denise,
I'm in Floryda, not Louisiana, so I'm not familiar with the market in your area. But one thing to consider --- perhaps the owner's expectations are unreasonable! I read your explanation of your efforts to fill the park, and in my humble opinion you are doing a fantastic job. If I were developing a new park, I'd be delighted with those results, and would consider myself lucky to have such an effective manager on the payroll.
Chrissy's remark is right on target --- look to the existing tenants to help find new tenants. After all, those who are already there, meet the qualifications of residing there. Their friends and relatives are apt to be of comparable creditworthiness and character.
Best of luck,
Art