Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Selling Units/Values

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Mar 20, 2006, at 9:10 PM, Lucy Beck wrote:

> Champlain Valley Cohousing
> www.champlainvalleycohousing.org

To echo what others have said "Who are you?"

It is very hard for people looking for cohousing, especially on an 
international list like this one, when you use two names and don't 
include your location. Champlain Valley or Common Pastures? Are they 
the same or sister communities? Is this Great Lakes Champlain? Is that 
New York or what?

Excellent information that you are 26 households because that will have 
great influence on people who are looking for a smallish community. It 
seems they get larger everyday. Lot development? Duplexes? What?

These are the kinds of questions you need to answer in every email you 
post here because someone will be reading and it will twig their 
interest. It can be in the footer under your name so you can do it very 
quickly but people that you want to attract need more than a web 
address before they will bother to click on it. For people with slow 
web connections (even with my DSL connection) the heavily picture 
ladened cohousing websites take more than a quick look. The download 
time means you only look if you are REALLY interested.

Are you still operating sociocratically? That is also a potential draw. 
How is it going?

What other attractions are in the area? The Peace Center? Ski runs?

You can talk forever about "this is community not real estate", but 
location has to click with people before they want to know more about 
your community. The people who have easy access to you as a community 
have already joined if they are interested. Saying that you want people 
interested in community only means you are on the right list -- with 
dozens of other choices.

I don't mean to be harsh but so many new communities make these same 
mistakes, I do want to be forceful.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Building Community: A Guide to Creating New Neighborhoods
http://www.buildingcommunity.info