Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Evolution of marketing - AGAIN

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

Beware of the tendency to over market real estate and under market
community. People who are trying to get out from under a unit and who have
not actually had the experience of living and enjoying the built community
will have a much different presentation to prospective buyers, much more
about facilities. I understand this has led to some incoming buyers who were
less than versed in the expectations, hopes and desires of community life,
and this has led to the obvious problems. 

Having actual real three dimensions attached to the community dreams makes
it much more tangible. If you can find ways to invite prospects over for a
dinner, or other intimate social opportunities where they can get an
understanding of the "culture" you are trying to build, it may be very
useful as a screening device. The transition time you describe I have heard
as being very difficult in terms of group cohesion, several completely new
families, with no history or experiences, and many of the existing group
caught up in, overwhelmed by, burnt out by, all the myriad details and mini
crisis, last minute this and that?s.  

I think if you can find a way to spend one evening together, just being
friends and hanging out and talking non business stuff, that will be very
helpful for both the existing group, and the new comers.  The social
cohesion and desires of neighborliness is what separates cohousing from
other real estate, and is its strongest marketing feature. 


Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood Cohousing
In the woods of Snohomish County, WA
><((((º>`·..·`·..·`·...><((((º>...·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`
·..·`·...><((((º>·.. ><((((º>
·`·..·`·...·..·`><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>..·`·..·`·..
.><((((º>·.. ·`·..·`·....·`·..·`·...><((((º>

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/581 - Release Date: 12/9/2006