The Builder1440 Blog

Builder1440 Improves Performance of Home Builder Sales Software by 90%

For Immediate Release

Baltimore, MD - Builder1440 is announcing significant performance improvements to Sales1440, the nation’s leading Sales & CRM software for the home building industry.

Since implementing improvements, Sales1440 is moving 25% more data every day, loading pages in half the time, and running long queries 40 - 80% faster.  Most notably, database performance has improved by 90%.

Builder1440 also used the advanced web security tools of sister division G.1440 to ensure that Sales1440 is free of vulnerabilities to web hacking threats like SQL Injection and Cross Site Scripting (XSS).  Web threats like these could threaten the security of user data, affect the application’s performance, or even infect its users’ computers, and in the face of these dangers, Builder1440 remains committed to web security.

According to Sean Wilhelm, Director of Application Development, “Throughout the remainder of 2009 we have planned initiatives that will deliver greater performance and scalability for our customers.” According to Wilhelm, these initiatives include usability enhancements and load balancing for additional performance improvements.

These performance improvements have far reaching implications throughout the home building industry, as hundreds of builders across the United States and Canada use Sales1440 to manage customer relationships and automate sales follow-up functions.

---

About Builder1440
Builder1440, LLC is the leading provider of sales and marketing solutions for home builders. Skilled with a deep vertical knowledge of the home building industry and extensive technical expertise, our team designs and develops Internet-based software solutions that are currently in use by hundreds of builders across North America. Builder1440’s software and IT services increase profits and decrease costs throughout all stages of the home buyer life cycle.

Selling more homes and making more money seems to be on just about every home builder’s mind these days. How can a customer relationship management (CRM) and sales system help boost revenue in today’s housing market? Here are our top tips for increasing sales with CRM:

1. Improve communication & keep buyers engaged with automated follow-up plans.

According to sales gurus Bob Schultz and The New Home Specialists, builders can increase sales 20% by using a structured follow-up system and methodology. To make it easy for sales associates to stay in touch with buyers, select a CRM/sales system with customizable follow-up templates or simply create your own within the system. Builders can then segment and target prospective home buyers with personalized scripts and copy for phone calls, emails and letters.

2. Capture web leads automatically in your CRM system.

The NAHB reports an astonishing 50% of homebuyer leads are not followed up on. By funneling leads from a builder’s web site and Internet Listing Services, such as NewHomeSource.com and Move.com, directly into a CRM system, builders can ensure no web lead gets lost and sales representative can follow-up with buyers immediately. When builders automatically capture web leads in a CRM system, they eliminate manual data entry, saving time and reducing errors.

3. Regularly report on sales, traffic & marketing so you can work smarter, not harder.

With dashboard analytics and customizable reporting, builders have the insight needed to close more sales and make more money. CRM systems enable builders to track home buyer follow-up to learn what communications are working; quickly see where leads and sales are coming from; and determine where marketing dollars should be spent for the best ROI. Builders can customize CRM reports to gather the information that is critical to their company’s success.

4. Integrate your CRM system and website to display homes and engage buyers.

What tools do you have on your website to attract prospective home buyers and engage them in the home buying process? With 86% of home buyers using the Internet to shop for a new home, a builder’s website must provide buyers with the information they are looking for, get and keep their attention, and make it as simple as possible to request information. This can all be done very easily with CRM–website integration by allowing builders to display homes and options stored in a CRM system, connect with prospective home buyers, and schedule sales appointments online.

5. Use home buyer portals to increase options revenue and enhance the home buying experience.

Home buyer portals provide builders with a competitive advantage and help keep prospects excited during the home buying process. When builders integrate home buyer portals with their CRM system, they can enable buyers to conveniently access personalized sites to select options as well as monitor the progress of their new home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As a result, builders will have more satisfied home buyers, shorter design center appointments, and increased options revenue.