Urban Farms and Virtual Reality: Innovative Concepts to Inspire New Construction Sales in 2019

Every builder needs an edge to attract home shoppers to their community, so it’s time to get creative. Take a look at these unique approaches that you might see more of in 2019.

Living like you mean it

Instead of building a new community to appeal to a general range of buyers, Rancho Mission Viejo offers buyers a home if not on the range then next to it, where they can go behind the scenes of a working ranch and its annual rodeo.

The Cannery emphasizes sustainable, farm-to-fork living. There are solar panels on every home, and residents enjoy access to produce that was grown at the urban farm located just across the street.

Pinewood is a town purpose-built for professional creators and storytellers who support the nearby Atlanta film industry.

Social amenities for every type of resident

Active adults have plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle at Mirabella, and so do their four-legged companions who get their own off-leash dog park.

When you were a kid, it was easy to imagine a world of your own design. The Eastmark Great Park made good on the dream with the Orange Monster — a unique climbing park designed by kids for kids that combines exercise and play.

Innovative home design trends

Can a home help you live better simply by spending time inside? The KB Home ProjeKt is designed to do just that with technology and a floor plan that focuses on increasing the health and wellness of each occupant.

A national survey of home buyers visiting communities developed by Taylor Morrison shows home buyers are willing to take a smaller house for a bigger yard and distance from neighboring homes to better enjoy outdoor living.

And when lot and home sizes shrink, where do you go but up? The number of 3-story single-family homes is increasing.

Lennar floor plans are trending toward multi-generational layouts that include open areas, flexible spaces, adjacent suites and separate entrances. The more the merrier!

Tech for builders and buyers

“Alexa: Find my keys.” How cool is that? Smart technology has been a trend in the DIY industry for years and it’s becoming more common in new homes as well. Lennar will include Amazon’s voice-activated digital assistant in all its new homes.

Selling what doesn’t yet exist isn’t easy, so Pulte is using virtual reality (VR) for tours specifically to appeal to millennials, who make up today’s largest group of home buyers.

Toll Brothers lets buyers use VR to design their kitchen from the ground up, visualize their customizations and make changes according to their preferences.

When buyers want to track the status of their custom home — including seeing the project schedule, updating their options or storing documents — Loudermilk Homes has an app for that.

Unusual builder promotions

Nathan Carlisle gifts a Villy custom cruiser bicycle to each buyer at two of its newest active adult communities, plus an opportunity to purchase a second bike.

For buyers who want to beat the summer heat, Coventry Homes and Plantation Homes offer two years of free electricity so homeowners can crank up the air conditioning without burning up their budget.

What really gets home shoppers to buy is the lifestyle you offer, but don’t be surprised to see other unconventional ideas cropping up to drive sales center traffic.