January 13-15 – Louisville MH Show, Louisville, Kentucky
January 26—Utah Legislature convenes, Salt Lake City
February 2 - Nevada Legislature begins in Carson City
February 17-19—Oregon Home & RV Show, Salem, Oregon
February 19 – ID Board Meeting, Crane Creek, Boise
March 4-5—Nevada Continuing Education, Reno & Las Vegas
March 17-20—Utah Continuing Education Classes
March 18 – Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City
March 19 – Nevada Board of Directors Meeting, Reno
April 14-15 – MHI Congress, Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
April 16-17—Nevada Continuing Education, Las Vegas & Reno
April 29-30 – Great SW Home Show, Tulsa, OK May—Idaho and Utah Annual Meeting, Convention & Golf May—Utah & Idaho Board of Directors’ at Annual Meeting
June 14-16 –MHI on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
August 20—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho
September 16—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
September 27-29—MHI Annual Board Meetings
October 27-29— Idaho Continuing Education Classes
November 5-6—Idaho Continuing Education Classes
November 19—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho
December 9—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
For more information email:
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Licensing of Resp. Mang. Emeployees
LICENSING OF RESPONSIBLE MANAGING EMPLOYEES
Jack Rayne
Building Safety Bureau Chief,writes, “As discussed during recent continuing education classes, legislation (H.B. 477) was enacted to reinstate the licensing category for responsible managing employees of manufactured home installers or service companies who perform work within Idaho . This legislation was made effective on July 1,2008, and is now required for those leadpersons supervising installation or service work in the absence of the company licensee.” The RME licensing application form is at www.dbs.idaho.gov.
Government Relations
Government Relations
by Jack Lyman
ELECTION RESULTS IHA supported candidates fared well in the 2008 elections. We provided campaign funds to 18 legislators in the general election and all of them won. When combined with the May primary results, we won 22 of the 23 races in which we participated. Here is a summary the primary and general election results of IHA-backed candidates:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Lenore Barrett (R): Won primary 71 – 29; was unopposed in the general. Cliff Bayer (R): Won primary 58 – 42; won general 66 -34. Joyce Broadsword (R): Won primary 55 – 22 – 23; won general 68 – 32. Carlos Bilbao (R): Won primary 64 – 14 – 13 – 9; won general 77 – 23. Max Black (R): Won general election 54 – 46. Marge Chadderdon (R): Won general election 58 – 42. Lawerence Denney (R): Won general election 72 – 28. Mike Moyle (R): Won general election 66 – 34. Ken Roberts (R): Won general election 66 – 34. John Rusche (D): Unopposed. James Ruchti (D): Won general election 54 – 46. Bill Killeen (D): Won general election 77 – 23. Elaine Smith (D): Won general election 57 – 43. SENATE Mark Snodgrass (R): Lost primary 43 – 57. John Andreason (R): Unopposed. Bob Geddes (R): Unopposed. John Goedde (R): Won general election 51 – 43 – 6. Bart Davis (R): Won general election 65 – 35. John McGee (R): Won general election 73 – 27. Dean Cameron (R): Won general election 71 – 29. Joe Stegner (R): Won general election 61 – 29. Diane Bilyeu (D): Won general election 59 – 41. Clint Stennett (D): Unopposed.
This list represents one-fifth of the legislature and includes a number of committee chairs, committee vice chairs and legislative leaders from both political parties. These successes should position us well to receive fair consideration of our legislative agenda. If any of these winners represent your legislative district, please congratulate them and remind them of your affiliation with the Idaho Housing Alliance.
Legislative Leadership: The Democratic Legislators held their organizing sessions on December 3rd. House Democrats elected John Rusche as their leader. James Ruchti as Assistant Leader and Bill Killen as Caucus Chair. Kate Kelly will be Assistant Minority Leader in the Senate. Republican leadership stayed the same in both houses.
Thanks to everyone who helped these efforts with their generous contributions to the Idaho Housing Alliance Political Action Committee.
Four Website Success Tips
Four Website Success Tips
1 – Strategy
Bring prospective clients into a website for the purpose of selling a home. This may sound silly, but most websites in the industry never get to the end purpose of easing a prospective buyer into purchasing a home. For every click your client makes on the website there should be a logical progression toward getting a lead by either a phone call or email. It has to be thought through.
2 – Navigation
Don't do too much! Some websites have too much information on the front page and this can bring confusion to aprospective client. Front pages should really have little more than three options, say, a closeout sale, a special featured home, and floor plans. Each of these three strategy paths can be monitored to see what the clients are choosing and this can be modified or accentuated according to how the clients respond.
3 – Design
The design should always support the strategy and it should portray professionalism and trust. The best way to build client trust is with pictured testimonials of your clients. On your front page picture a happy family in front of a new home saying how well you treated them and howeasy it was with “Bill Salesman” by our side. Quiet complementary colors create a harmonious look and also aid in establishing trust. Don't be loud and flashy!
4 – The Hook
Ask them for their business by using of a graphic bug or pitch which in effect gets them to “contact us now”. Another hook is to give them a “privilege” to view a “special price” that routes them through a simple registration. Remember all you need to start is a name, phone and email, so keep it SIMPLE. Offer an incentive for them to contact you, give to get. When they contact you respond immediately, if you wait too long it will be a strike against you. Get back to them ASAP!
With retailer lots shrinking because of new flooring financing requirements, now is the time to get that new website strategized and selling homes. You can beat the slowdown by getting a better sales technique and implementing your new strategic website.
Max Marble 503-378-7166 or
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Calendar of Events
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 9 – Utah Board of Directors, Salt Lake City, UT December 10 – Nevada Board of Directors, Reno, NV December 24-January 1 – Happy Holidays to all! January 13-15 – Louisville MH Show, Louisville, Kentucky February 17-19—Oregon Home & RV Show, Salem, Oregon February 19 – ID Board Meeting, Crane Creek, Boise March 4-5—Nevada Continuing Education, Reno & Las Vegas March 16-17—Utah Continuing Education Classes March 18 – Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City March 19 – Nevada Board of Directors Meeting, Reno April 14-15 – MHI Congress, Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV April 16-17—Nevada Continuing Education, Las Vegas & Reno April 29-30 – Great SW Home Show, Tulsa, OK May—Three State (ID, UT & NV) Golf & Convention, Reno, NV May—Joint Board of Directors’ at Annual Meeting, Reno, NV August 20—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho September 16—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah September 17—Nevada Board Meeting, Reno, Nevada October 27-29— Idaho Continuing Education Classes November 5-6—Idaho Continuing Education Classes November 19—Idaho Board of Directors Meeting, Boise, Idaho December 9—Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah December 10—Nevada Board Meeting, Reno, Nevada
Building Safety Bureau Chief,writes, “As discussed during recent continuing education classes, legislation (H.B. 477) was enacted to reinstate the licensing category for responsible managing employees of manufactured home installers or service companies who perform work within Idaho . This legislation was made effective on July 1,2008, and is now required for those leadpersons supervising installation or service work in the absence of the company licensee.” The RME licensing application form is at www.dbs.idaho.gov. 
ELECTION RESULTS IHA supported candidates fared well in the 2008 elections. We provided campaign funds to 18 legislators in the general election and all of them won. When combined with the May primary results, we won 22 of the 23 races in which we participated. Here is a summary the primary and general election results of IHA-backed candidates: 
