2008 National Sales and Marketing Award Winners

The National Sales and Marketing Award is the ultimate pat on the back for the best work in new-home sales and marketing. Individual sales and marketing professionals; home builders and associates; and sales and marketing councils all get to share in the limelight and accolades.

These award winners prove that it can still be done — that builders can create ad campaigns, promotional events and marketable, well-merchandised home designs that will grab the attention of both home buyers and industry professionals. One gold winning promotion laughed in the face of mainstream media naysayers and built a successful regional campaign with the tagline: "It's a Great Time to Buy."

It's worth mentioning that John Laing Homes did particularly well this year, winning 11 gold awards — the highest aware in the program — among several divisions. But many smaller regional and local builders came away with recognitions and bragging rights as well.

As always, there are lessons to be learned from the gold winners. Everyone can take away something: how to successfully market a luxury community built on an urban brownfield, how to get buyers to pay more money for less space when you exceed their design expectations or how to just make a simple floor plan sing. The housing market is challenging almost everywhere, and many gold winners have had less than stellar sales overall.

But the recognition a winning project brings is worth the time, effort and — yes, in some cases — the cost to execute it well. What can you do differently this year to win gold? Read what these winners did and get inspired.

For additional coverage of the 2008 National Sales and Marketing Awards, here are some helpful links:
The Official Nationals 2008 Site
Housing Giants Coverage of 2008 National Sales and Marketing Awards