A Standout Model
Think Dream Kitchen
by Seasun Betts
Builders face tough challenges when marketing their homes today. So what makes one builder stand out over another? The Viking dream kitchen is the answer. Studies repeatedly prove that the kitchen influences buyers more than any other room. Homebuyers want a kitchen they can be proud of.
In a 2007 national study, real estate professionals recommended Viking four-to-one over the next leading brand. Participants reported that Viking kitchens sell more quickly and for more money. Compared with lesser brands, Viking kitchen appliances add an average of more than 4 percent to a home's value. Factor in the advantage of the builder packages Viking offers, and the return is impressively attractive.
Viking now offers the "Dream Kitchen," featuring a freestanding refrigerator, 30-inch range, convection-microwave-hood combo and dishwasher for about $8,599. Combine that with the Viking advantage of performance, breadth of line, design integrity and brand strength and you have a home that is hard to resist.
In a recent poll released at the April Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, one of the top five priorities for people who own a home is an all-new kitchen that "looks great and is fun to work in." Think about your buyers' dream: They want a lifestyle, not just a house. The current market is changing yesterday's "extras" into today's norm for most homes.
Golden Link
The Viking kitchen integrates easily into any conventional home to complement every customer's lifestyle. The Viking name carries a strong public perception of being the premium line of kitchen products-a golden link for a builder's reputation. You can offer your home buyers the type of lifestyle they are looking for at an affordable price-including includes options for first and second move-up buyers.
SunWest Appliance Distributing, the distributor of Viking appliances, can help you become a Viking partner. Increasingly, the company hears from builders offering Viking as their standard appliance package. They say that carrying the complete line of Viking products helps them sell homes. Offering Viking as a standard gives them the edge over competitors.
Real estate leading experts note that Viking kitchen appliances help a home sell more quickly and for more money. Your next model could sport a complete stainless steel package that truly makes a statement. For homebuyers who want to upgrade from the standard package, Viking offers numerous choices for indoor as well as outdoor kitchens.
In the midst of the housing slump, builders can sell homes more quickly by offering distinctive features such as the Viking kitchen. The key is to give homebuyers that exciting custom feel by putting a Viking kitchen within their reach: Create the "wow" factor with Viking kitchens that ensure each buyer demonstration is memorable.
A major advantage of working with SunWest and your local Westar dealer is that only one phone call is needed to order appliances or request a service call. So, make it simple-treat your home buyer and yourself to all that Viking has to offer.
Seasun Betts is Creative Design Coordinator, SunWest Appliance Distributing.
For Westar Locations:
www.westar-sw.com
