Thursday, October 11, 2012

Pinterest…..friend or foe?


I resisted the urge as long as I could.  Now I am one of millions who “pin”.  Before Pinterest, I pinned the old fashion way.  Carefully tearing out pages of magazines and adding them to my “dream kitchen” binder.  I started that binder when I bought my house.  I had collected hundreds of images over the years.  Now I have an electronic binder.

            It is easy to get lost in Pinterest-space.   You know that euphoric feeling of inspiration.  Last week I was going to preplan meals for a month after I organized all the closets in my house.  Then I looked at the clock and realized ten minutes turned into an hour and my inspiration was interrupted by reality. But….I pinned the closet organization and monthly meal planning for someday.

            Pinterest is a valuable tool for those who are building a new home or remodeling an existing home.  For many people, they know what they like but just need a little reassurance to get there.  In the “old days” designers would suggest their clients gather images of rooms and products they liked and create a wish book.  Now with Pinterest we can create “boards” with great detail.  Pinterest is becoming an important tool for our customers.  Selecting finishes for both interior and exterior can be overwhelming when building a new home.  @Home has eased most of this with the state of the art design studio.  Pinterest has helped fine tune the details.  Reviewing a customers’ board allows me to capture their vision and help create the home of their dreams. 

            Another great use for Pinterest is to showcase new products.  There are always new products that pertain to the home being introduced.  It is also an excellent way to track the latest trends.

            Overall I see Pinterest as a friend.  It is full of great ideas.  I hope someday I will get the chance to make that bath rug out of old towels and to paint perfect rainbows on my nails.

-Christy Haag, @home Builders Designer

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Meet Jen Hays – Social Media & Marketing Specialist at @home Builders



Jen is the newest member of the @home Builders team, bringing industry knowledge from the mortgage side of the homebuilding process. Jen handles everything from updating and maintaining company websites, to updating and designing marketing collateral, to managing company social media and every project in between.

Outside of the office, Jen enjoys participating in CrossFit, volleyball, kickball, hiking, snowboarding, and skydiving. During much of the year, you will also find Jen coaching for Rochester’s largest girls travel volleyball club, Volley FX, which serves elementary, middle school and high school girls allowing them to travel around the country and grow their volleyball skills.

From Jen:
“I’m proud to be a part of such a great company that not only believes in the true value of a well-built home, but one that also believes in the value of  maintaining a high standard of customer service and building great relationships. @home Builders is a company that will go above and beyond to make sure every homeowner ends up with the perfect home that will suit their needs.”