Builder continues 2017 momentum with new models, interactive sales centers

The fall season typically ushers in an upswing in residential construction, thanks in part to widely anticipated events like the annual Fall Parade of Homes. And for Kansas City-based builder, Inspired Homes, the season is the ideal time to continue momentum that’s steadily and rapidly built since the company unveiled a new portfolio of floor plans at the beginning of the year.

In the coming weeks, new model homes will open at three Inspired Homes’ communities, giving prospective buyers an exciting opportunity to see some of the new floor plans firsthand. Model home grand openings will be held at Huntford in Olathe on Oct. 21; Kessler Ridge at New Longview in Lee’s Summit on Nov. 4; and The Reserve in Lenexa on Dec. 2.

So far this year, the Inspired Homes team has sold the new floor plans “on paper” — in other words, with just the floor plan and renderings as reference while new model and inventory homes were being built. Now, prospective buyers can see and experience some of these new plans in person, including the attention to detail and focus on quality that are hallmarks of each home.

And for Inspired Homes, the new model homes represent the continuation of a company-wide trajectory that’s been years in the making.

“The business came out of the ground three years ago with the intent of allowing technology and efficient building construction to drive the business,” said Todd Lipschutz, president, Inspired Homes. “With the shift of product and some people, we’ve stayed true to that direction. Now, after almost a year of retooling our product and enhancing how we build, it’s exciting to present nine new plans into the market, including four new plans in these communities.”

In addition to showcasing some of the new layouts, the model homes will also feature new interactive sales centers, a concept that debuted earlier this summer with the opening of a new model home in Lee’s Summit’s Kensington Farms. The highlight of the sleek, state-of-the-art sales centers is large touchscreen monitors, which enable prospective buyers to explore floor plans and homesites and then personalize a floor plan for their individual needs.

“We saw the need for technology in homebuilding, and we’ve integrated that into our business,” Lipschutz said. “We’ve also looked at the way people purchase and asked ourselves what we can do to enhance that experience.”

These virtual design capabilities are a continuation of a technology roll-out that’s gradually optimized all steps of the building process. Prospective buyers can explore interactive floor plans on the Inspired Homes website (www.inspired-homes.com), select their personalization options and even place furniture.

“Basically, they can design their whole house online,” said Kerry Bowen, purchasing manager, Inspired Homes.

The interactive floor plans currently on the website are available at Kensington Farms, one of Inspired Homes’ communities in Lee’s Summit. Additional interactive floor plans available at other Inspired Homes communities will be available in the coming months.

Prospective buyers can then reach out to Inspired Homes’ New Home Advisor, Whitney O’Reilly, or their take their completed floor plan to an Inspired Homes sales center to learn more about available options to build their home in an Inspired Homes community.

And once a home has been purchased, final floor plans are sent to the architect and engineer. Lipschutz said he can submit to permit “45 to 60 days faster than normal. All the software syncs together, so we’re able to run a 21st century homebuilding business powered by new technology.”

That sort of technology-enabled efficiency helps both buyers and Inspired Homes, especially as demand for the company’s homes and communities continues to climb. All of Inspired Homes’ new home communities achieve the ideal real estate trifecta: prime locations; modern, well-built floor plans; and accessible price points. Factor in the customer-focused building process that includes a dedicated, full-time project manager in each community and a rare warranty package that includes 1-year workmanship, 2-year systems and 10-year structural warranties, and it’s no wonder that Inspired Homes is quickly establishing itself as a leader in the Kansas City homebuilding market.

“Ultimately, we listen to the buyers, so we’ve created a business to provide the best experience and security for the customer,” Lipschutz said.

This story was originally published October 3, 2017 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Builder continues 2017 momentum with new models, interactive sales centers."