Matchmakers
Jane Herbert talks to Mandy Challis, a new breed of park home industry specialist…
Park home success relies on matching people with the right home, in the right park, in the right location. Image courtesy of pantmawrpark.co.uk
Finding the right home can be fraught with difficulties putting moving house regularly at the top of most people’s stress lists.
Solutions that help to smooth the home buying process are just what the park home industry needs. Mandy Challis is at the forefront of a new breed of industry specialists whose job it is to match customers to the perfect park and park home. Last October, fuelled by the growing popularity in park home living and receiving up to 180 enquiries a week from retail customers, the Omar Group appointed Mandy as Retail Sales Manager.
Her brief: to offer the same outstanding customer service experience to potential home owners and retail customers, as already developed in the trade side of the business. Success is not just about matching people to the right home, but also the right park, in the right location. Mandy explains: “My role is to help people find exactly what they’re looking for, whether that’s to find a park in a specific area, to ensure that a park is close to a bus stop or local shops, or to find a pet friendly park for example. “Buying a new home is a huge decision, so first I take the time to understand an individual’s wants and needs and then I match those needs to a park and home.”
PITCH PERFECT
In the first six months of the role, Mandy matched more than 30 couples and individuals to their perfect park and home. “It’s not just about finding the right park or home though, it’s also about being there for people to answer questions, give advice and support them through their journey,” says Mandy. Customers vary considerably in their requirements and the amount and type of information they need. Many are at the very earliest stages of looking into park home ownership and need help unpicking everything from legislation to finance. Mandy also helps customers with their choice and specification of home, ensuring that it fits not only their requirements, but those of the chosen location.
BRICKS AND MORTAR
The possibilities are almost endless. Buying any new home is daunting but making the move from the traditional bricks and mortar property market and leaping into the park home world, especially in later years of life, can be particularly overwhelming.
To read more on this story, subscribe here.