Services

Marketing Plans and Implementation Strategies

• Positioning
• Sales & Marketing Strategy
• Competition Analysis
• Buyer Profile and Demographic Analysis
• Advertising and Public Relations Coordination
• Budget Preparation and Management
• Real Life Analysis of Market Research Studies
• Model Homes and Sales Office Design
• Product Design Recommendations
• Managing Inclusionary Housing Programs/Below Market Rate Homes

Community Development

• Floor plan and Elevation Recommendations
• Oversee Plan Development with Architects
• Community Design to meet Buyer Profile
• Standard and Optional Specifications
• Value Engineering
• Plot Plan Layout
• Feng Shui elements

Organizational Strategies

• Strategies for Organizational Improvement
• Business Plan Development
• Coordination between Departments/Disciplines
• Evaluation of Strengths and Weaknesses
• Creative Structure for Improved Efficiency

O’Connor Consulting has developed organizational strategies for the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area as well as organizational re-structuring for home building companies.  In taking over as CEO of the Building Industry Association during a time of severe economic stress, Cheryl O’Connor implemented a strategic plan which included overhead reductions, budget cuts, office moves and dues restructuring.  She re-organized the division structure and Board structure to streamline decision making and to focus efforts on overall advocacy mission. The BIA of the Bay Area is currently in strong financial shape with a healthy reserves balance.

While working as the Vice-President, Sales & Marketing for Warmington Homes, O’Connor collaborated with the Vice-President of Operations in developing a company-wide program entitled The Warmington Way.  The Warmington Way became a description of the DNA for the company with written policies for improved customer satisfaction and consistency in internal communication and processes. 

During the recession of the late 1990’s, O’Connor led the Strategic Management Team at O’Brien Group  in setting short and long-term company direction for restructuring the company from O’Brien and Hicks to a newly formed home building company. 

Sales Management

• Training and Development of Sales Personnel
• Hiring and Supervision of Sales
• Broker Referral Programs
• Simplify and Integrate Sales Processes
• Mortgage Finance and Down Payment Assistance Solutions

Cheryl O'Connor has a solid reputation in the Bay Area home building industry of developing strong sales and marketing teams. She has the ability to bring together the right match of skills and personality to fit the target buyer profile for that community. O'Connor understands the nuances of building trust in a selling environment and cultural and demographic differences that must be understood and addressed.

O'Connor has managed and directed home sales in all nine Bay Area counties and comprehends the subtle differences in marketing and selling new homes in each community. She understands trends and evaluating how trends impact a community planned for years in the future.

O'Connor Consulting develops comprehensive and measurable Strategic Sales & Marketing plans targeted to the program goals. Implementation of the plan and on-going sales and marketing management is another O'Connor Consulting service. Out sourced sales and marketing teams are more flexible, nimble and able to adjust to the new reality of the building business.

Green Building

• Green Strategy
• Green Planning and Positioning
• Energy Retrofitting and Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs
• USGBC and LEED certification

O'Connor is a green building advocate and is a LEED Accredited Professional and serves on the Build it Green Board of Directors. As Chairwoman of the Building Industry Association, she partnered with Build it Green as the first homebuilding association in the country to embrace mandatory green building standards with unanimous endorsement from Association of Bay Area Governments Executive Committee.

O'Connor Consulting launched the first county wide energy retrofitting program with the County of Sonoma. The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program is an energy program financed by tax assessments through Assembly Bill 811. O'Connor developed the marketing and outreach program to reach potential property owners with website, e-newsletters, billboards and public relations campaign with an on-site Energy Store to provide information and applications for Sonoma property owners. The result was $40,000,000 in applications in the first year.

O'Connor opened the first attached new home community on the Bay Area Peninsula to offer photovoltaic panels as a standard feature. The creative concept resulted in a public relations opportunity generating sales and a quick close out of the community during challenging times.

Troubleshooting

• Sales, Marketing, Pricing and Positioning Analysis
• Creative Turnaround Solutions
• Product Analysis for Market Fit

Customer Retention Programs

• Setting Customer Expectations
• Customer Surveys
• Referral Programs

Political Advocacy

• Reality Based Regional Planning
• Senate Bill 375 and Transit Oriented Developments

Cheryl O'Connor prides herself on being a member of the Building Industry Association since she started her career in the home building business in the late 1970's. She has always understood the critical relationship between the real estate business and the political landscape.

Legislators and public policy groups continue to draft bills, laws and policies that will impact how, what and where companies develop and build both now and when the market recovers. With 110 Bay Area jurisdictions and increasing influence of regional planning organizations, O'Connor Consulting knows how important it is for economic interests and the business community to have a seat at the table.

O'Connor has testified at public hearings on air quality issues and regional planning issues that will define how the Bay Area accommodates growth in the future. She brings years of on the ground experience to various committees, councils and Boards including:

• Metropolitan Transportation Commission Policy Advisory Council
• Build it Green Board
• East Bay Economic Development Association Board
• Jobs & Housing Coalition – Oakland
• HomeAid
• Urban Land Institute Sustainable Development Subcommittee
• Women Lead

Affordable Housing

O'Connor Consulting has developed sales and marketing strategies for below market rate homeownership programs for new home communities in San Francisco, Dublin, Fremont, South San Francisco, Fremont, Palo Alto and Alameda. The current economic downturn has made it increasingly more difficult to market and sell homes with restrictions and additional qualification requirements.

O'Connor Consulting launched a sales and marketing strategy to generate 400 qualified home buyers for Armstrong Townhomes and Mission Walk, both BRIDGE Housing for-sale communities. O'Connor Consulting understands the marketing impact of every affordable housing requirement and develops solutions to reduce potential standing inventory of below market rate priced homes. O'Connor Consulting works closely with the local jurisdiction to assure the program elements are marketable and provide effective tools for buyers of affordable home ownership.

O'Connor Consulting works with HomeBricks, a "one-stop shop" affordable homeownership affiliate of BRIDGE Housing in developing programs for builders, first time buyers and affordable re-sales like those offered under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.