Excelsior

So, since I haven't noticed anyone offering this kind of service, I'm going to try something innovative:

Real Estate.

Sure, that's a rather broad term, so let me break it down for ya.

I propose running a business, where a player, in need of a new, finely designed home, approaches me requesting such.

For every house that I build, I will charge a commission (a percentage of the cost to build the home, which is payment to me for the service). The commission rate will vary, based upon the cost of the house, the difficulty in placing it, as well as any decorating that is requested.

Currently, I'm only interested in starting this for myself, but I'm certainly willing to "hire" other players, even if they aren't in GMD, to assist in the business.

I'm still laying out final plans, but this is what I have thus far:

1- A player approaches me with the request for a new house.
2- The player offers me a check, to the value of their budget.
3- The player makes the request on the size of the plot, and how many floors.
4- Any further requests, such as placement, general layout, etc are made.
5- I screen-shot the entire conversation, with requests, and the amount given, with journal evidence as well.
6- I design the house within 24 hours.
7- Once the house is finished, I meet with the customer, at the newly finished home.
8- I trade the house deed to the player for a check to the value of my commission.

I also offer players another option, for those who don't have the money handy, immediately:

1- A player approaches me with the request for a new house.
2- The player designates their desired budget, a bill that I will foot, myself, temporarily.
3- ===
4- ==
5- =Steps 3-7 are the same as option 1, above.=
6- ==
7- ===
8- I trade the house deed to the player for 2 checks: 1 for the value of the house, the other to the total of my commission.

However, there are two very important clauses you would need to be aware of, if you choose option 2:
1) If payment is not received within 48 hours past the completion of the home, the house will be demolished and the order
would be canceled.
2) The commission rate would raise an additional 10% due to me footing the bill, initially.


Now, I've decided that most houses that will be requested, will probably be within a 200-300k budget. With that in mind, I've decided to charge a minimum commission fee of 25% for anything 300k or under. That would equal out to a decent 50k paycheck. I've also decided, that my commission rates will rise (much like interest on a loan) based upon the value of the house.

For instance:

300k and under ==> 25%
301k - 600k ==> 30%
601k - 900k ==> 35%
901 and up ==> 40%

As I said above, I would document EVERYTHING in order to protect both the customer, and myself.

_________________
Now, if anyone has any constructive thoughts, opinions, or ideas to add to this, by all means, let me know.

I'm looking for feedback, in an effort to see if this would even succeed, or if its too "costly". By getting your opinions, it would help me better my business plan here, and hopefully see it through!

Thanks for your time, everyone!


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Edit: Few minor typo fixes.

interesting thought, but dont think i would use it myself.

This does seem like a good idea but I really don't see it working here. There is so much open space for housing that there is no need to hire "professional" house placers like on OSI. Another thing is that most people here seem to enjoy designing their own houses. I do believe you are underestimating the house cost a lot though. You said 200k - 300k. Depending on the size of the house that could just be a house plot with 4 walls. Sounds like you'll need some good marketing to get it going and to convince people they want this service. Who knows though, wont know if this will work till you try it.

labmonkey wrote:This does seem like a good idea but I really don't see it working here. There is so much open space for housing that there is no need to hire "professional" house placers like on OSI. Another thing is that most people here seem to enjoy designing their own houses. I do believe you are underestimating the house cost a lot though. You said 200k - 300k. Depending on the size of the house that could just be a house plot with 4 walls. Sounds like you'll need some good marketing to get it going and to convince people they want this service. Who knows though, wont know if this will work till you try it.

Well see, its not about "placement" of the house. Surely anyone can find a place to set a plot.

The idea for all this stemmed behind 2 guildies telling me how they wish they had the ability to be able to design a house (layout and deco) as good as others on the shard. Now I don't want to sound "egotistical" or anything, but I'm a great designer. I've been designing my own houses with next to nothing (gold wise) on servers for years. Not to mention, I've had plenty of experience as a world designer doing a lot of custom designs. Plus, it does help that I've had plenty of influence in RL regarding interior design.

Now, you're correct. Most people do enjoy designing their own houses, but as I said above, there are those who feel they don't have this capability and still want a nice place.

Course, the 200-300k I mentioned could be rather small... but mine only cost me a little over 500k.

Here are some screenshots of my home:

1st Floor
2nd Floor
3rd Floor
4th Floor

I've been perfecting this design for years now, as you can see.

But you're right.. my biggest challenge (aside from a perfected business plan), is to achieve marketability.

I have been building/designing/decorating houses on Excelsior for years now, so it is marketable once you have some examples to show people. Once you build a name for yourself, the interest in your designs will be there and you could get some business doing it.

Llexa wrote:I have been building/designing/decorating houses on Excelsior for years now, so it is marketable once you have some examples to show people. Once you build a name for yourself, the interest in your designs will be there and you could get some business doing it.

Aye... but as I said.. I don't want the prices to be too outrageous, thus why I'm looking for feedback on those first.

I think I have enough standing within the community (based upon who I know, and who knows me) to be able to "advertise" properly.

As for the examples.. well, you saw the design of my own home in my previous post..

pay the town crier for the advertsing ... and every save your advertising pops up... which wont be bad idea now considering we have 20 min saves lol

Honestly its seems to me that the big money wouldn't be the house building itself. It would be using the yard wand and the actual deco in the house. Could always try marketing those services as well. While I wouldn't be inclined to use a house design service, I would gladly pay someone to decorate my house.

labmonkey wrote:Honestly its seems to me that the big money wouldn't be the house building itself. It would be using the yard wand and the actual deco in the house. Could always try marketing those services as well. While I wouldn't be inclined to use a house design service, I would gladly pay someone to decorate my house.

Aye, I thought of that as well. But it would be much more difficult to determine a commission fee as well. I'm guessing I would probably just need to set a flat rate commission fee, regardless of the amount of work and cost put into the deco.

a flat rate, plus cost of supplies would work pretty good I think for decorating. You've seen my house before, it looks like a drunk necromancer tried to decorate it. I would gladly in a heartbeat pay for a deco service. Of course I wouldn't pay just anyone to do it either. Only people that are honest considering the house is already 'lived in' and has a lot of items stored there. So if you ever do decide to also offer a deco service let me know.

I find this very interesting. I've always wanted to have one of those nice decorated houses, but don't have the patience to do it myself. How much does a house like the one in the pictures cost (including your fee and everything)?

EDIT: If it's possible, I'd like to know how much the house costs with only the structure and also what it would cost with the yard wand deco.

Kaimelar wrote:I find this very interesting. I've always wanted to have one of those nice decorated houses, but don't have the patience to do it myself. How much does a house like the one in the pictures cost (including your fee and everything)?

EDIT: If it's possible, I'd like to know how much the house costs with only the structure and also what it would cost with the yard wand deco.

Sorry for the long wait on the reply.

My house currently, has a base value of 549k.

All the added deco.. wow, well.. probably nearly the same amount as the house, between the addons etc.

I've had a few requests in-game to start doing deco on houses, sooo.. I'll tell you what, if I can manage to get 3 more requests, I'll add that into my little business venture here, and promptly get started..

Have a great day!

I think this service could work very well. I build and demolish my place about 10 times before I decide to leave it, lol. I'd hire ya in a heartbeat.