BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.,
Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/
-- PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) is making it easier for
homebuyers who love the immediacy and convenience of online chat to
shop for a new home. The homebuilder has placed live chat on
its Pulte Homes, Centex, Del Webb
and DiVosta websites, adding another interactive tool for
homebuyers.
After a successful pilot on Pulte.com increased contacts by 25
percent, PulteGroup has now placed the Contact At Once! live chat
technology on all its consumer websites, said Julie Mynster, director of consumer engagement
for PulteGroup.
"Live chat is paying dividends for us in multiple ways," Mynster
said. "We're generating additional leads, but we also believe
the option will appeal to those shoppers who might be reluctant to
reach out by phone or email. Through live chat we can
actively engage consumers earlier in the sales process and assist
those homebuyers who want more immediate answers and
information."
While live chat has played a role on consumer-facing websites
for years, the technology is innovative in the homebuilding
industry space, said John Hanger,
Contact At Once! President and CEO.
"PulteGroup is definitely leading the charge with homebuilders
by offering live chat across the board on a national level," Hanger
said. "They will have a competitive advantage now that online
shoppers are able to chat from their websites."
The live chat makes it easier than ever for online real estate
shoppers to connect and schedule appointments in real-time, said
Damon Henry with Shift Digital,
which manages the program for PulteGroup with a team of trained
real estate chat consultants. The chat function was
identified as an opportunity to increase website engagement and
capture leads without cannibalizing leads from other website
sources, Henry said.
PulteGroup websites have added a myriad of technology-friendly
features in recent months and the company plans to add even more,
Mynster said. In addition to an increase in online video and
images, the Pulte.com, Centex.com and DelWebb.com sites feature
interactive tools that allow homebuyers to see what lots are
available in certain communities; and currently offer 600
interactive floor plans that allow homebuyers to add options and
stage furniture in the space.
PulteGroup websites also allow homebuyers to design their dream
kitchen with a click of a mouse with its new interactive Kitchen
Studio. Images on www.pulte.com allow users to visualize a
custom kitchen space by selecting from a variety of colors and
finishes – from flooring to wall color.
About PulteGroup
PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is one of America's
largest homebuilding companies with operations in
approximately 60 markets throughout the country. Through
its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes and
Del Webb, the company is one of the
industry's most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of
multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer
demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide
homebuyers with innovative solutions and new homes designed for the
way people actually live today. As the most awarded
homebuilder in customer satisfaction, PulteGroup brands have
consistently ranked among top homebuilders in third-party customer
satisfaction studies.
For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup
brands, go to pultegroupinc.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com;
www.delwebb.com.
SOURCE PulteGroup, Inc.