Press Release

WELCOME SERVICE GROWS

IN MIDST OF TROUBLED HOUSING MARKET

BY PARTNERING REAL ESTATE AGENTS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES

Rancho Mirage, CA, MARCH 7, 2011:  Desert Leads, a sister marketing organization to Desert Welcome, has successfully launched four marketing vehicles to connect local contractors, service providers and restaurants with new home buyers: 1) the new home buyer Gift Basket Program, 2) VIP Package, 3) the Certified Five Star Guide, and 4) 3 Best Bids.

THE VIP  PROGRAM was developed two years ago by Greg Jones of Desert Welcome together with partners Mario Hernandez and Tim Bloom for realtors, property managers and mortgage companies. According to Jones, the program has tripled in a turbulent housing market. “Back in 2005 we visited an average 200 homes each month. Today, we are reaching over 650 new home buyer, and the number of realtors who are participating is growing very, very fast,” he added.

At present there are over 1,000 local realtors who purchase and deliver to new home buyers an elegant gift basket full of treats containing the Certified Five Star Guide, a New Mover’s Guide, and VIP Package featuring a complimentary annual subscription to Palm Springs Life, courtesy of the realtor, and a host of local offers and coupons. According Jones the VIP Package has been well received by both the new-home buyer and the advertisers because it is a win/win for both. “The value of VIP Package exceeds $3,000 giving the recipient the opportunity to try restaurants and a host of services at incredibly discounted rates.  The advertiser instantly see the value of being features in this program and are getting excellent results,” said Jones.

 CREATING LOCAL JOBS:

Long-time Desert Welcome advertisers, Hernandez and Bloom have experienced firsthand the benefits of reaching homebuyers early on for the past fifteen years. They began brainstorming with Jones and collectively figured a way to grow the programs and formed a partnership. “I partnered with two people with whom I already had a relationship and understood the challenges from their own business perspectives,” explained Jones.  “We have been impacted like everyone else, and we wanted to do our part to help create or save local jobs” contributed Hernandez. With unemployment rates persistently high, the three partners spent a lot of time exploring strategies that could help save or create these jobs. “We are committed to doing our part to help our local community find new sources of work,” said Bloom. “At the same time, we are giving consumers a way to find reputable contractors and service providers through the Five Star Guide, which is being well received by homeowners associations and property managers,” said Bloom.  “When you hire someone from the Five Star Guide, you know they are not going to run with your money, we offer a $500 guarantee for performance,” added Bloom.

THE CERTIFIED FIVE STAR GUIDE (www.fivestarguide.net) is the brainchild of Jones, Hernandez and Bloom who discovered a need to provide the local community an easy to reference  “pre-screened” contractors and service providers: only contractors who have an active State of California License and are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau standing are included in the Five Star Guide. An extra measure of protection is offered when a contractor is contacted through the Five Star Guide. The Five Star Guide is going directly to the new-home buyer when the realtor presents the keys to the home along with the new mover Gift Basket as a thank you gift. Hernandez, owner of TileCare, a local floor cleaning and restoration company, has experienced that “when people first buy a home, they are making all sorts of investments in their new home like painting, cleaning floors, making repairs, and doing remodel work.” He explained this is one of the key reasons the Gift Basket Program in conjunction with the Certified Five Star Guide have been well received by the local business community.

For additional information, Desert Leads can be contacted at 760.559.0970, or visit the Website at www.desertleads.com.