HVAC Builder Blocks powered by Altus Solutions

Home Comfort Consultants

A most important step in the HVACBuilderBlocks system is to hire and train a team of Home Comfort Consultants. These people will meet with homeowners (mostly women!) pre-construction and educate them on the available enhancements for their home, and then meet again with the homeowners after they've moved in to train them on how to service and maintain their home comfort systems and educate them again on any enhancements they didn't purchase pre-construction. These consultants are the backbone of the HVACBuilderBlocks system.

As a part of any of the HVACBuilderBlocks packages, Altus Solutions will train management at your company on the entire Home Comfort Enhancements Consultation and Customer Assurance Processes, including the following topics:

• Hiring Great Consultants
• Managing the Consultation Process (including consultant commission, builder relations, online software, etc.)
• Educating Homeowners (without high-pressure sales techniques)
• Training Consultants for Success
• Setting Up & Managing Builder Clients
• Enhancement Order Processing
• Post-Closing Customer Assurance Process
• Maintaining Client Loyalty

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Enhancements Database

The first step in using the HVACBuilderBlocks online software is to add all available enhancements to the Enhancements Database. By simply filling out a short online form, all of the enhancements that your company offers will be available for automatically-generated menus, order forms, Flash presentations, and online stores, all customized for each builder and homeowner! The fields that you fill out are:

• Product Brand and Model Number
• Product Description
• Product Category
• Bullet Points/Product Features & Benefits
• Menu Image (created by either Altus Solutions or by in-house designer)
• Flash Presentation Module (created by either Altus Solutions or by in-house designer)

That's it! The HVACBuilderBlocks system will store the information and display it as each product is requested by a MenuMaker set. All that is required to change a product in ALL menus, order forms, presentations, and online stores is to simply edit the form for that product in the Enhancements Database. Everything else automatically changes. It couldn't be simpler to manage!

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Builders Database

The second step in using the HVACBuilderBlocks online software is to add builders to the Builders Database. By simply filling out a short online form for each builder, you will be able to calculate builder-specific pricing that will automatically feed the MenuMaker system, making it a snap to create menus and edit them in the future! In addition, the Builders Database stores a wealth of information about each builder for reference from any computer in the world connected to the internet. The fields that you fill out are:

• Builder Name, Address, Phone and Fax
• Houses Per Year, Average Price Range, Number of Employees, Types of Homes, and Percentage of Work
• Name and Contact Info for up to 5 employees
• Standard System

That's it! The HVACBuilderBlocks system will store the information and display it as needed when calulating pricing or generating menus. And should you ever need to access any of the information on the road, you simply have to get online and print the summary sheet.

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Profit Calculator

The next step in the HVACBuilderBlocks system is to calculate the homebuyer prices for which you'll be offering the various enhancements. This is made easy by the Profit Calculator. The Profit Calculator takes the guesswork out of pricing your enhancements. Again, by simply filling out a short online form, all the pricing information for your enhancement will be automatically generated and saved in a database for use in menus, order forms, and online stores! After selecting a builder and an enhancement, the fields that you fill out fall into these general categories:

• HVACBuilderBlocks System Usage Fees
• Materials/Equipment and Labor
• Consultant Commissions and Walkthroughs
• Profit Percent, Tax, and Donations

That's it. The Profit Calculator automatically calculates the following:

1. Total Contractor Cost of Each Enhancement
2. Contractor Billing Price to Builder
3. Homebuyer Price
4. Most importantly - TRUE NET Profit for both the HVAC Contractor and the Builder

After filling out the form, the information is saved in a database for future reference or editing. When your costs change, simply go into the Profit Calculator and edit the entry. Of course, the information is also formatted to print nicely on a one-page summary sheet for quick reference or for a hard copy.

New Feature - Coming Soon!

We are currently working on linking the Profit Calculator directly with the MenuMaker system, so that prices in the menus are automatically generated (as opposed to entering them by hand and referencing the Profit Calculator). This will allow you to quickly change the price on ALL menus, order forms, and online stores for a given builder simply by editing the Profit Calculator entry for that product!

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MenuMaker

The most crucial step in the HVACBuilderBlocks system is to create MenuMaker sets. The sets can be specific to each builder and floor plan/model. There is no limit to the number of sets you can create. Each set will be used to present the available enhancements to the homeowner. By simply selecting enhancements from drop-down lists on an online form, entering prices and any other notes about each product, the menu set will allow the Home Comfort Consultants to generate the following for each homeowner in a matter of minutes:

• A custom menu of available enhancements
• A custom Flash presentation to assist in educating the homeowner on available enhancements
• A custom printed order form
• A custom online store, which the homeowner can use to order enhancements

All the Consultants have to do is get online, select the menu set they need, and print the materials for their consultation session with the homebuyer. The system even knows which manufacturer logos to include (and which ones NOT to include!). It couldn't be easier to create high-quality, custom materials for each homeowner consultation.

New Feature - Coming Soon!

We are currently working on linking the Profit Calculator directly with the MenuMaker system, so that prices in the menus are automatically generated (as opposed to entering them by hand and referencing the Profit Calculator). This will allow you to quickly change the price on ALL menus, order forms, and online stores for a given builder simply by editing the Profit Calculator entry for that product.

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PresentationMaker

After creating a MenuMaker set, the system automatically generates a custom Flash presentation, designed to be used on a laptop during a Home Comfort Consultation with a homeowner. The Flash presentation can also be loaded onto a monitor at your design center or a builder showroom. Research shows that people who are visual learners are more likely to purchase a system if they can see how it works and how it benefits them. The presentations are designed to visually illustrate the features and benefits of the various enhancements.

How It Works

Each product in the Enhancements Database is linked to a PresentationMaker module, which can either be created and uploaded by Altus Solutions* or an in-house Flash developer. When the consultant goes to print the menu and order form, she can also download the custom Flash presentation to her hard drive. The system knows which product modules and which manufacturer logos to include (and which ones NOT to include!). The result is a high-quality visual illustration of each product available to the homeowner.:

*Additional fees apply. See the pricing information.

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Online Options - Coming Soon!

Also automatically generated with the menus and presentations, Online Options is a custom online store which will present the homeowner with both the bullet-point information about each product from the menu, as well as the visual illustration of each product from the presentation. The homeowner can then add the enhancement to their home, and the system will tell them how it will affect both their mortgage and their monthly house payment. It also calculates the monthly energy savings from higher efficiency systems. This allows the homebuyer to analyze their decision based on the overall "net" dollar effect on their monthly home budget. Just like a shopping cart system, the homeowner can review their selections before placing the order, which is then forwarded to both the builder and to your company.

Each homeowner's custom store is password-protected (via a password that is generated along with the menu and presentation), so that only they will be able to review the available enhancements and place an order for their home.

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Usage Reports

Want a way to quickly see how many Home Comfort Consultations took place in a given month? This is where the Usage Report feature steps in. Included in all the HVACBuilderBlocks packages, this tool allows you to see how many consultations took place, providing information on the following for each consultation:

• Homeowner's Name and Address
• Builder Name
• Consultation Date
• Consultant Name

This tool also allows you to double-check the Altus Solutions usage fees each month. You will be able to print exactly which consultations took place and reconcile that to your monthly Altus invoice. In addition, you can also print the invoice for any given month should you need another copy.

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Customer Assurance Process

After closing on a new home, the Home Comfort Consultants contact the homeowners and schedule a second meeting with them. The purpose of the meeting is to:

1. Train them on how to operate their system(s) (program thermostat(s), operate humidifier, zoning, etc.)
2. Train them on how to maintain their system(s) (filter replacements, humidifier pad & cartridge replacements, etc.)
3. Make sure everything is "stickered"
4. Give them a Service & Maintenance DVD
5. Sign them up for ongoing Service Agreements (if applicable)
6. Educate them on the enhancements they didn't already purchase
7. Sign them up for Email Reminders

This meeting leaves clients assured that they have the best home comfort systems for their home, and that your company values them and will make every effort to provide them with the highest quality maintenance items and services. The result is more loyal homeowner clients who will continue to provide business for years to come.

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Service & Maintenance DVD

During the post-closing Customer Assurance "Walk-Through" and Consultation, homeowners are given a DVD that goes through common maintenance items and procedures for all the enhancements available. Items that can be covered (but are not limited to) are:

• How to operate or program their thermostat.
• How to maintain their filtration system(s).
• How to service their humidifier.
• How to check their system, pre-service call
• How to operate any/all of their home comfort system(s)

Altus Solutions will produce the DVD for your company, including customizing existing DVD modules with your dealership/company information, as well as producing additional modules for all the different maintenance items you sell.* Altus will also handle duplication and packaging of the DVDs for a small fee per disc (which is figured into the pre-markup cost of each enhancement using the Profit Calculator).

Each module is tagged with your company's phone number and/or website address, so customers find it easy to order the correct maintenance items from you. Coupled with Email Reminders, this can result in a wave of ongoing filter and maintenance item sales, which you could either fulfill directly, or hire Altus Solutions to fulfill.

*Additional fees apply. See the pricing information.

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Website

A website is crucial to maintaining a good relationship with your clients. If you purchase the HVACBuilderBlocks Ultimate package, Altus Solutions will set up a complete online presence for your company, including the following:

• Company History & Information
• Company Contact Form(s)
• Flash-Animated Product Education
• Online Store (if applicable)
• Email Reminder System (if applicable)
• Service Department Connection
• Special Offers & Coupons

The website design will be based on a pre-developed template (which can be viewed at www.e-homecomfort.com) with a moderate amount of customization for your company. Or if you would like a custom-designed website, Altus' web developers will work closely with you to design a site that you are proud of.*

Additionally, Altus Solutions can manage ongoing website maintenance and revisions,* making it easy to keep your site current and updated.

*Additional fees apply. See the pricing information.

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Email Reminders

Let's face it. We forget things. So do our clients. And that means that they might forget how often to service their system(s), whether your company even offers maintenance items like filter replacements, or even how to contact your company. Our Email Reminder system seeks to solve all these problems. During the Customer Assurance Consultation, your Home Comfort Consultants will have your homeowner clients sign up to receive email reminders for the particular system(s) installed in their home. Then, whenever it is time to service a particular system, they will get a friendly email reminder which links directly to your online store, where they can easily purchase replacements from your company. This friendly service and ease-of-use provides you with an incredible edge over the competition.

Clients can also use the email reminder system to remind themselves about anything else that occurs regularly - from changing the oil in their car to servicing their hot tub. Even one-time events can be easily entered into the system! And it is completely secure, requiring each client to log in to the system with their email and password (selected during the Customer Assurance Consultation).

Additionally, Altus Solutions can manage data entry, taking the task of entering the email reminder items off of your shoulders.*

*Additional fees apply. See the pricing information.

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Online Store

The final (and very profitable!) piece in the HVACBuilderBlocks system is an online store for the ongoing sales of maintenance items. If you choose a package that includes an online store, Altus Solutions will integrate the store into your website, add the items you carry to the store, and install the shopping cart system.

Additionally, Altus Solutions can handle the fulfillment (processing and shipment) of orders for you - providing a complete turn-key solution to offer maintenance items to your clients.*

*Additional fees apply. See the pricing information.