For over 30 years, one Company has represented quality & leadership -Highland Homes- where building careers goes hand in hand with excellence in new home construction. Highland’s employee owners thrive in an atmosphere of appreciation & confidence, contributing their unique ideas to the Company’s overall success.Employee Owned. Customer Focused.

Highland Homes is currently accepting resumes for a Sales Associate position. This purpose of the Sales Associate position is to properly assist the Sales Counselor in the process of selling homes, and to provide all necessary information to prospective homebuyers in his/her absence, including terms of a contract. The Sales Associate may be required to assist and support the Construction and Marketing teams, from time-to-time, on an as needed basis.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The following duties and responsibilities must be successfully carried out and faithfully addressed in order to meet the objective of this position:

Sales: The Sales Associate is responsible for supporting the Sales Counselor in the profitability, quantity and quality of sales and contracts in his/her subdivision. Contracts, financing and closing issues shall be coordinated through the Sales Counselor and Sales Associate. Option pricing shall be taken from the “Option Matrix” unless special consideration and approval is received from the Division Manager.

Opening: The Sales Associate must arrive at the model each workday in time to unlock the model(s), turn off all the exterior lights, check the radio station for appropriate music and volume, visually inspect the interior and exterior of the model(s) for cleanliness, order light bulbs, etc. and report any and all deficiencies to the Construction Manager for correction or repair, so that the model is open and ready for business by 10:00 a.m. (12:00 p.m. Sundays). The Sales Associate shall consistently follow up and monitor the model(s) throughout the day for any of the above-mentioned concerns. Unlock all spec-home inventory and put up “open” signs as required. The Sales Associate is responsible for adhering to all safety program requirements at all times.

Professional Business Attire: The Sales Associate must have a good understanding of all Company policies and procedures, Core Values and Guiding Principles. The Sales Associate shall adhere to the Company’s business dress code and grooming practices, and appear professional at all times. Acceptable clothing for men includes sport coats, dress shirts with a tie and slacks. Conservative dresses, blouses and sweaters with skirts or dress slacks are appropriate for women.

Transportation: The Company’s expectation is that every buyer is put into a Sales Associate or Sales Counselor’s car and given an appropriate tour of the neighborhood. The Sales Associate must have a vehicle that is reliable and has the ability to accommodate a minimum of 3 people (not including the driver). The vehicle should remain clean on the interior and exterior. 

Greeting: When the Sales Counselor is not present, the Sales Associate shall meet and greet all incoming customers promptly, obtain a registration card for each prospective homebuyer and be able to adapt his/her communication style to match prospective buyers. The Sales Associate shall offer refreshments as required, and try to make each potential customer as comfortable as possible. The Sales Associate must assist the Sales Counselor in effectively communicating all helpful and pertinent information to the customer, as well as retrieve the appropriate information for the Sales Counselor to follow-up appropriately and professionally.

Knowledge/Real Estate License: The Sales Associate must have a good understanding of the Company’s product, and be able to answer questions pertaining to the building process, area schools, financing, shopping, parks and playgrounds, buyer profile for community and any other pertinent information about the surrounding community. The Sales Associate must possess good work habits and must be adaptable to the situation at hand. The Sales Associate must also have very strong knowledge of the plan mix for the community program outline. The Sales Associate agrees that if they hold an active Real Estate License, the Real Estate License is to be placed on inactive status during the term of their employment with the Company.

Training & Development: The Sales Associate will attend and actively participate in scheduled training sessions.

Highland Selling System: Sales Associate II & III shall be completely familiar with and able to explain and utilize the Highland Selling system. (A copy of the Highland Selling system should be in your office at all times).

Inventory: The Sales Associate may help select the home plans and lots, in conjunction with the Sales Counselor, for his/her spec-home inventory and get approval through the Area Manager prior to starting the home. The Sales Associate will help maintain the spec inventory per the spec allocation report, will be familiar with all community spec-home inventory, standard specifications and allowances, options and upgrades, current stage of construction and possible completion month. This includes meeting with the Sales Counselor to determine plan, lot and feature levels then preparing a start memo with completed interior design work so a spec start can occur in a timely fashion.

The Sales Associate must also be familiar with all build-to-suit clients, their plans and the progress of their homes. As needed by the Sales Counselor, the Sales Associate will make weekly contact with all buyers to update them on home progress and cover necessary details regarding change orders, contract, closing details, etc.

Supplies: The Sales Associate must help maintain an adequate supply of all marketing materials and office supplies. The Sales Associate must be familiar with procedures to acquire any and all necessary supplies. The Sales Associate must have an adequate number of information packets ready to hand out at all times.

Clerical: The Sales Associate shall possess excellent computer skills, have a basic knowledge of business correspondence and be able to address and mail out authorized marketing promotions. The Sales Associate, in conjunction with the Sales Counselor, can help write and mail-out thank you letters to prospects, Realtors, agencies and homebuyers within two (2) days of their visit to the model(s). The Sales Associate will be the primary administrator for all sales lead databases, and will be the primary contact for the Company’s Internet Marketing Department. The Sales Associate must be familiar with the Sales Counselor’s filing system, all contract documents and the processing of same, i.e.: contracts, specifications and allowances, change orders, bust-out forms, etc. The Sales Associate will help maintain current house files. The Sales Associate will help initiate and maintain accurate spec inventory in the MLS system, web page and other inventory outlets.

Buyer Contact: The Sales Associate may have the authority to negotiate contracts with buyers and Realtors with full advice and knowledge of the Sales Counselor. This includes all contract details to complete a Sales Contract package, along with new buyer signatures. The Sales Associate is responsible for turning all sales contract packages to the appropriate home office prior to each Monday morning.

Builder Support: The Sales Associate can help support the construction team by typing letters, making copies, reproducing house files to send to the appropriate home office, faxing information, etc. when all sales office duties have been completed.

Home Closing Objectives: The Sales Associate will help the Sales Counselor prepare an accurate Closing Objectives report and provide copies to all participants in the weekly subdivision sales/construction meeting. All closings are to be coordinated by the Sales Associate. This includes scheduling closing times with the Title Company, realtors, construction staff, etc. and ensuring all necessary paperwork is complete and on time.

Marketing Support: The Sales Associate shall be available from time-to-time to work at Realtor functions, luncheons, community grand openings, etc. The Sales Associate is responsible for helping the Sales Counselor market the subdivision and generating traffic through approved methods. Time each week should be spent prospecting new and existing Realtor relationships. The Marketing Department is available to assist in any way you may need. The Vice President shall approve all non-standard marketing methods and expenses.

Architecture: The Sales Associate should have a “lot fit” book available for all lots and plans on the subdivision program outline. All “Starts” shall have all the proper paperwork completely filled out with necessary approvals prior to being submitted to Architecture.

Subdivision Correlation Meeting: This meeting shall be held weekly for all Sales, Construction and Warranty personnel to correlate all issues necessary to provide an effective, efficient, systematic and sequential communications flow and to guarantee a smooth operating subdivision with a focus on customer satisfaction, product quality, profit margins and production standards. “Teamwork is critical”.

Pre-construction Meeting: The Builder will Schedule a pre-construction/builders meeting with the homeowner, with the Sales Counselor and the Builder in attendance, to review the contract, change orders, and the approved construction documents prior to the start of construction. The Sales Associate shall participate, if the Sales Counselor is unavailable. Red-line any changes for future reference and pricing. Review the meeting agenda prior to the start of the meeting. The Builder and Sales Counselor should schedule a pre-construction/builders meeting on every spec-home.

Part-time Sales Assistants and Support Staff: The Sales Counselor is responsible for finding, hiring and training competent Part-time Sales Assistants. All Sales Associates should be familiar with the Sales Assistant Position Guide. All performance reviews and compensation reviews are completed by the Sales Counselor, using the written forms available on the Company intranet.

Closing: The Sales Associate shall be responsible for closing the model(s) at the applicable closing time, turning on all exterior lights, visually inspecting the interior of the model(s) for deficiencies, check all window latches for security, arming the security system and locking all the doors. It may be necessary to lock all spec-home inventory and take down “open” signs as required. (Female Sales Associates should never close spec-home inventory alone, when dark outside. Assistance from a Construction Manager prior to the end of their business day is required).

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma required.
• Associates or Bachelor degree preferred.
• Prior Sales experience:
• Associate II: minimum 3 years of experience preferred (including new homes experience).
• Excellent communicator (oral and written) including desire to ask questions and learn from others.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.) and familiar with the Internet required.
• Proven customer service skills required.
• Strong organization skills with keen ability to prioritize, multi-task and pay close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Reliable, clean transportation required.
• Ability to analyze numbers and information and produce clear, communicative reports required (Level II/III).
• Working knowledge of mortgage financing programs and the ability to calculate mortgage payments required (Level II/III).
• Prior experience working with realtors and construction required (Level II/III).
• Demonstrated Leadership experience required (Level III).