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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia

🌄Bend, OR Weather

🌨️🏔️Santiam Pass Forecast

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

❄️Snowflake Boutique -November 1st

🎶John Reischman and the Jaybirds @ The Belfry - November 1st

📅Save The Date Section

🍲Think Wild Hosting a Wild Chili Cook-Off -November 16th

 💓🧘‍♀️Meditation & Educational Event -November 16th

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

⏰Daylight Saving Time switch affects productivity longer than previously thought, UO study finds

📰Redmond Chamber of Commerce Proposes Partnership for Destination Development & Guest Services as City of Redmond Shifts Tourism Focus

🖼️🎨Dry Canyon Arts Association aims to ‘Jumpstart Art’ for Redmond elementary school students with raffle proceeds

💵Marijuana Money

🐔🐖Bird Flu found in a pig on a Crook County Farm

📰Regional News

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🚧Deschutes County Road Department plans to close Cascade Lakes Highway, Paulina Lake Road for the winter on Nov. 19

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

 💥Semi rolls on Highway 20 east of Bend, spills honey all over

🚨Crime News

⚖️Former St. Vincent de Paul of Bend executive director admits to drug delivery

📰 Community News

 🫴Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon urgently seeking new mentors to help support area’s youth

 Got some news or know of news for our Community News Segment - share it with C.O. Local Buzz!

🏘️Real Estate News

🏡Central Oregon Market Report | October 30, 2024 by Reed Melton

🏘️Redmond-based Hayden Homes to launch online home design and buying platform

📲Sponsors & Partners

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events Fun N Games in Central Oregon has LAUNCHED 🚀

What is unique about Crater Lake, Oregon’s only National Park?

A) It is the largest lake by surface area in the United States
B) It was formed by a volcanic eruption that created the deepest lake in the U.S.
C) It has the highest waterfall in Oregon
D) It is the oldest National Park in the United States

Answer: B) It was formed by a volcanic eruption that created the deepest lake in the U.S.

Expanded Answer: Crater Lake was formed over 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama erupted, leaving a massive caldera that eventually filled with water. With a depth of 1,949 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the clearest in the world, drawing visitors from around the globe to witness its vivid blue waters.

Good Morning from Bend Airport

BEND

Santiam Pass Forecast

Today

Rain, possibly mixed with snow showers, becoming all rain after 4pm. Snow level 5500 feet. High near 37. Breezy, with a southwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight

Snow showers, possibly mixed with rain, becoming all snow after 4am. Snow level 5000 feet. Steady temperature around 35. West southwest wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday

Snow showers. High near 34. West southwest wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday Night

Snow showers. Low around 31. West southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday

Snow showers. High near 34. West wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Sunday Night

Snow showers likely before 11pm, then a slight chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

Snowflake Boutique

Friday, November 1st from 1 to 8 pm

Saturday, November 2nd from 9am to 5 pm

Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center
Redmond, OR 97756

Note:  We have moved to the

South Sister Building 
$4.00 Door Charge part of which goes to Charitable Organizations

John Reischman and the Jaybirds

@ The Belfry

November 1st

7:00 PM

Living legend of the mandolin, John Reischman, brings an intimate evening of acoustic music to The Belfry with his band, The Jaybirds. Local old-time group Danger Gently opens.

About John Reischman:

Grammy Award-winning musician John Reischman has been a foundational mandolinist, composer, bandleader, and musical educator in bluegrass and North American roots and folk music since emerging from the vibrant “new acoustic” bluegrass music scene of the Bay Area in the 1980s. A member of the groundbreaking Tony Rice Unit, Reischman’s mastery of bluegrass, old-time, swing, and multiple Latin American musical styles, coupled with an Old Master’s sense of tone, taste, and musicality, has brought him a global reputation as one of the finest mandolinists of his era.

Opener Danger Gently

Coming up - Save the Date

November 16th

November 16th

Got an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Daylight Saving Time switch affects productivity longer than previously thought, UO study finds

New research from the University of Oregon suggests that adjusting to daylight saving time in spring disrupts worker productivity for up to two weeks, rather than the previously assumed one or two days.

The study, analyzing data from GitHub users, found that productivity dips in early morning hours after the spring shift, while the return to standard time in fall boosts morning productivity, possibly due to extra sleep.

Here is the full release from the University of Oregon:

As much of the world prepares to turn clocks back an hour this fall, new research from the University of Oregon finds the annual spring forward to daylight saving time affects worker productivity more than previously thought.

Rather than affecting workers for just a day or two, the adjustment to daylight saving time can affect worker productivity for up to two weeks, said Glen Waddell, a UO labor economist and co-author of new research in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. He collaborated on the paper with Andrew Dickinson, a doctoral student in economics in the UO’s College of Arts and Sciences.

The researchers did not identify a similar effect in the fall. They found that early-morning productivity picked up following the return to standard time.

Waddell and Dickinson looked at the daily work activity of 174,505 people who used GitHub around the transition to daylight saving time from 2013 to 2019. GitHub is a cloud-based version-control platform used by software developers, engineers and other collaborative programmers. It has 83 million users worldwide.

The publicly available GitHub records enabled the researchers to examine worker activity down to the second.

“When we look inside the day, hour by hour, we’re actually able to see patterns of workers getting off to a bumpy start in the early morning and trying to make up for their lost productivity throughout the rest of the afternoon, and this is happening for upwards of two weeks,” Waddell said.

Although GitHub users don’t represent all workers, they do provide valuable insights into how “losing” an hour in the transition to daylight saving time affected their productivity, he said.

The researchers also looked at the effect on workers when they returned to standard time in the fall.

“We actually see a picking up of productivity in those early morning hours, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., with the extra sleep being the likely reason,” Waddell said.

The paper’s findings have direct relevance for the 1.6 billion people in 75 countries who change to daylight saving time each spring and back to standard time each fall.

The research also comes at a time when United States lawmakers are considering abandoning the yearly time change.

In 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would end the return to standard time for the months of November to March.

“Our research findings could be interpreted as yet more reason to put this clock-switching experiment behind us,” Waddell said. “If we were fence-sitters before, maybe this is just another nudge toward the direction of doing away with this practice.”

Arizona and Hawaii already remain on standard time all year, and a growing number of countries, including China, Russia, Pakistan and Brazil, also have abandoned daylight saving time.

Introduced in 1916 and soon after adopted by many Western countries, daylight saving time was intended to save energy. However, consensus opinion today finds the energy savings to be negligible, on the order of plus or minus 1 percent, according to the paper.

Redmond Chamber of Commerce Proposes Partnership for Destination Development & Guest Services as City of Redmond Shifts Tourism Focus

Earlier this year, the City of Redmond decided to redirect tourism tax dollars to a Portland-based creative agency to develop a new branding and marketing campaign for Redmond. This has created a gap in the services that Redmond can provide to visitors, including destination development, destination management, and group business, that have historically been fulfilled by the Chamber under its contract with the City.

While the new branding and marketing initiative aims to elevate Redmond’s profile, the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is seeking to continue its vital role in supporting the local tourism infrastructure, with a holistic approach to destination management. The Chamber has a longstanding history of providing destination development and essential guest services to visitors, including tourism information, business referrals, recreation itineraries, and community event promotion.

The Redmond Chamber is proposing a new collaborative partnership with the City of Redmond. This partnership would allow Redmond to continue offering destination development, management and comprehensive guest services to visitors and residents alike. The Chamber is requesting the City’s support in covering a portion of the cost of these services. This will help ensure the continuation of these community events and services.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the services the Chamber is asking the City to support:

Destination Management & Development

• Free Summer Concert Series (Music On The Green)

  • Fireworks

  • Official Redmond Visitor Guide

  • Holiday Events:

    • 4th of July Parade

    • Halloween (Trick Or Treat On 6th Street)

    • Veterans Day Parade Insurance

      • Christmas Events

      • Starlight Parade

      • Holiday Village Market

      • Town Christmas Tree & Lighting

      • Santa’s Mailbox

  • Downtown & Centennial Park Lights (Winter & Spring Seasons)

Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)

• Welcome Center Services

  • Phone Inquiry Responses

  • Visitor Walk-In Assistance

  • Regional Promotional Magazines, Guides & Brochures

  • Visitor Guide & Relocation Packet Postage

  • Local Tourism Representation

• Group Business & Convention Services

• Event Seed Money & Sponsorships

“These events and services are the heartbeat of our community, from our signature summer concerts to our beloved holiday traditions,” added Eric Sande, Executive Director. “Partnering with the City of Redmond will ensure that we can continue to serve both our visitors and residents, creating memorable experiences that keep Redmond thriving.”

Feedback from the public is welcomed by the Chamber. In addition, reach out to the Mayor and City Council to express your support for this partnership. Together, we can ensure these services continue to enrich our community for years to come.

visitredmondoregon.com

Dry Canyon Arts Association aims to ‘Jumpstart Art’ for Redmond elementary school students with raffle proceeds

This November 16th and 17th, the Dry Canyon Arts Association’s semi-annual art raffle, held at their art show and sale at the Redmond High School commons, has a big goal: to jumpstart art education for every elementary school child in Redmond.

For the past few years, Dry Canyon Arts Association (or DCAA) has offered an art education project to one or two elementary schools each year, largely funded through their semi-annual art show raffles. But this year, DCAA has taken it upon itself, through a new initiative called Jumpstart Art, to provide art education to every elementary school child in Redmond.

As it has been reported recently, Redmond schools and Central Oregon schools in general are facing major budgetary shortfalls. One result of these funding gaps has been a lack of art education in Redmond elementary schools.

DCAA members worry that this unfulfilled need will affect Redmond students for years to come through the loss of the proven benefits of early art education. Those benefits include fine motor skills, cognitive development, math and language skills, and avenues for stress reduction.

“The art education received early in a student’s life can positively impact not only their success in later art classes, but their whole wellbeing as a student and a citizen of the community,” said Mel Archer, board chair of DCAA. “And, as I have found by listening to parents from other school districts, the presence or lack of early art education can actually have an impact on where young families choose to live.”

With that urgent need identified, DCAA has vowed to provide art education opportunities to every student in Redmond under their new Jumpstart Art program. Jumpstart Art’s goal is to provide a three- to five-class art project to each Redmond elementary school student through an artist-in-residence program. Art projects will be coordinated with each school and designed to complement the class curriculum.

DCAA together with the Redmond School District has estimated the cost of the project at $80,000 per year. As this dwarfs any such fund-raising project attempted by DCAA in the past, board chair Archer and grants committee chair Josie Powell have embarked on a state- and then country-wide pursuit of relevant and available grants.

Some grant proposals have been successful, some are yet to be awarded, and some have not. This leaves DCAA with a fundraising challenge. Archer hopes Redmond area individuals and business sponsors will help fill the gap in funding. “We will scale back our plans if needed, but we will continue to search for funding through avenues like stepping up our fundraising capabilities and finding sponsorships from local business leaders.”

One popular and proven funding source is DCAA’s semi-annual art show raffle.

“DCAA members have been more than generous in the past couple years by donating some absolutely priceless pieces of art to our raffle,” said Jay Lowndes, DCAA events chair. “This year the art pieces are above and beyond. Our artists have really stepped up because they know their donations are going to help the kids.”

Raffle tickets will be available for purchase during the DCAA Art Show and Sale, Saturday and Sunday, November 16th and 17th. Art Show goers will be able to choose which art items they wish to win should their raffle ticket be pulled.

Art donated for the raffle include art prints, original art pieces, fused glass, wood carvings, photography, jewelry, and more. All proceeds will go to Dry Canyon’s Jumpstart Art program to fund art education in elementary schools.

The Dry Canyon Art Show and Sale, featuring over 40 artists and artisans, will be held at the Redmond High School Commons, 675 SW Rimrock Way in Redmond, Saturday November 16th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, November 17th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Marijuana Money

Posted by Mike Thomas KBND

Deschutes County Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to accept more than 2.9-million dollars in state funds to investigate and eradicate illegal marijuana-grows. County officials say drug cartels have been operating in the county and around the state, sometimes under the guise of a legal hemp grow. Deschutes County and Bend Police have received state funding to combat illegal-grows since 2018. Commissioners hope their actions to get this round of money will lead to future funding.

Bird Flu found in a pig on a Crook County Farm

The nation’s first case of bird flu in a pig appears to be in Central Oregon. State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz says five pigs were exposed to the virus on a Crook County farm, where the owner reported 70 sick ducks and geese last week. All of the birds and pigs were euthanized. A necropsy later revealed one of the pigs was in fact infected with bird flu. The Oregon Health Authority says no people have tested positive for the virus. 

As winter storm moves in, ODOT fully closing McKenzie Pass Highway for the season on Friday

Incoming winter weather has ODOT crews closing the east side of McKenzie Pass, Oregon Highway 242, this coming Friday, Nov. 1. The gates on the west side of the pass were closed last Friday. This will mark the beginning of the full seasonal closure.

McKenzie Pass is a secondary, scenic highway. Weather, costs and logistics make it impractical to maintain for travel year-round. In the winter, we focus our staff and resources on main highways to keep them plowed, open and safe. 

When the highway is closed, it is closed to all users and is not maintained. Travelers going past locked gates and closure signs are doing so at their own risk. There are no services or cell coverage in this area. 

Every year, McKenzie Pass opens and closes with the seasons. Dates vary depending on road and weather conditions. 

McKenzie Pass became a seasonal scenic highway in 1962 with the completion of the Clear Lake-Belknap Springs section of Oregon 126. Even during its time as the main route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon, the narrow, twisting roadway and high elevation (5,325 feet) made the highway too difficult to maintain and keep clear during the winter months.

Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint to be closed for a day for staff training

 Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint will be closed for a park staff training event all day on Wednesday, Nov. 6. 

Safety barricades will be placed at the park entrance road from Highway 126. The public is asked to please respect the closure and not to go past the barricades. 

For questions, please contact Dani Padilla at 541-415-8130.

Deschutes County Road Department plans to close Cascade Lakes Highway, Paulina Lake Road for the winter on Nov. 19

The Deschutes County Road Department announced this week that it plans to close the Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road for the winter season on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at about 8 a.m.

The high-elevation forest highways are closed annually in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to provide for winter recreation opportunities.

Deschutes County provides maintenance on these highways through an easement agreement with the Forest Service.

"It is not uncommon for roadside snow accumulation to exceed five to 10 feet at the road summit," the county announcement said. "Continual snow/ice maintenance of these road segments is cost-prohibitive."

The Road Department said it will aim to remove snow and open both Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road prior to Memorial Day each year.

Semi rolls on Highway 20 east of Bend, spills honey all over

A semi truck rolled over on Highway 20 just east of Bend, spilling a large amount of honey on the ground.

It happened around 12:20 p.m. at the roundabout of Highway 20 and Hamby Road / Ward Road. It appeared the semi was headed eastbound.

It's not immediately clear what led to the crash, which closed eastbound Highway 20.

A large pool of honey spread on the ground adjacent to the roundabout and on a bike-pedestrian path.

There were no reports of injuries.

Former St. Vincent de Paul of Bend executive director admits to drug delivery

The former executive director of St. Vincent de Paul of Bend pleaded guilty Thursday to delivery of methamphetamine, a felony charge that is expected to result in a nearly four-year prison sentence.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Beth Bagley set a Dec. 4 sentencing date for Gary Lee Hewitt, 58, of Redmond, who was arrested and indicted in August on felony charges of delivering methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of “substantial quantities” (over 10 grams) of the drug.

On Thursday, the judge asked Hewitt, who appeared by phone, if he had met with his attorney, was satisfied with his legal representation and similar questions asked at the time a guilty plea petition is received and accepted.

On the plea petition Hewitt signed Friday, he said prosecutors agreed to recommend a 41-month prison term and three years’ post-prison supervision “with drug conditions.”

Because of that "substantial quantity" language, the crime is a Class B felony, so the maximum any defendant could be sentenced to is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, said Deputy District Attorney Andrew Doyle. However, based on Hewitt's criminal history, his maximum potential sentence was 65 months and a $250,000 fine.

Hewitt also was charged in February with a Class A misdemeanor count of failure to report as a sex offender, after a 2011 arrest and guilty plea to two of 10 counts of encouraging a child sexual abuse. He was given a 30-month state prison term.

Court records indicate the failure to register charge will be dismissed at the time of sentencing on the drug charge.

Shortly after his arrest, St. Vincent de Paul Board President Patty Christopher said that while Hewitt made them aware from the start of his conviction and past, he had been “a stellar employee,” and that news of the drug charges “came as a complete shock.” Hewitt helped the organization develop St. Vincent’s Place, their high-barrier emergency shelter for homeless individuals.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon urgently seeking new mentors to help support area’s youth

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon (a program of J Bar J Youth Services) is calling on the Central Oregon community to make a life-changing difference by becoming a mentor to local youth.

With over 90 kids currently waiting for a mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters is working to recruit caring adults to step up before the end of the year to provide guidance, friendship, and support.

The Need is Urgent
Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program matches youth (Littles) with adult volunteers (Bigs) in professionally supported, one-to-one relationships.

With over 90 Littles currently on the waitlist, Big Brothers Big Sisters is asking for volunteers from all walks of life and backgrounds to join their mission of empowering youth to achieve their full potential.

“We have so many kids ready to be matched with a Big, and every day they wait is a missed opportunity for growth and connections,” said Jenn Davis, BBBSCO Program Director. “A mentor doesn’t need to be superhero - just someone who cares enough to spend time with a child and help them navigate life’s challenges.”

Mentors are asked to commit to spending a few hours a month with their Little, providing guidance, support, and positive role modeling. No special experience is required- just a desire to make a difference.

Impact of Mentoring
Research shows that children with mentors are more likely to excel in school, avoid risky behaviors, and develop stronger relationships with their peers and families. “Becoming a Big means being part of something Bigger than yourself,” said John, a mentor with BBBSCO. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see positive impact you can have on a child’s life.”

Sign Up Today
Big Brothers Big Sisters encourages those interested in becoming a mentor to act now and make a lasting impact in a child’s life. To sign up or learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit www.bbbsco.org or call (541) 312-6047.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon

A program of J Bar J Youth Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon was founded in 1994. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. BBBSCO serves over 220 youth annually and continues to grow programming. We are committed to serving at-risk youth and youth facing adversity with mentors in our community.

Central Oregon Market Report | October 30, 2024

by Reed Melton

 With Thanksgiving just over a month away, the off-season housing market in Central Oregon has officially arrived. Typically, sales slow, inventory declines more rapidly, and many buyers pull back as holiday travel plans and commitments take center stage. While our elevated inventory relative to the previous few years is helping with selection, mortgage rates over 7% this morning are creating a headwind. However, sellers are motivated, and negotiated prices are helping buyers. Creativity in the form of rate buy-downs and seller credits at closing can help buyers and sellers achieve their goals.

This week, 1125 homes are listed for sale in Deschutes County, down 20 from the previous week. In a rare turn, there were more closings (67) than pending sales (56), highlighting a buyer retreat. 

Crook County inventory dropped six to 178 active listings. Six pending sales and four closed transactions are typical of the last several weeks. One of the Crook County sales was in Brasada Ranch, the sought-after golf course community near Powell Butte.

The number of active listings in Jefferson County increased by two to 119 homes for sale. Five pending sales in the county align with recent activity, with only one closed transaction. The sold property this week closed at $304,900, showing a reduction from the asking price of -4.62%.

Barring any tallying issues, we will know who our next president will be at this time next week. Another job report and a Fed meeting on the 6th and 7th will likely create short-term volatility in the mortgage markets. I expect the Fed to back off the dot-plot predictions of further rate decreases and to hold steady at the next Open Market Committee meeting. You can probably guess that I believe this time of year is an excellent opportunity for buyers. Lingering inventory and higher mortgage rates should keep home prices in check for buyers in the foreseeable future. 

Active Listings

Redmond-based Hayden Homes to launch online home design and buying platform

• By SUZANNE ROIG EO Media Group

Hayden Homes customers will soon be able to purchase the home of their dreams from the comfort of their couch using a new web application.

Homebuyers for years could do a 3D walk-thru or use visualizers to see a color of a house, but the technology for Redmond-based Hayden Homes takes the experience up a notch by creating a shopping experience like online retailers.

Want a stainless steel sink? Click. Want the garage on the left of the home? Click. The website allows homebuyers to see what their choices cost and how much a mortgage payment would be.

“Nothing existed in our industry like this before,” said Steve Klingman, Hayden Homes president. “There was no known supplier of this digital experience. We had to create it ourselves.”

The immersive shopping experience addresses changing consumer trends.

Builders such as Hayden Homes can differentiate themselves from competitors by providing this relaxed shopping experience, which ultimately can increase sales without incurring more marketing costs.

Nearly 98% of all homebuyers first look online at homes, Klingman said. But the majority of buyers are tech savvy, so it made sense to create an online purchase experience for homes, he said.

Some in the industry, however, fear that buying a home — often the biggest expense for individuals — online could lead to disappointment and is vastly different than buying shoes or a book online.

“I think that buying books and shoes online is fine as those items can easily be returned if not of the size or quality the consumer thought they were getting,” said Lester Freidman, a managing principal broker at Premiere Property Group LLC in Bend. “But to make the biggest buying decision a consumer is likely to make in their life an online, sight-unseen process is fraught with danger.”

Friedman also felt that this process cuts out the buyer’s real estate agent and requires fewer staff manning model home sites.

“What if the colors are not exactly rendered online,” said Friedman. “The size and fit are hard to duplicate and feel on a video screen. Seeing first hand the fit and finish of the craftsmanship is impossible. And how the whole fits onto the space and lot is difficult.”

Creating new pathways to purchasing

Studies have shown that millennials and Generation Z buyers are more comfortable making purchases online, Klingman said. In 2019, the question arose: Why not tap into this market idea and apply it to home buying?

In 2019, the company began tweaking its software to accommodate an online experience. There were a lot of interfaces that needed to be connected. The subdivision layout and plot plans had to be loaded. The building materials for each of the 40 house options, setbacks and interior options loaded. And then there’s the estimated monthly payments and the price that gets added up.

Engineers tweaked the experience so that as of Nov. 13, it will be available company-wide in 60 developments.

The platform, Klingman said, is more transparent and easier for first time buyers, who may find home buying confusing and difficult.

“We realized how non-transparent our industry is,” Klingman said. “It’s hard for buyers to find out information online. We wanted to use feedback from customers to create as much transparency in the space as possible.”

The process, however, does not eliminate the need for sales people at new developments. A sales staff is there to answer questions, help tweak a contract or explain a process, he said. With this digital platform, buyers can come into a sales office feeling like they have done their homework, he said.

“Home buying is very complicated, especially for first-time home buyers,” Klingman said. “That’s the majority of our customers. We wanted to help take them that down the path.”

Hayden Homes has been in business since 1989 and now builds in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho, he said. Each of the developments have about 40 different floor plans for customers to choose from, he said. The technology is not perfect, he said, and there may be instances where a customer selects a home site and a design that doesn’t fit or isn’t appropriate. There are digital protections in place, but that’s where a sales person can help, Klingman said.

It’s a lot more complex to build a home than selecting a shoe or a stroller. Floor plans are limited by the homesite’s physical limitations, he said.

Where it’s working

Customers in Idaho have already had a chance to beta test the digital process, he said. The response has been positive.

“It’s been a positive experience by users in Idaho,” Klingman said. “Customers who have worked with us in our old system and buying a new home from us now are calling us and raving about the experience so far. Those are the exact test users we are so excited to follow them along the journey and make real time tweaks to the system.”

In the end, Klingman hopes that these same first time buyers will remain in contact and turn around and buy their next home from one of Hayden’s agents.

“First time home buyers are no longer at a disadvantage and now are empowered,” Klingman said. “They have more control over the product, greater happiness, greater joy.”

 😎Just Sayin

Fun N Games in Central Oregon

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