We Said ROI Is More Than Dollars… Now Let’s Talk Dollars
Last week we called out the ROI Lie: the idea that only trackable dollars matter. We challenged builders to look beyond spreadsheets and think about the hidden ROI of buyers who feel heard, supers who aren’t buried in calls, and teams free to actually sell.
But sometimes the best way to prove ROI is to show the numbers. And we really, REALLY like our numbers.
This week, let’s talk about the measurable wins builders are seeing with Novi.
More Leads for Less
Leads are expensive. Depending on your size and your market, the average cost per lead can be as low as $40 or as high as $900. That is why increasing the volume and quality of registrations without spending more is a game changer.
Builders who move from paper registration cards to digital through Novi see an immediate 10 to 20 percent lift in walk-in registrations. Not only are more prospects captured, the data is cleaner and instantly usable for follow-up. In a market where every lead matters, that is ROI your sales team can feel.
Marketing Costs That Actually Drop
One builder shared that they were spending $45,000 a year on printed brochures and handouts. After moving their content into Novi, that cost dropped to under $10,000. That is $35,000 back in their budget every single year.
And it is not just the savings. Digital materials do not go out of date the moment a price changes. No more reprints. No more boxes of wasted collateral. Just current information in the buyer’s hands instantly.
Measurable Improvements in Customer Experience
It is easy to talk about engagement and experience, but harder to prove it with numbers. Novi clients can. One of our clients reported the following changes after 12 months:
Overall rating: ~12% improvement in customer experience.
Post-close experience: ~21% improvement,
End of warranty survey response rate: more than doubled!
Behind these numbers is something simple: buyers who feel informed and cared for. When they are updated regularly and can see progress themselves, frustration drops and trust grows. That sentiment shows up in the surveys, both in ratings and in willingness to compete the surveys in the first place.
Catching Mistakes Before They Cost You
Weekly photo reviews help design teams spot wrong fixtures, hardware, or finishes early, saving about $500 or more per home in contingency.
One builder used to keep $40,000 on a credit card just to cover mistakes. With Novi, much of that spend has disappeared.
Reduced Risk and Warranty Costs
The ROI is not just in sales and marketing. Documenting every home with photos and updates creates a record that saves money in risk and warranty.
Weekly photo documentation helps a builders reduce risk insurance costs by $50 to $150 per home
In one case, photos taken during construction helped police recover stolen appliances (on FB marketplace, no less)
In another, a buyer attempted to walk away at closing, claiming he had not been updated. Communication logs, photos, and login history proved otherwise, and the arbitrator dismissed the claim on the spot
ROI Across the Entire Lifecycle
The biggest ROI may come from consistency. Builders using Novi do not just document homes when a buyer is in the picture. Every home, presale or spec, is treated the same, with updates from dirt through warranty.
This consistency reduces out-of-pocket warranty costs, strengthens insurance claims, and keeps both teams and homeowners accountable. It also builds trust with buyers who can see their home’s story from start to finish.
Hard ROI, Real Stories
ROI is more than dollars, but the dollars are undeniable. More leads captured. Tens of thousands saved in print costs. Insurance and warranty expenses reduced. Customer experience scores climbing year after year.
This budget season, do not just ask “what is the ROI?” Bring these numbers to the table. They are proof that investing in better communication and engagement pays back fast.