I was quite content with my first group writing project and now that the first is done with, it is time to get back on that horse. This time I’ll have better price and it’s even more tailored for log home enthusiasts. I’m still in the middle of setting up all the details, but maybe you would like to give me an idea on how to do it.

CONTEST CONCEPT
Here’s how I’m planning to do it. Many blogs run competitions to which one can take part by writing comments on those competition post or by writing related post on their own post and then linking to the competition post. Now, links are important to any website so those outside posts get more weight when determining the winner.

THE PRIZE
Done with that introductory stuff already, let’s get into the prize after all that’s what it’s all about, eh? This time I’m going to give out something extremely valuable - custom floor plan design!

For a person in the beginning of their log home project, planning is the key to successful outcome. Floor plan design is especially crucial for comfortable living experience. Usually custom design costs separately or is included to log home price as an extra cost. Full custom design can cost anywhere between 500 USD and 5 000 USD. Now you get it free!

DETAILS OF THE PRIZE
No matter what stage you are in, be it pen and paper in your drawer, some scribbles on a matchbox or basic floor plan from any house manufacturer in the world, now it’s your time. I will discuss with you, take your ideas and make them into a floor plan of your dreams. Too good to be true?

Yes. I have time limit. I won’t be continuing with your project until the end of world’s oil reserves, I’ll set the deadline to 1st of June so we have more than half a year for your floor plan.

I also have a schedule limit. I’m working with various log home projects and as a free work, this one has to face shelfing at busy times. Practically this means that sometimes I’m not able to get back to you immediately.

Oh, one more thing, stadiums are really not my cup of tea. So, no stadiums.

PROJECT - MY FAVORITE ROOM
This time we are going to do something very simple. Write about your favorite room and link back to this group writing project. If you don’t have a blog, just write your say to comments below. I’ll compile a list of all submissions and put them online and in process we all learn what is important to us. Project is on and ends fifth of October.

Brilliant news from Southland Log Homes and DonGardner. Southland is going to start offering floor plans from Donald A. Gardner Architects. The beauty of this alliance comes from combining these two companies’ unique strengths.

Southland’s sales channel has massive reach and they have solid manufacturing, however they have never been the strongest player in custom floor plan log homes, but that’s just the trade-off company has to do with production volumes and time consuming custom floor plans.

Donald A. Gardner delivers floor plans and boy do they have plenty! Company has massive slate of different floor plans and even they might come out as somewhat corporative in their company culture, they sure compensate your trouble with abundant slate of floor plans and good pricing. They do have custom services, but those cost extra.

SOUTHLAND BENEFITS

• Southland doesn’t have to invest heavily on architects, structural designers and floor plan designers.

• Southland gets better slate of floor plans to attract customers from new niches and sales go up (word on the street is that they already have almost overly aggressive sales channel, so watch out when shopping around).

• New floor plans are available almost instantly removing long development plans, making this a swift move over competition.

• Corporate culture in these two companies is very similar and cooperation should be straight forward.

It will be interesting to follow how this affects Southland Log Homes market position. What do you think?