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PROJECT DETAIL:

Branding Three User Interfaces
We designed a modular front-end architecture that would accommodate not only Pulte, but also two sub brands: DiVosta and DelWebb. All use the same back-end and front-end systems, but different style sheets, based on domain.

PULTE HOMES, INC

PROJECT DATES: August 2007 - June 2008

[ www.pulte.com ]

Pulte Homes is one of the nation's premier new home builders. For more than 50 years, Pulte Homes has designed and built new homes and communities of the highest quality and design excellence.

Pulte Homes: Community
DiVosta Homes: Community
DelWebb Homes: Community

The new web redesign was launched in May 2008 to help consumers find homes using a rich and interactive map-based search tool, learn about available homes using interactive multimedia, organize and save properties of interest using personalized notebooks, and finally connect with Pulte sales agents directly through a dynamic, context-specific contact form. The project was scoped as an end-to-end design and implementation effort lasting approximately 18 months.

Front End Development

We selected the Yahoo! User Interface Library for front end development on the Pulte redesign, based on the following factors:

1. Time to Market: a need to have solid, pre-built functional components that can be quickly customized to match the desired interaction model and "look and feel." The web standards based approach that YUI employs makes it easy to customize components while also addressing common development issues such as browser compatibility, performance and accessibility.
2. Robust Set of Widgets: a desire to use a front end framework that fits with the client approved interaction specification (for example, our UX team's use of the Auto Complete design pattern was accommodated using the YUI AutoComplete component). In the deadline-driven agency environment, integrated development practices help to reduce development time and improve continuity.
3. Reliability: a sense of comfort/security in using products that are already proven on Yahoo! web properties. The YUI web site, API, and supporting community are all excellent resources in providing help, feedback, and examples.

Pulte Homes: Find a Home

The YUI library was used to build a variety of interesting multimedia widgets, including tabbed navigation, image carousels, price sliders, search auto-complete, modal dialogs, and customized form submit buttons.

Search (Find a Home)

The "Find a Home" page is certainly the most important destination on the new Pulte site. We used a Google Maps implementation to help home buyers find properties using a geographic metaphor. Additionally, we added filtering parameters to help consumers narrow their search results based on typical home buying criteria (such as price, square footage, and number of rooms). Search results are delivered on demand via AJAX from a server side database of available properties.

By leveraging Google Maps API features, we extended mapping functionality to the individual community plan templates. Each home community provides consumers with information about nearby amenities (schools, shopping, recreation) as well as driving directions.

Pulte Homes: User ID/Notebook

User Notebook and Contact Us

Properties of interest can be saved for future reference using a "notebook," allowing consumers to own and manage a personalized account on Pulte. Within this space, each user can manage their account information, review recently viewed and saved properties, and compare homes of interest.

The contact us form is dynamically pre-populated with information relevant to each particular user interaction during a session- allowing the user to be guided to the correct customer service agent based on geography, interest, and/or problem.

Conclusion

The new Pulte Homes web site features:

• Interesting technology mash-ups: for example the search page uses a Microsoft ASP/.NET framework, Google Maps for geocoded search, and Yahoo! YUI for user interface components.
• Broadband "Web 2.0" user interactions: including mapping, notebook account management, multimedia based videos and virtual tours, and flash based interactive home plan configurators.
• Robust back-end database implementation and fully featured content management system.

The project's success has generated industry interest and continued business. Moving forward, we have planned development tasks in an effort to further refine and create an application that best reflects Pulte's business interests.