For years, the start of a new community looked less than inspiring, involving a dirt landscape, a lonely gravel lot, and a faded white trailer sitting off to the side—the “sales center.” Inside, folding tables, stacks of paperwork, and humming space heaters tried their best to create an inviting space, but the message to buyers was clear: the good stuff hasn’t arrived yet.
That was the reality for many home builders, including Mungo Homes, who once relied on repurposed trailers to conduct early sales before model homes were built.
“They got used over and over again until they just looked bad,” recalls Kim O’Quinn, corporate vice president of public and community relations at Mungo Homes. “They were expensive, a hassle to hook up, and by the time you got one set up, you could almost have your model home built.”
Courtesy Mungo Homes
Mungo abandoned the use of those trailers about 15 years ago. But when it came time to find a solution, the team wanted something that went beyond practicality. They yearned for a space that would delight visitors and give new communities an instant sense of identity.
The spark came a few years ago, when Raleigh market president Adam Speiran spotted a tiny home village while driving through North Carolina. “He wondered if we could do something like that for a temporary model home,” says O’Quinn.
The idea quickly gained traction. Working with head of architecture Kimberly Metler, the team designed a fully functional, transportable office built on a trailer frame, specifically one that could be pulled by a heavy-duty pickup truck.
These tiny sales centers are as stylish as they are strategic. Outfitted with light-filled transom windows and white shiplap walls, they immediately capture the attention of passersby and invite them in.
Courtesy Mungo Homes
“When people walk in, they always say, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s so cute!’” says Kelly Whelan, new home advisor at Mungo. “It’s light and airy, and I think it’s very welcoming.”
At roughly 200 square feet, the centers come equipped with ADA-compliant features, such as a ramp entrance and accessible bathroom, heating and cooling, and high-speed Starlink internet. They have everything new-home advisors might need, including a built-in desk and cabinets, refrigerator, coffee bar, television, and computers.
Initially, the first prototype ran off of solar, but power was inconsistent. Today, generators help the tiny sales centers run, with heating and cooling provided by a mini-split.
At roughly $75,000 each, the units are an investment, but one that pays off quickly. Homes sell faster, cutting carrying costs on unsold inventory, and because each structure is moveable, it can be reused from community to community.
Courtesy Mungo Homes
“It’s very difficult to get momentum in a new neighborhood before there’s a model,” the team explains. “These centers have helped us jump-start sales long before that point.”
The first unit debuted in Raleigh in June 2023. There are now 15 in use across eight of Mungo’s building markets.
“I’ve worked out of cars and the gray boxes before,” continues Whelan. “This is by far my favorite. It’s cozy, cheerful, and makes buyers feel happy. That energy carries over into their excitement about buying a home.”
As another representative puts it, “It’s as close as you can get to feeling like home—without actually being in one.”
