New Homes Articles
More workers needed to meet the needs of construction industry
Manitoba¹s construction industry was reminded again this week that it faces a significant shortage in skilled labour over the next 10 years. The Manitoba Construction Sector council convened a workshop of industry partners to address this situation. In June of this year, the CSC published an assessment of the construction labour...
November 18, 2009
A woman's home is her castle
And builders, designers might want to keep that in mind
When my husband and I finished our new home, we held a party. I was proud of all the practical and luxurious touches I managed to squeeze in on our limited budget -- the kitchen island with its own sink, the maple floors, the cast-iron tub and a pair of...
November 14, 2009
Movin' on up (or down)
Bungalow design offes something for both types of buyer
Whether they know it or not, home-buyers looking to move up or move down to a new home are likely to share the need for a pair of essentials. What would those essentials be? Space, and amenities. Those looking to move up (in most cases, young families) or down (empty nesters,...
November 14, 2009
Value-added living
Sage Creek home offers luxury at an affordable price
No matter what your budget -- modest, unlimited or somewhere in-between -- buying a new home is never a simple matter. However, it can be exceedingly challenging when it comes to trying to find a home for, say, under $400,000. Consequently, young families just starting out, or empty nesters looking to...
November 7, 2009
Congratulations to Renovation of the Year winners
THE Renovators Council of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association held its annual Renovation of the Year Awards Night October 30 at the Niakwa Country Club. A record-setting 33 entries were received in six categories. Seven judges reviewed and evaluated all 33 entries, scoring them on criteria devised specifically for this competition....
November 7, 2009
Wild and not crazy
Conservation development is the hottest thing in some rural areas
For those who faithfully keep their lawns trimmed and carry out seek-and-destroy missions on dandelions, it's enough to make you cringe. But while we urban neat freaks can't get our heads around the fact people actually let their grass grow knee-high -- even mixed with randomly seeded wildflowers -- there is...
November 7, 2009
Striving for sustainablity
Canada's green builders could benefit from Swedish education
"THINK big, build small" would be a perfect motto for Sweden. One can find evidence of this while strolling through any local Ikea store, of course -- the company is renowned for its innovative furniture designs packaged in flat, easy-to-transport boxes -- but it's also apparent on the streets of Stockholm...
November 7, 2009
Open to tradition
Home combines best of both worlds
When the designers at Gino’s Homes conceived the design of 119 Bridlewood Road — one of their latest show homes in Bridgwater Forest — they kept one key thought in mind. “We really listen to our customers,” says Gino’s marketing representative, Mark Rempel. “And we discovered that while about 70 per...
October 31, 2009
Home is where the RV is
Quit your job, jump into a rig and leave the real world behind
Jumping in the RV and driving off into the sunset is a dream for a lot of people. Harriet and John Halkyard actually did it -- and so did Mike and Terri Church. They have some very interesting tales, because they have been to some very exotic places. The Halkyards, for example,...
October 31, 2009
Parade is over; buyers are starting to get serious
Although the Fall Parade of Homes officially ended on Oct. 10, the various show homes remain extremely busy. The reason is that we are in the peak of buying season right now. Manitobans visited dozens of new homes in a variety of neighbourhoods during the parade. One's scope tends to be...
October 31, 2009
Great intimate space
Touch of tradition modifies open design
As a recognized leader in the home-building industry, it can be all too easy to get complacent. That's never the case with Maric Homes, says Maric's lead sales representative, Tom Haines. That commitment to innovation is showcased at one of their newest show homes, a walk-out bungalow at 71 Autumnview Drive...
October 25, 2009
'Different... but it works'
Home's design has entertainment in mind
When Enzo and Tony Cotroneo got together with their design team at Artista Homes, they decided to think more than a little outside the box. The result? A two-storey home at 79 Portside Drive in Van Hull Estates that contains a host of features that design purists would consider markedly different...
October 18, 2009
The real winner is the Manitoba home buyer
Today's Winnipeg Free Press features a beautiful two-page spread listing the medal winners in 25 categories of the 2009 Fall Parade of Homes (pages E6-E7). These new homes were selected by panels of volunteer judges who looked at each home in a pre-selected group and ranked them on a 90-point...
October 18, 2009
Great... just great
Fully integrated living area a big hit with homebuyers
When it comes to home design, changing trends are a fact of life. That's why Huntington Homes' Rob Swan marvels at the layout of the main living area in his newest show home, a 2,320 sq. ft. walk-out bungalow at 87 Autumnview Drive in South Pointe. "Thinking back to 1993 -- which...
October 11, 2009
Miss the parade? You can still visit show homes
The 2009 Fall Parade of Homes ended yesterday, but you still have plenty of opportunity to revisit the fantastic show homes that you saw during the three weeks of Parade. Record crowds exceeding 37,000 people visited 100 new homes by 33 builders in 28 subdivisions in 11 cities and towns. It...
October 11, 2009
