If the trend of the first two weeks continue, the 2012 Fall Parade of Homes will surpass all previous years' attendance numbers. Sales agents were reporting people were lined up in anticipation of visiting their home.
Sales representatives showing the 126 new homes have been bombarded with questions in the first two weeks. Financial items are front and centre. Interested buyers are particularly enamoured with the low mortgage rates currently available.
Given that most people visit a variety of new homes in the Parade, it's inevitable comparison shopping and the addition of different features arise.
For instance, sales representatives have been asked the cost of changing flooring to something seen elsewhere. Kitchen countertop and cabinets also stimulate discussions for changes. Bathrooms are always popular design topics.
Social media serve countless purposes, one of which includes event marketing and promoting.
In saying this, it made perfect sense to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to build excitement, awareness and interaction for and throughout the Parade of Homes.
We wanted to create a place where we could share what the Parade of Homes is about, who is involved and where and when the Parade takes place.
We felt social media was the perfect way of achieving this.
So for the last three Parades (four, if you count this fall's), we have been utilizing Facebook and Twitter (www.twitter.com/paradeofhomesmb) to share with Manitoba the variety of homes our exceptional members have to offer as well as the areas in which you can choose to build your dream home.
You can find pictures of all the entries for this fall's Parade, organized by builder and by development area, on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ParadeOfHomesManitoba), and while there, feel free to leave your comments on which homes are your favourites and why.
Also, you can follow us on Twitter - @ParadeOfHomesMB. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #FallParadeOfHomes.
If you don't know something, don't be afraid to ask. The staff on site are a wealth of information and, if they don't immediately know the answer, they can find out and get back to you.
Remember, the 2012 Fall Parade of Homes continues through Saturday, Oct. 6. Show homes are open Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
