The 2011 Fall Parade of Homes has started with a bang. Crowds for the first week have been terrific. The weather has been a pleasant mix of warm and cool, so you could take your pick of prime new home visiting weather.
Last year, we printed a primer for attendees; just a couple of tips to maximize your enjoyment of the Parade of Homes. For the benefit of veteran and rookie attendees, the Manitoba Home Builders' Association offers the following tips:
Wear comfortable slip-on shoes
There are 100 fantastic new homes available to visit. Although you likely won't get to all of them, you will find yourself trying to get to as many as possible. Upon entering each new home, you must take off your shoes in order to tour. Given that some subdivisions have more than 10 homes open for viewing and you don't want to miss a thing, that's a lot of bending and lacing. Be sure to wear a comfortable walking shoe that easily slips on and off. It will make your visit that much more enjoyable.
Map a strategy
If you have a particular destination site, make sure you look for additional homes along the way to visit. Many subdivisions are close to each other and it's easy to get to a number of them in one tour.
Don't forget the one-offs
Although there is tremendous variety in those subdivisions that have multiple homes, make sure you visit areas with a single listing. There are entire new neighbourhoods to discover and builders with unique designs. That hidden gem might just be your next new home.
Talk to the agents
The sales agents know their show homes. Ask them about anything ---- unique features, energy savings, specific materials and what makes this particular home special. They're a wealth of knowledge and if they don't have the answer, they will find out and get back to you in short order.
Remember to follow along the visits of our bloggers as they comment on each home in the Fall Parade. Feel free to add your impressions of the homes that you visit. It's fun to compare notes and form your own impressions based on someone else's prior visit. Just go to www.homebuilders.mb.ca or www.winnipegfreepress.com, click on the icon and follow along.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
