FOR almost 20 years, the Canadian Home Builders' Association has been promoting October as Renovation Month across the country. It is the only countrywide marketing campaign dedicated exclusively to Canada's renovation industry.
In addition to the national campaign, each local home builders' association develops its own unique way of promoting the industry. The Manitoba Home Builders' Association is also extremely proud of the excellence of the renovation industry and the members promoting it.
As has been mentioned previously in this column, the MHBA introduced the first virtual RenoMark Renovation Parade last year. Ten highly informative and unique videos featuring terrific renovation projects by some of Manitoba's top renovators can be viewed on the MHBA website at www.homebuilders.mb.ca . Just look on the left side of the home page under Virtual Renovation Parade, click and enjoy.
In addition to the Parade, our annual Renovation Awards are also in full swing. This year, we are proud to present 42 separate renovation projects by 10 different professional renovators. Judging by a panel of experts will take place next week, with the RenoMark Renovator Awards Night on Friday, Nov. 4.
Manitoba has always been the leader in home renovations in Canada and the market continues to be strong here. Given that Winnipeg has the third-oldest housing stock in Canada, home renovations are an important component to our residences.
New ideas are featured at the Fall Parade of Homes and the tens of thousands of visitors look to see how they can incorporate new designs, colours, features and materials into their existing homes. Suppliers to the new home industry brought out their best during the Parade and now consumers want to know how they can update their homes with a renovation.
As always, the Manitoba Home Builders' Association and our RenoMark renovators urge everyone to get your renovation agreement in writing. Make sure that your contractor outlines all costs in advance so that both parties know what to expect.
If you are at all in doubt as to what to ask and what to look for in a renovator, go to the RenoMark website at www.renomark.ca/Manitoba and follow the guidelines posted.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
