MANY people suffer from the misconception that new showhomes are only open twice a year, during the Spring and Fall Parades of Homes. Although those two events certainly receive the greatest publicity and feature 100 new homes at one time, various members of the Manitoba Home Builders Association proudly feature and staff their showhomes throughout the year.
We are currently at the midway point between the 2011 Spring Parade of Homes, which ran in March, and the 2011 Fall Parade of Homes, which will be featured from Sept. 17-Oct. 8. So, for those of you who require a new-home fix between Parades, now is an ideal time.
This spring featured terrific weather for March, and September is always nice. But you're guaranteed short sleeves and slip-ons in July and August, making your tour that much more pleasurable. Besides, it will give you a chance to check out the air conditioning in the home, and on most days parking near the various showhomes will be easy.
So, how do you know what's open and where to look?
The Parade of Homes magazine produced by the Winnipeg Free Press is a staple for all Parade-goers. Most people keep it handy and check off the homes and neighbourhoods they visit.
But, assuming you haven't kept your magazine from last March, not to worry. You can still access the Spring Parade magazine on the Manitoba Home Builders Association website at www.homebuilders.mb.ca. Although not all of the properties featured in the spring are still showhomes, it will bring you back to the builders and subdivisions that you frequented in March.
From there, you have a variety of options. You can download the map on page 41 and visit the neighbourhoods that interest you, stopping in at the various showhomes on display. On pages 42-67, all of the Spring Parade showhomes are listed. Simply make note of those builders whose homes you're interested in, go to the MHBA website and click the link that will take you directly to that builder's site. Many will have their showhomes listed along with the times they're open.
Even simpler, turn a couple of pages in today's paper and you'll see a number of ads for showhomes listed by MHBA builders.
No matter how you access them, the important thing to know is that the various showhomes are open for business and your viewing and visiting pleasure. Take your time, visit the models and locations that catch your fancy, talk to the sales representatives and enjoy the introduction to your next new home.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
