The Spring Parade of Homes ended off the same way it started -- with throngs of people flocking to communities across the city.
Not surprisingly, one of the busiest communities was centrally-located Bridgwater Forest.
"It's (attendance) been very good through the entire Parade," said Liam Milne, sales manager for Hearth Homes. "The good weather really helped. When it was nice, we were really busy. And even though the weather has been a bit nasty and cold the last couple of days, we've still been busy."
While most of the activity has centred around people looking for design ideas or just dropping by to see the latest new home designs, Milne said more people than ever have said they're serious about building new.
"I'd say that about 80 per cent of our visitors have been looking for ideas, while about 20 per cent have told us they're interested in building," he said. "Even if half of the 20 per cent end up building with us, that translates into a good amount of business. A lot of the Parade is about future sales. People are walking around, checking out builders. They then usually take some time to decide what they like, then they come back to discuss building in more detail."
Some, like the Norton family (mom Michelle, dad Kevin and daughter Chelsea), were part of the 80 per cent looking for ideas.
"I'm looking for design ideas -- things like types of carpet, finishes and paint colours. All these new homes have the latest and greatest design features in them. The Parade gives you a chance to wander through the homes to pick out some design ideas that you can use to add some fresh style to your own home," said Michelle.
The same went for Jody McKee and Ryan Klimack.
"I'm looking at paint colours -- the Parade is a wonderful place to come to see some of the trends," said McKee. "Some of the colours the builders use are quite different. When you actually see them on a wall in a kitchen or family room, it allows you to visualize how they'd work in your home -- or not."
As for Ryan, his mission was simple.
"I'm looking at decks," he said. "We want to build one, so I'm looking at the different materials, and how they've been constructed."
Artista Homes' sales representative Kate Pentrelli said Parade-goers are always looking for something different in a home, whether they intend to build, or incorporate the design ideas into their current residence.
"I know people really enjoy visiting our show homes because our designers always try to build in wow factor in a practical way," she said. "In particular, people have said they really love how Artista's designers brought exterior elements inside, such as brick and exposed wood beams. That shows them that the design ideas are not only different, but practical."
Pentrelli echoed Milne's comments about more people being in the mindset to build.
"There's always been a certain percentage who come here dreaming of building a new home, but this time around, more of them are serious about building versus buying a resale home. When you build, you can get exactly what you want, and you don't have to go through bidding wars," she said.
Bentley Homes' Paolo Bryant added that he'd also noticed that more Parade-goers were making serious inquiries about building new.
"Absolutely, more people are getting serious about building. The economy is good, interest rates are low, and to be honest, I think a lot of people are sick of bidding wars," he said. "We can design them a home that's specific to their needs and wants, while working with them to help them fit it into their budget."
Bryant's advice to those looking to build new without spending a small fortune on a new home?
"I tell people to get a home with the space they need, then deal with upgrades later. We can build you a great home without high-end finishes such as granite counter tops, tile or hardwood floors or fancy cabinets -- you can always do the upgrades later. As builders, we're all about educating people on the building process. We want to work with you to help you get the home that works best for you on every level."
