The 2016 Fall Parade of Homes has started in fine fashion. Crowds for the first week have been terrific and the weather has been a pleasant mix of warm and cool, so you could take your pick of prime new-home-visiting weather. For the benefit of Parade veteran and rookie attendees, the Manitoba Home Builders Association offers the following tips for a successful parade:
Wear comfortable slip-on shoes
There are 136 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. Many of the new neighbourhoods have multiple homes being shown, so you will probably park in one location and walk to all of the homes in that area. Upon entering each new home, you must take off your street 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. Therefore, be sure to wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes that easily slip on and off. It will make your visit that much more enjoyable.
Plot a map of homes to visit
If you have a particular destination site, make sure you look for additional homes along the way to visit. Many of the locations are in close proximity to each other and it’s easy to get to a number of them in one tour. Bring along your parade magazine or follow the listings on your smart phone.
Don’t forget the one-offs
Although there is tremendous variety in those neighbourhoods that have multiple homes, make sure you visit those areas with a single or just a few listings. 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. These individuals are a wealth of knowledge and will make your visit interesting and informative.
Have fun
The Parade of Homes is an enjoyable three weeks during which you can see the latest and greatest in new homes. You can go as fast or slow as you want, taking in the big picture or concentrating on a detail. You can visit each home as often as you want, so as not to miss a thing. It’s all about what interests you. Enjoy the 2016 Fall Parade of Homes.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba
Home Builders’ Association.
