Get the most out of this year’s Parade of Homes by viewing the finest examples of creativity and craftsmanship in Manitoba’s home building industry. This bi-annual event is hosted by the Manitoba Home Builder’s Association (MHBA) and continues to be the largest Parade of Homes in Canada.
If you’re considering building a new home, this event is the perfect opportunity to speak with a variety of builders to gather inspiration for your future dream home.
Here are some tips to get the most out of your Parade of Homes experience:
Plan ahead
With the Parade of Homes being such a large event, you’ll want to narrow down your areas of interest before you begin planning which show homes you would like to visit. Where you choose to live is as important as the home you choose to live in, so determining which neighbourhoods would be a good fit for your lifestyle is a great place to start.
Qualico Communities has four active communities in the City of Winnipeg and surrounding areas including Sage Creek, Oak Bluff West, RidgeWood West and Taylor Farm. You can learn a bit more about each of these communities by clicking here. Each of our community websites will include information specific to the neighbourhood including show homes, available lots and direct links to participating builders.
Once you have a list of desired communities mapped out, be sure to know their show home hours and regulations. This information can be found on the participating builder’s website. With Covid-19 it’s important to stay safe and practice social distancing. Always research official websites for up-to-date information on show home hours and safety policies.
While touring
Use the MHBA map while navigating. This is important because show homes are often located on new streets that are not yet available through GPS mapping apps such as Google or Apple maps. Upon entering a Qualico community, you can also follow the directional signs that lead to the show home groupings.
Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and easy to remove shoes as you will need to take footwear off upon entering the show homes. Once inside a show home, it’s always helpful to take notes of features and layouts that you’d like inside of your future home. Speak with the agents and ask if photos are allowed inside of their show home; This is a great way to compare show homes afterwards. Most builders will also have information available including photos, features, floorplans and nearby amenities.
Afterwards
If you didn’t have a chance to visit the show homes during Parade of Homes, it’s not too late. Remember that you can always make an appointment with a builder to view a show home after parade; They're open year-round! Our community websites including Sage Creek, Oak Bluff West, RidgeWood West and Taylor Farm also have a “view more media” tab beneath each show home’s photo. This is where you can click to view photo galleries, videos and floorplans of participating show homes, all from the comfort of yours!
If you follow these tips, you’re sure to make the most out of your Parade of Homes experience. These steps will also help lead you in the right direction when thinking about building your own brand-new home in one of our communities. Now get out there and begin exploring our show homes, whether it’s in person or online!