OTMJ Parade of Home Coverage:
The 2011 Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders Parade of Homes will come to a close April 10, But there is still time to check out the more than 160 homes featured in this year’s event.
This year’s event, which started April 1, has seen an increase in participation from previous years. Though new home sales are slow to rebound, the Parade of Homes provides an opportunity for builders to demonstrate innovative design and construction techniques and hopefully connect with prospective buyers.
“We’re excited to have more than 20 villages in this year’s Parade,” said Brooks Harris of Harris Doyle Construction, chairman for the event. “To be a village, a neighborhood has to have at least three homes entered in the Parade. That’s a convenience for home buyers since they can see several homes in one stop. This is a big Parade for our association, with a great variety of home prices, styles and locations, so we’re enthusiastic about what it can do for our members.”
An annual event since the early 1960s, the Parade of Homes typically inspires unique designs and a high level of craftsmanship, as builders often see a lot of foot traffic through their homes.
“Even when the housing market is down, people love to get out on a nice spring weekend and walk through new homes,” said Bart Fletcher, executive officer for the association. “It’s a tradition for a lot of families, and some of them find exactly the home they’d like to own.”
Thanks to the GBAHB website, it’s easy to plan a day of touring this year’s homes. Just visit www.birminghambuilder.com to find homes and villages in this year’s parade.
“We have everything you need to know online at birminghambuilder.com where home shoppers can plan their day of touring homes,” Lurenda Avery said. “This year, we’ll also have text links on signage in neighborhoods so people can learn about a home before ever parking their car, plus links to GPS to route your tour. It’s all very easy to use and a great way to shop for a new home.”
According to Harris, the Parade seems to inspire people to make a move.
“We sold our Parade entry last year and have been fortunate to work with several customers who found us during this event. This year we’re going to have expert and celebrity judges award honors to their favorite homes, so shoppers can quickly recognize new trends. It’s the time of year when people thinking about a new home are ready to get outside and look, so it’s ideal for everyone involved.”
This year’s event also included a Professional Building and Remodeling Expo for the first time this year.
More than 80 Birmingham companies participated in the three-day show at the Pelham Civic Center March 25-27.