Fall has arrived! Now, not only can we can experience crisp, cool mornings and the colorful turning of the leaves, we can safely get out and enjoy the Fall Parade of Homes presented by the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem (HBAWS), a showing of beautifully designed new and remodeled homes. The Parade of Homes is free to attend and geared toward the whole family as a fun and educational experience. Dates for the Fall Parade are Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th, and October 17th and 18th, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Current President of the HBAWS, Chris Thompson of Thompson Building Group, LLC, welcomes visitors to the event, “This year’s Fall Parade of Homes tour is your chance to view cutting-edge quality products and exceptional services by our associate members that can be incorporated into your remodel or the design of your future home.”
Sponsor of this year’s Fall Parade of Homes is BB&T, now Truist, Nathan Myers, Truist Senior Vice President, Triad Commercial Real Estate Leader, remarks, “Truist is a proud affiliate member of the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem. We truly appreciate its dedication and efforts to promote quality, professionalism, and advocacy for the local and state housing industry.”
Darlene Saunders, Executive Vice President of the HBAWS, is excited to present the Fall Parade of Homes. “The annual Fall Parade of Homes continues to provide an opportunity to see the very best in residential construction, including new designs, products, and services in today’s new homes. With the current historic low-interest rates and limited home inventory, it is a great time to purchase your new home.”
New this year, the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem is providing virtual tours in addition to the traditional Parade of Homes open house this fall. The builders wanted to make their homes available for anyone unable to, or uncomfortable with, viewing the homes in person. You can view the 3-D Matterport Tours of the Parade homes from the comfort of your own home! These virtual tours will be available via the Fall Parade of Homes website www.paradeofhomesws.com, as well as the mobile app: Triad Fall Parade of Homes. Both resources provide contact information for our Parade builders as well as information about each Parade home.
Throughout the two weekends of the Parade, Saunders says, “We appreciate all the efforts of our Builders, Realtors, and attendees in following CDC guidelines and protocols when the homes are open…no more than ten are allowed in a home at one time…everyone is asked to maintain social distancing, wear face coverings, use hand sanitizer, etc. As with any public space, these safety precautions are in place for everyone’s benefit.”
As you enjoy the Parade of Homes, you may wonder how the home construction industry has been affected by Covid-19. Ron Ricci, of Ricci Builders and Management, summarizes, “Covid-19 has had an unusual effect on the construction industry. People are realizing that they either need to upgrade their surroundings, add office or workspace, or perhaps build a new home that has better space utilization. Increased building material prices due to shortages and high demand, and the subsequent increase in building costs, do not seem to deter the consumer from choosing smaller projects and entry-level homes, but are, in fact, impacting high-end homes and remodels, as well. In the end, particularly once a vaccine for Covid-19 is produced, we will all have a better appreciation of how important our homes are to daily life.”
Be sure to include this year’s Association House in your tour, built by the Veritas Group, Inc, dba Veritas Construction and listed by Blue Door Real Estate Group of Wilkerson ERA. The Association house is in Briarcliff Village and includes a custom trim package, heavy moldings, coiffured ceilings, and built-in shelving, as well as a bonus room, covered back porch, custom-designed master closet, and modern finishes throughout. Each year, a portion of proceeds from the sale of the Association House benefits HBAWS operational expenses. It contains wonderful extras, as HBAWS members provide donations, products, and services in the building of the house.
Visitors to the Parade will have the opportunity to fully experience all the design and decorating elements that have been carefully incorporated into the chosen homes. Susan Carson, Interior Designer at Susan Carson Associates, Inc., remarks, “The biggest trend—your home is now a destination. It is not just a place to live, but now a SAFE place to work, exercise, study, shop, and play. People are asking for combinations of spaces to gather and quiet places to work or study. People are asking for low maintenance in all materials. As interior designers, we provide multifunctional spaces with high-performance materials and see emerging trends of mixing metals, as well as using warm gray or taupe with accents colors.”
To plan your tour, please visit paradeofhomesws.com to view the list of properties, links to the builders’ web sites, and interactive/printable maps. Consider installing the Fall Parade App on your phone. Or, for more information, contact Darlene Saunders, Executive Vice President, HBAWS 336.464.8000 darlene@hbaws.org, or at 336-768-5942. Visit hbaws.net. HBAWS is located at 220 Charlois Blvd. in Winston-Salem.
