The newest trends in home building design and the latest fashions in home decorating are now on display as Manitoba’s best home builders showcase more than 140 new show homes during the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s 2024 Fall Parade of Homes.

For those looking at buying a new home, the Parade of Homes is a fantastic way to see the best in today’s new housing market. Having a good idea of what you like (and in some cases, don’t like) will help you prepare for all the decisions that come with building a new home. The MHBA’s Parade of Homes is an opportunity like no other in Canada to visit a wide variety of show homes and identify which building options you love, which you rule out, and which you absolutely must have.

Your new home should be a perfect reflection of your own style and tastes. There is no better way of determining which finishing options, floor plan layout and overall home design you want for your new home than by visiting the parade’s show homes. This will give you a great start when you begin the process of selecting your design and finishing options with your builder. Once you’ve decided on the type of new home you will build, you will need to decide on what features and finishes you will want in your home. These decisions will include interior choices like the colour and style of your cabinets, your choice of countertops and types of flooring as well as exterior finishes such as stucco, brick or paint selections.

Some builders will have hundreds of choices or options available to you, so having a good idea of what your preferences are for these items will certainly help streamline this process with your builder. One critically important step when meeting with your builder is learning from them what features and finishes come standard with your new home. If a certain home has standard finishes that suit your tastes and needs, then the number of decisions you’ll need to make will be greatly reduced. If you do plan on making upgrades on your finishing options, a good rule of thumb is to budget at least five per cent of the purchase price of your home for your upgrades.