On Parade: HBA event benefits builders, charities

An annual event since 1954, the Parade of Homes offers a venue for local builders to show their work to the public. This year’s event, slated for June 16–18 and June 23–25, features 29 distinct properties. Click here for a parade map.

“It’s a large parade,” said Charlyce Ruth, HBA office manager. “We had 18 homes last year. We have several new members participating, two from Branson, and some long-term members entering for the first time in a long while.”

Helping hands

For the first time in its history, the Parade of Homes is charging admission, and donating part of the $5-per-person fee to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The fee covers all homes and is good for the duration of the Parade.

“One of our advisory board members, Scott Rookstool of Integrity Homes, works with HBA and helped get us into position as a benefiting organization,” said Angie Roe, campaign manager for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “We’ll be providing volunteers at the houses on the tour, who will sell and check tickets.”

The money raised for the society through Parade of Homes admission fees will be used to send 10 society members to a team-in-training seminar.

“It’s been easy to work with HBA, and we’re optimistic about the event,” Roe said. “We’re hoping to educate and raise awareness with the public, because the society’s growing in Springfield, and a lot of people didn’t know that we’re around.”

Two homes on the Parade are being used as fund-raisers for area organizations. MGM Properties Inc. built a home on Lexington Square that will be raffled to benefit St. Jude’s Miracle Network. There are 6,000 tickets available at $100 a piece, and the winner will be drawn June 25.

Another home, built by Tony Brewer of Cornerstone Cottages Inc., is a $650,000 home sold to raise money for New Covenant Academy’s tuition assistance program.

The house, located at 5825 Brightwater Trail in Rivercut, already has sold but will remain open for the tour.

“It’s my first official entry, and I’m excited to help raise funds for the school,” Brewer said. “A project like this is only possible when the community comes together and supports it. We’ve had tremendous help from our suppliers and contractors, and through that team effort we’ve accomplished our goal.”

Branson homes

Also new to the Parade of Homes this year are properties in Branson. Frank Landis, general manager of Branson Development LLC, has spent the last 12 years working primarily in infrastructure as a land developer. While he’s worked in Branson since 1993, this is Landis’ first year with HBA.

“Our company has another project in Montana, where we’re an HBA member,” he said. “We’ve had positive experience with their parades and decided to join. It’s a hot market, and the first year that we’ve built anything vertical (is) a perfect chance for our entries.” Branson Development has two entries: 155 and 157 Tuscany Drive in Fieldstone at Branson Creek. Both are fieldstone-and-stucco villas that include memberships in Murder Rock Golf and Country Club in the listing prices of $189,900 each.

“We hope to see good flow of traffic, at least 100 people over the duration of the event,” Landis added. “Based on the quality of homes on the tour … it’s an attractive reason to come down from Springfield and take a look. We can also generate interest from other builders, who might choose to join HBA. It’s wonderful marketing and advertising, and gives some recognition of the project.”

Back on the route

Brad Wardlaw, owner of Pioneer Construction of Missouri Inc.; has been a member of HBA for 16 years and is looking forward to the Parade of Homes.

“I haven’t had a property on the tour since 1990, and this year timing was perfect,” he said. “The benefits for members are a chance to engage the public, not to mention show off the product and its location.”

Wardlaw, whose Parade home is at 3914 S. El Susan in Southwest Timbers, said builders can use the event to get a read on what buyers are looking for.

But Wardlaw said the public can benefit, too, using the opportunity to get an idea of the market value for homes and to look at homes from an evaluation standpoint.

“They can get engaged in the market, and see what’s hot and what’s not,” he added.

In the driveways

HBA’s Ruth said the Parade of Homes is geared toward exposure and cross-promotion, something that this year, is enhanced by the fact that the event has a sponsor – Youngblood Nissan Chrysler Kia – which is another first.

“This gives an opportunity for them to promote their products, so there will be new vehicles in the driveways on the tour,” Ruth said. “It’s a test case in so many ways. We decided to mix it all up this year, and think it’s going to be fantastic.”

Ruth said that builders who enter homes on the Parade must be builder-members of the HBA. Entry fees are 0.75 percent of each property’s sale price with a cap of $2,000. The majority of those proceeds will be used to advertise HBA events, and for member benefits such as promotion and education. [[In-content Ad]]