Searching for a new home takes a lot of time and effort. But a different kind of home tour aims to make the job easier while offering special incentives to entice buyers.
Called The Art of Home Tour, it brings together 15 of the city’s top home builders and showcases more than 130 of their model homes in 25 communities over one weekend in May. Although the model homes are also open for viewing at other times, many of the builders are offering extra incentives such as pricing discounts, bonuses and upgrades specifically for the tour.
“For the home buyer, we’re basically doing all the legwork for them,” says Shelley True of TRUEdotDESIGN, the tour’s major sponsor. “It’s a guided tour, there’s a map, it has all the hours that they’re open for the entire weekend.”
The tour is organized by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, or GOHBA, the umbrella group that acts as the voice of Ottawa’s housing and renovation industry. It’s a new take on an old event the group used to run called the Parade of Homes.
“We want to create sort of a blitz,” says Nicole McCallion, GOHBA’s special events co-ordinator. Certainly, one goal is to create some buzz for the builders and increase traffic to their sales centres, but there also needed to be something in it to attract buyers to take the tour.
That’s where the special weekend promotions come in. For some builders, that means thousands of dollars off a home’s cost or the equivalent in design centre bonuses. Some are offering free upgrades such as hardwood floors, granite counters or air conditioning, to name a few. Others will have giveaways and special draws.
If you get a bit peckish, many of the communities will have food and beverages available and at least one, Riverside South, is expecting to offer children’s activities.
“This is a great effort to get the public stirring and interested in new housing stock in the city and allows us builders to showcase our fine work,” says Uniform’s Ryan MacDougall.
There are also contests, both before and during the tour, to add to the fun. One lucky tour-goer and five of their friends will win a limo ride for the weekend to the homes they want to visit. And everyone taking the tour who engages on social media will be entered into a draw for a new patio set and barbecue (get details at artofhometour.com).
Photos: The Art of Home Tour
Fifteen of the city’s top builders will showcase more than 130 of their model homes on the tour. Here’s a sampling.
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![The St. James is the largest and most dramatic of Tamarack Homes’ seven new models at Findlay Creek.]()
The St. James is the largest and most dramatic of Tamarack Homes’ seven new models at Findlay Creek.
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![Urbandale’s award-winning Menlo Park model in Bridlewood in one of 18 models across the region the builder will have on the tour.]()
Urbandale’s award-winning Menlo Park model in Bridlewood in one of 18 models across the region the builder will have on the tour.
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![Cedarstone Homes will have two models to view, including the Living series two-storey home, which was designed by architect Christopher Simmonds.]()
Cedarstone Homes will have two models to view, including the Living series two-storey home, which was designed by architect Christopher Simmonds.
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![Minto’s net zero home in Arcadia shows how living green can be stylish and affordable in the suburbs.]()
Minto’s net zero home in Arcadia shows how living green can be stylish and affordable in the suburbs.
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![The Baldwin single-family home is one of 13 Richcraft Homes’ models at Riverside South that are on the tour.]()
The Baldwin single-family home is one of 13 Richcraft Homes’ models at Riverside South that are on the tour.
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![The Alexander bungalow is one of eQ Homes’ most popular. This one, with a four-season sunroom, is at eQuinelle in Kemptville.]()
The Alexander bungalow is one of eQ Homes’ most popular. This one, with a four-season sunroom, is at eQuinelle in Kemptville.
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![The Carlyle is one of five model homes by Valecraft that will be on the tour.]()
The Carlyle is one of five model homes by Valecraft that will be on the tour.
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![HN Homes’ most popular single is the award-winning Kenson. It can be seen in Bridlewood.]()
HN Homes’ most popular single is the award-winning Kenson. It can be seen in Bridlewood.
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![Tartan Homes has several newly opened models on the tour, including the Bancroft single at Poole Creek.]()
Tartan Homes has several newly opened models on the tour, including the Bancroft single at Poole Creek.
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![One of seven models that Uniform Urban Developments will showcase is the Douglas bungalow with loft at The Orchard in Barrhaven.]()
One of seven models that Uniform Urban Developments will showcase is the Douglas bungalow with loft at The Orchard in Barrhaven.
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![Cardel Homes will have five models on the tour, all at Blackstone, including the Berkshire 2.]()
Cardel Homes will have five models on the tour, all at Blackstone, including the Berkshire 2.
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![Glenview’s award-winning Adirondack model is one of nine homes the builder will showcase.]()
Glenview’s award-winning Adirondack model is one of nine homes the builder will showcase.
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![Longwood Building Corp. is featuring homes at either end of the city, including the Sonoma at Mondavi Court in Orléans.]()
Longwood Building Corp. is featuring homes at either end of the city, including the Sonoma at Mondavi Court in Orléans.
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![Campanale Homes has both a furnished model and several inventory homes at Longfields Station available for view during the tour.]()
Campanale Homes has both a furnished model and several inventory homes at Longfields Station available for view during the tour.
McCallion certainly doesn’t expect tour-goers to visit all 130-plus homes.
“We want people to do a little bit of research before they go on the tour. You know what neighbourhood you want to live in, or maybe you have a couple different options. You’re looking at the products and you’re looking at the different communities and maybe you pick out a couple that you’ve seen enough online that you want to see in person.”
And then it’s time to explore.
The Art of Home Tour
What: Showcase of new homes in the Ottawa area by 15 builders in 25 communities
When: Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15
Where: 25 communities stretching from Stittsville to Kemptville to Orléans and several locations in between
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days
Admission: Free
Extras: Contests, builder incentives for home buyers, refreshments
Information: Download a map at artofhometour.com
Tour participants
West (Stittsville, Kanata)
Fernbank Crossing, Stittsville: eQ Homes, Richcraft Homes
Poole Creek Village, Stittsville: Tamarack Homes, Tartan Homes
Arcadia, Kanata: Minto Communities
Blackstone, Kanata: Cardel Homes, Mattamy Homes
Bridlewood, Kanata: HN Homes, Urbandale Construction
Deevy’s Homestead (Bridlewood), Kanata: Longwood Building Corp.
Fairwinds West, Kanata: Mattamy Homes
Monahan Landing, Kanata: Glenview Homes, Mattamy Homes
Richardson Ridge: The Elements, Kanata: Uniform Urban Developments
South (Barrhaven, Riverside South, Ottawa South, Manotick, Richmond, Kemptville)
Fieldstone Barrhaven, Barrhaven: Richcraft Homes
Half Moon Bay, Barrhaven: Mattamy Homes
Longfields Station, Barrhaven: Campanale Homes
The Orchard, Barrhaven: Uniform Urban Developments
Woodroffe Lofts, Barrhaven: Valecraft Homes
Riverside South, Riverside South: HN Homes, Richcraft Homes, Urbandale Construction
Findlay Creek Village, Ottawa South: Tamarack Homes, Tartan Homes
Mahogany, Manotick: Minto Communities
Richmond Oaks, Richmond: Cedarstone Homes
Country Walk, Kemptville: Urbandale Construction
eQuinelle, Kemptville: eQ Homes
Tempo, Kemptville: Glenview Homes
Central
Aviation Private, Central East: Valecraft Homes
East
Avalon Encore, Orléans: Minto Communities
Mondavi Court, Orléans: Longwood Building Corp.
TrailsEdge, Orléans: Richcraft Homes
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