By Clissa S. England, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.
Oct. 5--With the Parade of Homes officially opening today, some builders may be taking their first deep breath in weeks.
That's because many of them -- along with numerous subcontractors -- have been rushing to finish the final carpentry work, the lovely lawns and the gorgeous interiors before the houses open for visitors.
In this year's Parade, 59 builders registered 130 homes. Of that number, 118 homes -- both furnished and unfurnished -- were entered in the annual contest for Gold and Silver awards.
For builders who have entered the contest, the Parade start date is not always as important as the date the houses will be judged, usually about 12 days ahead of the opening.
"The general public gets to come out and see what type of home we build . . . and some come to get decorating ideas," said Stephen Thomas of Stephen Thomas Homes, which has an entry in the Mountain Run development this year.
Having a house on the parade is fantastic exposure, he said.
"We like to have it judged to see what other professionals in our field think about our homes," Thomas said.
Depending on circumstances, builders sometimes have to scramble the day or night before to get homes finished for the contest.
Thomas said he was not surprised by a story about a builder who used truck and car headlights to illuminate the yard so the landscaper could roll out the sod at 10 o'clock the night before judging day.
The staff at the Home Building Association of Richmond, which organizes the Parade, starts nine months in advance. Clissa S. England is special sections editor for The Times-Dispatch, which includes editing the Parade of Homes magazine. Contact her (804) 649-6835 or cengland@timesdispatch.com.
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