The Builders Association of Elkhart County (BAEC) hosted its annual Parade of Homes event. The Parade of Homes, spanning six days in mid-June, offers potential homebuyers the chance to view 17 featured homes, five of which were conveniently located at a central site in the Chelton Glen neighborhood in Bristol, while the others were scattered across Elkhart County and just over the Michigan state line. This was the first time since 2015 that there had been a central site.
Parade of Homes Committee Member Chris Boynton was a volunteer during the event, checking people in and handing out brochures. He explained the main goal of the Parade of Homes.
“The primary purpose is for builders to showcase their homes and highlight their new designs,” Boynton said. “Builders are present at the homes to answer any questions people may have about the homes and ongoing developments.”
Schrock Homes, the builder of two homes at the central site, has been in the Michiana housing market since 1976 and has built over 1,800 homes in the area. Bo Letherman, president of Schrock Homes, expressed his enthusiasm about Schrock Homes’ involvement in this year's showcase.
“I am really proud of the homes we put up this year,” Letherman said. “It's great to return to a central site for the BAEC.”
A sponsor of the event, Surf Internet, played an important role in the featured homes, as several of them were set up with Surf Internet’s high-speed fiber internet service.
Letherman appreciates the impact that high-speed internet has on Schrock Homes’ ability to showcase more while showing its homes.
“Having fast internet is definitely a positive in today's day and age,” said Letherman. “It's especially nice in our featured house in the Parade of Homes, where we can showcase a 90-second video on our TV thanks to the internet already being set up. It's just great to have fast internet in the home.”
Team Construction, another builder of two homes on the central site, built its first home in 1991. The company not only works on new builds but also works on remodeling projects.
Jeremy Tallman, model homes sales and project manager at Team Construction emphasized the appeal that high-speed internet has to homebuyers.
“I think the largest role fiber internet plays is meeting the demand for what most people are looking for,” Tallman said. “Team Construction has really enjoyed the partnerships and the marketability of our homes with Surf Internet. It’s a huge selling point with today’s buyers. People need reliable internet for working from home, and fiber is light years ahead of other options. Having it available and installed before the homeowner moves in is a very strong feature we can promote.”
Other participating builders in the parade include K.W. Yoder Construction, Town & Country Builders, Jeremy’s Construction, Straight Talk Construction, Elevation Home Builders, Fireside Homes, MJ Construction, Journey Homes by Miller Brothers, R. Yoder Construction, and Miller Brothers Builders.
Remodelers participating in the parade include Bail Home Services & Construction and Stone Ridge Landscaping.
For more information about Surf Internet, visit SurfInternet.com.