Mortgage Motivation
Mortgage & Motivation advice that you can use in your life!
Mortgage Motivation
Behind the Blueprint with Adrienne Fontenot: Exploring the Art of Home Construction
Unlock the door to the latest home construction marvels with Adrienne Fontenot, the esteemed Executive Director of the Acadian Home Builders Association, in our latest heart-to-heart. Adrienne gives us an exclusive sneak peek into the Parade of Homes event, an architectural festa where you can rub shoulders with the crème de la crème of local, licensed contractors and feast your eyes on their latest masterpieces. If you're on the hunt for a new abode or just itching to sprinkle some fresh design ideas into your current digs, this episode is your personal VIP pass to innovation and inspiration.
Step into the nuts and bolts of the Parade of Homes as Adrienne navigates us through the digital transformation that has revolutionized attendees' experiences. The mobile app is a game-changer – think turn-by-turn directions to the avant-garde abodes, coupled with a treasure trove of information on each home, builder, and sponsor. This episode isn't just a conversation; it's a guided tour through the spring buying and building season, promising to plant you front and center at the intersection of high-end craftsmanship and cutting-edge home design. Join us and transform how you view the home-building journey.
Welcome to this episode of Margage Motivation. Today I have Audrey Ann Fontenot, with the Cadiana Home Builders Association, our executive directors. I'm so grateful to serve with you, under you on the board and is the Parade of Homes our largest fundraiser.
Speaker 2:It's one of our biggest events, that's for sure, and, yes, probably one of our largest fundraisers in terms of the money that we collect.
Speaker 1:So that event is coming up and let's explain to everyone exactly what this parade of home means, what the capabilities are. Can you give us all the details on the event?
Speaker 2:Sure, the parade is both Saturdays and Sundays, the weekends of April 13th, 14th and then the 20th and 21st.
Speaker 2:So the parade of homes provides members of the community an opportunity to come by and view all of the latest design trends, craftsmanship, hardware, appliances, pools you name it built by local contractors, licensed contractors.
Speaker 2:Here in Cadiana we host what is called a Scattered Site Parade, which means that it is a self-guided tour. So once you purchase your tickets, we have available in the mobile application a listing of the homes that are participating or that have enrolled in the parade, and, home by home, you can visit each home one time throughout the course of those four days and really have the opportunity not only to see the quality of the craftsmanship that's produced here by our local builders, but also to even visit with some of those builders as well. Some of the homes are custom homes and so those are already pre-sold, but some of the homes are available for sale or for purchase. So if you are in the market for a new home now or in the future, the parade of homes is always a great opportunity to see what kind of homes our builders build and what kind of new trends are out there these days.
Speaker 1:And it's a very well attended event. I just love partnering and, you know, assisting with the parade and the excitement and the weather is always beautiful and I feel like it's a kickoff to spring, the spring buying and building season. How does one get a ticket if they would like to attend the parade?
Speaker 2:Sure. So we will have tickets available on our website, which is akkadianhbacom akkadianhbacom and we are going to do something a little bit different this year. So we're trying to enter the you know, the mobile and the digital age. Last year we transitioned to a digital ticket, so we now have an online platform in which you can purchase tickets and then you'll use your mobile device to enter each parade home. So this year, we're really trying to incentivize people to purchase their tickets in advance. So tickets in advance of the event will be $15. And then, if you purchase your tickets during the event starting April 13th, they'll be $20 per person.
Speaker 1:But when do the tickets go on sale?
Speaker 2:So they will be released March 15th, so just a couple of weeks. We've partnered again with the 008 magazine, so when those issues hit new stands, you will then have all of the information surrounding the builders, developments, the home elevations, the descriptions, so that's really sort of a great guide and has a long shelf life as well to use as a reference for the homes that will be in the parade. But I will tell you that our app is probably the most user friendly component to the parade. While you're touring the homes, many of the houses that enroll in the parade aren't yet, I guess, navigable by our traditional map systems that we utilize.
Speaker 1:Because it's new. It's a new address.
Speaker 2:Correct. So the address isn't yet plugged into the map systems, and so what we do is we actually obtain the coordinates of the homes, and the app will provide you, turn by turn, driving directions from one house to the other.
Speaker 1:And what's the app? How do you download? You go to the app store and download.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you'll visit either your Android or Apple app store and you'll search AHBA parade and it should pop up, and then in that application you'll have the opportunity to utilize the map or the driving direction portion. We have the information on all of the contractors, the sponsors of the parade, which, of course, we couldn't do the parade without our generous sponsors and then, of course, the information on each home as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's a great tool. It'll get you from one location. It'll suggest your route for you. I really enjoy and it's very user friendly. So if I can use it, anyone can use it.
Speaker 2:It's a great tool for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so March 15th is when the tickets go in self. You want them at a discounted price. How many homes do we have registered so far?
Speaker 2:We have 34 houses which is like I said, even at $20 a ticket, if you're unsure and you need to purchase your ticket at the last minute. Four days of entertainment to view 34 plus houses it's really a bargain and one of the best ways to truly capture. We have such an amazing and unique home style here in Acadiana. We do, and we have some phenomenal license contractors, and so we're always so grateful to be a part of this event every year to really showcase what our members can do in building houses for our community.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much for having us. I'm looking forward to working with you and thank you for your service to Acadiana. I know in the near future you'll be moving on to the Louisiana chapter, right, yes? And leaving us here in Acadiana, but I know you'll still be with us at Hort. And just thank you. For how many years have you been with us here? Thank you.
Speaker 2:I've been here for 20. Oh wow, so it's time for the bird to leave the nest. But I'll be gone, but not too far, and, of course, grateful to also be affiliated with the Acadian chapter in my next endeavor.
Speaker 1:Well, if we can help you in any way, please let me know. And I want to thank you not only for your friendship, but again for your dedication to building in Acadiana and all that you do.
Speaker 2:It's my pleasure Thank you Bye, bye.