Questions & Answers with Jason Schuff
Schuff goes behind the scenes at the Parade of Homes.
Questions & Answers with Jason Schuff

Published: September 11, 2008

Q: The Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association's Parade of Homes starts Saturday and runs through Sept. 21 with 164 new houses open free to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. daily. How close are most of the homes to being finished? Isn't it usually a last-minute thing to get the houses ready? What's left for most builders to do?

A: At this point in the process, builders are putting their final touches on the homes, anything from paint touchups to landscaping. The homes are expected to be complete and ready to show.

Q: Tell me about the Parade of Homes books. In addition to maps to the homes and some information about them, what's in the books and where and when can people get them?

A: The Parade of Homes books will be available free to the public starting Friday at all metro area Lowe's. The books are filled with advertisements from all the various trades and suppliers, like heating and air conditioning to bath tubs and faucets. Of course, all advertisers are members of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, which upholds outstanding values and professionalism.

Q: Last year, real storm clouds — and rain and flooding — hung over home construction and delayed the Parade of Homes for several weeks. This year, although Oklahoma is in great shape compared with the nation as a whole, the storm clouds are metaphorical — but no less real — with foreclosures up and homes sales down. What kind of mood are Oklahoma City home builders in?

A: As for the metaphorical storm clouds, buyers are more cautious of the product and price of the homes they are interested in today than the last several years, but the housing market in Oklahoma has a proven track record to "Defy the Trends.” The Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association has put together a marketing campaign that I would encourage all interested home buyers to visit and hear the truth about the Oklahoma housing market. Please visit www.DefyTheTrends.com for more information.

Q: Last year, most builders seemed pleasantly surprised with higher-than-expected traffic through the Parade homes. What do they anticipate this year?

A: I believe the traffic this year is going to be just as high as years past. The Parade of Homes is a much anticipated annual event that draws in people from all over the state. With 164 new homes in this year's parade, this is the prime opportunity for any buyer to find the location, features and size they are looking for.

Q: Hey, weren't you chairman of the Parade of Homes last year? You must have enjoyed it to take on the job two years in a row. Why did you decide to herd cats a second time?

A: It was my pleasure to serve two consecutive years as the chairman for the Parade of Homes. From the staff at the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association and all the members of the Parade of Homes committee, this is a tremendous task to organize and promote. The Parade of Homes is a huge event that runs one week of the year, but we started preparations for this year as soon as last year's parade ended.

Real Estate Editor Richard Mize

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