REALTORS® are presenting the Winnipeg Home and Garden Show from April 6 to 9 at the RBC Convention Centre.
It has been said that one of the rites of spring in Winnipeg is the Parade of Homes, as it commences every year in early March and runs for over three weeks. Kudos to the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association (MHBA) for putting on an excellent parade this spring, which featured 131 homes in 36 subdivisions across Winnipeg and the surrounding rural municipalities. Another indicator of spring has arrived — the annual Winnipeg Home and Garden Show. It starts on Thursday, April 6, and runs for four consecutive days until Sunday, April 9.
Realtors are proud to be the presenting sponsor of this major consumer show, which will be held on the third floor level of the newly-expanded RBC Winnipeg Convention Centre. A real advantage for both exhibitors and show attendees is having everything on one level. Another plus is the natural light which pours in from the floor-to-ceiling glass over St. Mary Avenue.
The real attraction and convenience of attending a show such as the Winnipeg Home and Garden Show is one-stop shopping. You can find everything under one roof and on one floor.
If you check out the exhibitors list at winnipeghomeandgardenshow.com, you will see an amazing and rich variety of over 270 exhibitors. Look for the show guide in the Winnipeg Free Press’ Who’s Who. If you miss it there, you can get one at the show. The show guide will be invaluable in making sure you do not miss a must-see exhibit.
In this age of social media, when it seems literally everything is available online without having to leave your couch or desk, a home show offers you the chance to engage face-to-face with experts and ask questions. You are bound to pick up some very useful information and expert advice provided by exhibitor representatives.
You will also want to check out Marketplace Events’ terrific line-up of main stage presenters, who will kick things off on Friday at 3 p.m. and finish off at 4 p.m. on Sunday. HGTV celebs Brian and Sarah Baeumler will be sure to entertain and inform with their All is Fair in Love and Reno’s presentation. Their time slots are Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.
Two other HGTV star presenters are Carson Arthur and Tiffany Pratt. Arthur will focus on protecting your outdoor investment, while Pratt will challenge you to introduce a bright range of colours into your home. They are doing back-to-back presentations on Friday and Saturday afternoon. Arthur will do a third presentation at noon on Sunday.
On Sunday at 11 a.m., Marc and Mandy of the Marc and Mandy Show will cover the hottest trends in 2017.
Realtors have an impressive exhibit that this year features a grand prize draw for a play structure designed and built by Design-built, a collection of formally trained designers and builders based in Winnipeg.
You will meet professional Realtors who produce results. One thing you will learn from meeting them and seeing the infographics and comparisons of property prices here and in other cities, such as Toronto and Vancouver, is that there is a major difference in what your dollar buys. Winnipeg remains one of the most affordable housing markets in the country.
What you will soon realize is that all markets are local. Talk to the local experts to become aware of current market prices in Winnipeg and Manitoba. Even within a local market, prices can vary between various property types and areas of Winnipeg or in rural municipalities.
There will also be some excellent print material available for show attendees to pick up. New this year is a brochure entitled, Do I need a Realtor? Leafing through it, you will soon come to understand and appreciate how indispensable a Realtor is to real estate transactions. Whether buying or selling, there are key steps involved. Market knowledge, objective advice about MLS® market activity, up-to-date information on all necessary forms and documentation, negotiations, the Realtor network and strategies are just some that will be covered.
There will also be CREA’s Homebuyers’ Road Map on hand, which shows how a Realtor will navigate you through the entire process of buying a home in concert with other industry professionals. Buying A Home In Manitoba, by the Manitoba Real Estate Association (MREA), has specific emphasis on helping new immigrants understand what is involved in buying a home.
One targeted to renovations is the Appraisal Institute of Canada’s How To Value Your Renovations. It discusses how payback on renovations is based on the value of increasing the selling price of your property, the value of enjoying the renovated space and the value of maintaining the worth of your property.
The current issue of the weekly Real Estate News will be available to pick up at the Realtor display, as well as its most recent Condo Lifestyle magazine publication.
Go to winnipeghomeandgardenshow.com and save $3 by ordering your tickets online. See you at the show!