Parade of Homes ready for fall show

How would you like to prepare a home for more than 10,000 guests?

That’s what members of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders are doing with the Showcase Home that is part of the Fall Parade of Homes. This year’s parade begins Oct. 10 and runs through Oct. 18. The 31 homes — priced between $117,000 and $339,000 — in the event will be open from Noon until 6 p.m. each day.

The Showcase Home, with Justin Green serving as the supervising contractor, is located at 7000 Naples Way in the Cisterna Villa subdivision near Chaffee Crossing. The 2,200-square-foot home is built with an Italian villa look and priced at $269,500. Its features include custom wood cabinetry, video security system, custom audio system and covered patio with a natural gas grill.

Dave Hughes, executive director of the association, said the home is also a certified Energy Star rated home. The energy saving features include high-end insulation, special windows built to make efficient use of sunlight, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems. Proceeds from the sale of the home go to fund the association.

The homes in the Parade include numerous features and amenities that may appeal to those not in the home-buying mode. Although the association members want everyone to buy a new home, that’s not always realistic for everyone, Hughes said.

“Everything we do is geared to promote a better product for the home. You can take an existing home and renovate it and be happy with it, and we encourage that,” he said.

Hughes said he expects between 10,000 and 12,000 will tour the Showcase Home. He said the Spring show drew more traffic than the associated expected, especially in homes outside Fort Smith, with a Mansfield home drawing more than 250 visitors in one weekend.

“That really astounded me, to have that kind of traffic at that location. And he ended up selling that house. We’ve been pleased with the interest,” Hughes said.