Tour of Homes showcases a new build for every buyer
Whether you’re on the market for a quaint starter home, looking to build your dream estate, or happily perusing the latest design trends, the Tour of Homes offers a space for everyone. The annual Tour of Homes, presented by NW Natural, gave 11 builders a chance to showcase their new builds in Salem and the surrounding areas. Occurring July 13th-21st, this year’s tour included 15 homes ranging in value from $468,330 to more than $1.5 million.
Guests plan their own routes through the Tour of Homes. Some use the online tour guide to select specific homes that catch their eye, while others visit a different area each night, enjoying all 15 homes throughout the week. Admission is completely free.
“The Tour of Homes is an opportunity for folks to see new homes in all different price ranges,” Mike Erdmann, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties (HBA), said. This variety makes the Tour of Homes distinct from other new-build showcase events, such as the luxury-focused Street of Dreams in Portland.
The HBA has been organizing this event since the mid 1970s. Every year, they aim to provide builders in their network with the opportunity to connect with potential home buyers and the community at large. The HBA offers a support network to help those businesses thrive. “We work to try and make their businesses more successful,” Erdmann said.
Eli Boylan, owner of Boylan Homes, greeted guests as they walked through his tour home in Dallas, Oregon. The home nestled cozily into a corner lot in a well-kept neighborhood. The walls were a cheery white complimented by gold accent pieces, giving it a modern farmhouse feel with a touch of elegance. With the Dallas Golf Club as its backyard, this home is sure to sell fast.
Boylan explained that, even more than selling the tour homes themselves, this event gives future clients the inspiration they need to plan their next build—often using their favorite builder from the Tour of Homes. Builders such as Boylan, who has participated in the tour for over 10 years, take pride in fostering relationships with the guests who walk through the homes every year. “It’s a small pond over here,” Boylan said, referring to the Dallas community where he builds. “We live in the community we build in.” To him, clients are neighbors, deserving the utmost quality from him and his crew.
Tthis event gives potential customers the opportunity to witness the latest in energy efficient solutions. NW Natural explained that their appliances “offer the efficiency, performance, reliability and resiliency benefits that homeowners want and have come to expect from natural gas equipment.”
NW Natural holds corporate philanthropy as a key part of their company culture. Over the past five years, they’ve provided over $150,000 to around 15 organizations in Marion and Polk counties. The Tour of Homes fosters a sense of community, showcases the constantly evolving home industry, and provides that ever-critical link of connecting the right clients with the right businesses. With each year, both builders and visitors leave more inspired and connected than before.