Royal LePage Solutions spearheads unique open-house parade

Royal LePage Solutions is spearheading an innovative event designed to get people out and about, meeting real estate agents and checking out a broad selection of homes across the city and surrounding areas.

"It's essentially a citywide open house parade," said organizer Karen Davis, director of professional development and associate broker at Royal LePage Solutions.

The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

The participating homes – Davis is expecting more than 100 – will be listed on realtor.ca and posted in the Friday, Sept. 6 issue of CREB®Now.

"Or just follow the signs on the weekend of Sept. 7 and 8," said Davis. "They will be everywhere."

"This is really an opportunity for information, education, and for people to get out and see some properties." - Karen Davis, Royal LePage Solutions

Although the event is the brainchild of Davis and Royal LePage Solutions, it is also a collaboration involving two other Royal LePage brokerages – Calgary-based Royal LePage Benchmark and Royal LePage Integrity in Cochrane.

"This is really an opportunity for information, education, and for people to get out and see some properties," said Davis.

With almost 98 per cent of all first showings taking place online, Davis says it is important to do "some boots-on-the-ground research" into a home before making a purchase.

"Online is a wonderful tool, but it doesn't give the buyer the perspective of how big the yard is, how close the house is to a busy street, how noisy the area is or what the neighbours are like," she said.

Plus, she notes, when buyers are primarily using social media or online tools to search out properties, they often lose out on face-to-face connections and the knowledge that real estate professionals offer.

"A home purchase is the largest purchase that people will make in their lives and knowing the process and how it works is really important," said Davis. "It is a legal process, an emotional process and a financial process."

Agents and a collection of floating financial experts will be on hand throughout the weekend to answer questions.

Open house attendees can also enter to win some great prizes, including a three-day getaway to Kananaskis and a 55-inch RCA Roku smart TV.