There is something about creating a home together that sparks camaraderie in the building industry. The Parade of Homes put on by the Home Builders Association may last a few days, but it is at the opening night that you will see the many faces that are necessary to turn a project into a home.
Whenever the Association has a group of homes built in the same area they like to celebrate with a block party and a parade.
“It’s a way for us, the Home Builder’s Association of Northwest Indiana, to feature what our builders are doing that is new and innovative,” said Vicky Gadd, the Executive Officer of the association. “All of our builders are local. It’s important that everyone shop local. We like people to support our members, so we support them.”
Rick Mossell of Heartland Builders has been constructing homes in Northwest Indiana for 25 years. His focus now is on St. John. The Parade helps his business in two ways.
“One,” he said, “Is name recognition. And another is with presold homes. I think it’s good to build a home custom to a client’s needs. Being hands on like I am works out great.”
Celebrations like the Parade of Homes invite the community to see what different Builders can offer them. It created marketing opportunities for the many companies involved in the production of the homes.
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Ken Pylipow, President of Von Tobel, spoke with every single builder about their house. “The home we’re standing in,” he said, “We supplied everything in the house. [The Parade] supports the builders, and the builders support us all year long. So when they [have a chance to showcase their homes] we want to come out and support them.”
Steiner Homes Ltd has been working with Von Tobel for two generations. Pylipow made friends with Dan Steiner and when Steiner’s son took over the company the alliance continued.
In lieu of their commitment to promoting local business, the Home Builders Association invited local restaurants and craft breweries to cater the event. Fourteen different establishments spread throughout seven garages offered samples of hoppy IPAs, steaming perogies, creamy mac and cheese, and many other fan favorites.
Jack Mix, the owner of brew pub 95ate5, was serving a craft of his own creation. The concept for his brewery is to have fun sampling different kinds of beer instead of returning to the same one over and over. That is why he insists of only making one at a time.
“This is good representation,” said Jack Mix, the owner of brew pub 95ate5. “We’re surrounded by good, terrific breweries and restaurants and it’s good to be a part of that. It gets our name out there.”
It seems that he, like all the other members of the extended Home Builders Association family, was in great company that night.