After 32 years of producing single-site custom built home shows, the Tidewater Builders Association changed the show format to a scattered-site tour and introduced the community to Homearama Touring Edition.

According to TBA Show Producer Jean McCullough, the show was a success.

“We had no idea what to expect,” McCullough said. “We are happy to report that we had an excellent response to this new show concept. The turnout was great. Guests were able to visit a variety of houses — from $100,000 condos to a million-dollar custom home to everything in between.”

McCullough said visitors could rate each house in the categories of floor plan, room features and best overall.

“The Sylvia, priced in the high $300’s and built by Summit Construction in Chesapeake’s Albemarle River Estates neighborhood, received the highest score,” she said.

“Second was The Garrett, priced in the low $300’s and built by HH Hunt Homes in Chesapeake’s Culpepper Landing neighborhood. At third was The Rangemoss, priced at more than $1 million and built by Weldenfield & Rowe in Suffolk’s Harbour View neighborhood.”

Terry Gearhart, research manager with local market research firm Residential DataBank, put the show’s success into perspective: “Homearama is a great ‘buy now’ campaign, designed to stimulate the public to get out, see what’s going on in the market and motivate them to update, remodel or purchase a new home.”

Gearhart said participating builders saw an 60.4-percent increase in visits to their properties, even after the Homearama traffic was accounted for.

“This is what we call the ‘halo effect’ that Homearama has on the housing market at large,” Gearhart said.

“We had very positive response from our builder participants,” McCullough added. “This event was not limited to the eight to 10 custom builders who normally anchor a traditional Homearama setting. Builders who have not been in Homearama in the past welcomed the opportunity to be associated with the show.”

According to 2015 Homearama Touring Edition Chairman Van Rose, who is new homes division president at Rose & Womble Realty, the Parade Craze app visitors could use while touring the different properties also proved popular. Visitors used the app to see the participating homes, check out pictures, get directions, rate the homes and make comments.

“With the excellent feedback we received this year from our builders, visitors and real estate partners, we’ll make Homearama Touring Edition 2016 even better,” McCullough said.