After more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions and public health guidelines that discouraged gathering indoors, Alberta's recent reopening has restored some sense of normalcy. When it comes to the process of buying and selling homes, it has also meant the return of a real estate staple: the open house.

Typically, REALTORS® hold open houses to attract a crowd. However, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and a new emphasis on social distancing, this home-selling staple just won't do.

REALTORS® in Crossfield will be holding open houses with a twist this Saturday.

Aiming to help fill food hampers for veterans, several area Realtors are encouraging prospective homebuyers to bring along a non-perishable food item when they visit the town's Parade of Open Houses this weekend.

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.

To make his latest listing stand out from the crowd, Calgary REALTOR® Paul Ackerman searched far and wide for an innovative approach to the usual open house.

"I'm always trying to come up with something that's a little bit different," said Ackerman, who will be hosting a "living, breathing" open house at his Killarney listing, featuring actors in the role of everyday homeowners.

Open houses are still an important tool in the REALTOR®'s arsenal

Open houses remain a valid and valuable way to sell properties, even in this day and age of virtual reality.
While the technological tools available today to give maximum exposure to a listing have made it easier for potential homebuyers to window shop from anywhere, the physical presence of an open house still can't be replaced.

CREB® president David P. Brown says opinions about open houses are often divided. Some REALTORS® love them, while others can't stand them.

"But how we do it has changed a fair bit I believe," said Brown. "Social media has got to be the biggest thing. Before, if we were going to have an open house we might hand deliver a few flyers or something around the neighbourhood – put up some signs and that was it.

"Now, we post it all over."

Net-zero technology promises to revolutionize homebuilding

As provincial and federal building regulations become more focused on sustainable development, BONE Structure founder and CEO Marc Bovet has seized the momentum and is helping to reshape the way we think about homebuilding.

After a personal homebuilding project went sour 10 years ago, Bovet, fuelled by frustration, took it upon himself to innovate a better way to build.

He talked to people, researched and looked at the ideology behind Lego, eventually coming to the "aha moment" that formed the premise behind BONE Structure.

Citizen engagement front and centre of new initiatives

What is your vision for your community in the next 20 years?

The City of Calgary recently asked this question to a group of nearly 40 Dover residents; the general consensus was a community that is safe, quiet and fun for kids.

Based on this feedback, City representatives will return to the southeast community later this month to present a list of small-scale improvement projects that can be completed within a year. Community members will get to prioritize the projects.

Not about snooping neighbours, say experts 

Calgarian Kevin Konynenbelt listed his house for sale this past spring, just as layoffs and low oil prices were starting to make headlines.

The beautiful attached home, located on a quiet cul-de-sac in Strathcona Park, was listed at just under $500,000.

It featured an attached garage, new appliances, gleaming hardwood and a large private back yard. It was also close to excellent schools, and was mere minutes from downtown.

Yet Konynenbelt initially struggled with the prospect of holding an open house to help sell it. Letting strangers roam around his belongings and walk across his hardwood? Not a chance, he thought.

In order to address changing needs and a growing amount of visitors to Stanley Park, City of Calgary Parks is encourage the public to review design concepts and proposed management strategies with an open house June 15.

"We hope to enhance visitors' experience and boost the park's environmental health through redevelopment," said Keith Parker, parks manager in charge of planning and development. "We are working with a number of stakeholders to identify refurbishment needs as well as management practices that best balance the needs of all park users."

The open house will be held at the Parks Administration Building at the park. Park representatives will be on hand as well as representatives from Stantec consulting team. There will be displays and an opportunity to comment on the draft vision, goals and guiding principles for the management strategies as well as a review of two design concepts for the park.