Even if you have been living under a rock for the last 12 weeks, odds are you’ve been soaked and are fully aware of just how long the Oklahoma City Metro has been treading water due to record amounts of rainfall.  As builder’s, we’re keenly aware of how weather can affect construction processes, and at this point, it’s beyond just delaying a home’s completion a few days to plug the leaks in the schedule.

This past Wednesday, the Board of Directors of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association unanimously voted to reschedule the 2007 Parade Of Homes to October 20-28, rather than its originally scheduled dates of September 22-30.  The vote took place on the recommendation of the Executive Board and this year’s Parade Chairman and builder-friend of mine, Jason Schuff, who issued a survey to the over one hundred builders participating in the Parade.  Survey results concluded that nearly two thirds of the 170+ homes entered in the Parade have suffered from scheduling delays significant enough to jeopardize the likelihood of completion in time for the event’s September deadline.

As two-time past Chairman of the Parade, I voted in support of the date change, despite having the Jeff Click Homes entry for this year’s Parade nearly complete and somewhat unaffected by the extended rains.  One important component of a successful Parade Of Homes, in my experience, is to insure that as many houses as possible are complete.  The viewing public deserves and prefers homes to be finished, and I’ve personally fielded complaints during my terms as Chair regarding homes that weren’t complete and ready for tours.

As a builder that takes my responsibility to deadlines very seriously, I’ve often likened the Parade of Homes deadline to Christmas.  We know every year that it’s coming, and there’s little excuse for not being adequately prepared in time for it.  This year, however, is a rare exception to that sentiment, given the lack of control we have over such excessive inclement weather.

On the up-side to the change, we can look forward to cooler weather for home touring, which has been something longed for in the past during hotter Septembers.  We also don’t have to be as concerned with other competing events during the new scheduled dates, which don’t conflict with the State Fair of Oklahoma, or with any major OU or OSU football games (the 20th are away-games for both teams, and no games are scheduled for the 28th).

So while it’s raining on our Parade schedule right now, hopefully when October 20th gets here, we can look forward to clear skies and a great showcase of the finest new and completed homes in the Oklahoma City Metro.