Founded in 1978, Mattamy Homes is the largest privately-owned new home builder in North America. But they still faced their share of challenges when the global pandemic hit mid-March.

Lorence Bouvier, Community Sales Manager for Southwinds by Mattamy Homes, says the biggest obstacle was the overwhelming negativity in the media, coupled with a major lifestyle change. However, Mattamy Homes continues to press forward.

"Truth is, doesn’t matter what’s happening in the economy, people still need a home. Whether it’s first-time buyers, downsizing, upsizing, job transfer… we continue to sell homes and move forward. People are resilient and I’m always impressed with how we adjust so quickly and make things happen, regardless of the circumstances."

Bouvier says even though no one was ready for the world to shut down, they had fantastic support from their entire management team at Mattamy Homes, and moved quickly to increase their online presence.

“The marketing team has done amazing things in a short period of time. We’ve tightened up our safety precautions as well."

Bouvier says that initially, staff reacted with fear, but soon adapted.

“Being Canada’s largest builder, we always want to lead by example and set the bar for industry standards,” says Bouvier. “We’ve put new practices in place that we hope others find helpful. Everyone’s safety is our biggest priority - we all have families to go home to at the end of the day.”

Bouvier explains that while Mattamy Homes’ sales centres have now re-opened by appointment only, the only homes they’re able to enter are those currently under construction.

“I’ve had numerous meetings with my safety coordinator to discuss the best way to go about it,” says Bouvier. “We have a Covid form that anyone going on-site must fill out, combined with quick safety orientation. As per usual, no one under the age of 18 on-site. We have one way in and out of the construction area, where we must check-in. Everyone’s encouraged to wear masks and gloves, but most of all we limit the amount of people in the home to two at a time. We must give our construction team 24-hour notice before entering the home. We’ve increased the amount of times that we’re cleaning the units between trades and tours. So our construction time frame has slowed down significantly, but safety is everyone’s main priority."

Bouvier says Mattamy Homes clients are understanding and have seen the benefit of the changes.

"It’s been a positive experience, a lot of people appreciate and respect what we’re trying to accomplish,” explains Bouvier. “It’s forced us to be more up-to-date with our online presence. As we focus more on virtual tours and quicker discoveries over the phone/email, it’s been a huge benefit, helping people narrow down exactly what they’re looking for before coming to the sales centre. Most people understand what we’re trying to accomplish by only seeing a couple houses that best fit their needs versus looking at too many options and getting overwhelmed."

Bouvier says a big surprise of the past few weeks has been the amount of success Mattamy Homes continues to have.

"Anytime I can help someone move forward with a new home, especially a first-time homebuyer, it’s always a special moment,” notes Bouvier. “I love seeing people smile and most of all, taking that deep breath and sigh of relief once they realize everything’s coming together and it’s a clear picture of what to expect. We connect with other people day-to-day in our personal lives, but to have the opportunity to do so when they’re making the biggest purchase in their life, I absolutely love it."

Bouvier has a few words for other businesses forging ahead during this strange time. 

"Don’t resist change, embrace it and adapt accordingly. Ask questions and lean on each other for support. We’re all in this together!"

Mattamy Homes is currently developing Southwinds, a new community in Airdrie. Within the development, you'll find rear-lane townhomes from the 290’s to low 300’s, with 1300 square feet to 1400 square feet with 2 and 3 bedrooms available for immediate, fall, and early-next-year possessions. All units have an attached double car garage with no condo fees.

For those who crave a bit more space, Southwinds also features single-family homes from the 360’s to mid-500’s, with 1600 square feet to 2700 square feet with 3 and 4 bedrooms available for immediate, fall, and early-next-year possessions, with attached single car or double car garage available

.Mattamy Homes will also be developing neighbourhood walking paths, green spaces, playgrounds, schools, and rec centres within the Southwinds community.

To learn more or to connect with Mattamy Homes, visit https://mattamyhomes.com.

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