Become a Homes Tour Volunteer
The New West Heritage Homes Tour runs on community spirit. Volunteers welcome guests, protect our hosts’ beautiful homes, and help everyone have a great day. Curious about the role? Start here.
Event: 43rd Annual New West Heritage Homes Tour
Date & Time: Sunday, May 25 • 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What Volunteers Do
Volunteers are stationed throughout an assigned home to guide visitors, share key info, and ensure the safety of guests, the home, and its contents. Teams may rotate so everyone can try different posts.
Ticket Checker (Front Door): check tickets, ask guests to remove/carry shoes, manage capacity
Home Attendant (Rooms/Levels): answer questions, direct flow, manage capacity
Exit Door: thank guests, ensure exit-only traffic at the rear door
Physical requirements: standing for your entire shift and the ability to use stairs.
Shifts and Schedule
Shifts
Morning: 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Please arrive 15 minutes early to your assigned home for orientation.
Tour Day Timeline
9:30 a.m. Pick up your Volunteer Package at your assigned home
9:45 a.m. Morning shift: enter home and meet homeowners for orientation
Afternoon shift: free until 1:15 p.m.10:00 a.m. Tour opens
1:15 p.m. Afternoon shift meets morning shift for handover/orientation
1:30 p.m. Shift change
5:00 p.m. Tour ends; volunteers may leave once homeowners return
Why arrive 15 minutes early?
To receive a quick orientation specific to your home. Mornings meet with homeowners; afternoons meet with the outgoing volunteers.
Perks and Essentials
Volunteer Package
Includes your tour ticket/guidebook, an Express Pass, and a snack.
Express Pass
Identifies you as a volunteer while on shift, and lets you bypass line-ups when you’re off shift and touring other homes.
Please return your pass at the last home you visit by placing it in the “Express Pass” bag at the exit.
Off-shift time
You’re welcome to tour the other homes when you’re not on duty.
T-shirts
Not provided every year; availability varies.
House Lead Role
What is a House Lead?
A House Lead picks up volunteer packages for their home prior to tour day and distributes them on the day. They also contact the Volunteer Coordinator if a volunteer doesn’t arrive.
Time commitment: about 30 minutes in addition to your volunteer shift.
On-Site Orientation Topics
Shoes on/off, photography permissions
Which rooms or areas are included in the tour
Flow: the intended route through the home and the exit location
Capacity limits for rooms, floors, and stairs
Safety considerations (low ceilings, steep stairs, etc.)
Interesting context about the home or renovation
Flow = the order and path guests take through the house.
Capacity = the safe number of people in a room, on a floor, on stairs, or in the home overall.
Assignments, Preferences, and Dress
Choosing your shift: you can indicate a preference; assignments are first-come, first-served. Morning shifts fill fastest.
Changing your shift: possible, but if full you may be wait-listed.
Choosing your house: preferences may be accommodated when possible, but scheduling across all homes is the priority.
When you’ll know: house assignments and the list of homes are sent one week before the tour.
Volunteering with a friend/family member: you can request to be placed together.
Dress code: casual, comfortable, and tidy; avoid sports attire.
Conduct and Facilities
Bathrooms: volunteers may use the bathroom in their assigned home. Guests may not, except in emergencies.
Respect for homes: no one, including volunteers, may open cupboards, drawers, or closets.
Remind guests this is a private home, not an open house.
Need to Cancel?
If you can no longer volunteer, please notify the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible so we can reassign coverage.
Sign Up
Interested in volunteering for the New West Heritage Homes Tour?
Email Volunteer Coordinator Yasmine Semeniuk at volunteer.hnw@gmail.com.
Please include:
Your name and phone number
Your preferred shift (morning or afternoon)
If volunteering with someone, include their name, email, and phone as well