How to get the most of attending a Home Show

Each year our calendar is scattered with regional home, garden and remodeling shows. We love these events because it’s a great opportunity to meet and greet with people. Its our chance to make a great first impression! Home shows are the window shopping of the home remodel and I don’t know many women who don’t at least glance at what’s on display before entering a store. The downside to a home show is that If you’re not careful you can allow the rows and rows of vendors to get the best of you and waste your ticket price and your afternoon.

Here are some tips for getting the most of attending a home show:

1. Look at the vendor list before you go. If you are planning a kitchen remodel looking in advance to see how many vendors do kitchen remodels will set your expectations. You will spend your time differently knowing there are 2 choices as opposed to 20. Most home shows provide a map so you can make note of vendors you don’t want to miss and bonus there is usually a coupon for a discount on the admission price all in the same place.
2. Ask where the company does work. We primary do home remodel in the South Puget Sound. We service from Olympia to Renton and everywhere in between and there is a point when a job, no matter how fabulous, is outside of where we do work. We try to be up front about our location and that should be one of your first questions. Don’t fall in love with those kitchen cabinets until you find out if a company is willing to come to where you are to put them in.
3. Get 2-3 estimates. A great goal for a home show is to drive home with 2 or 3 companies that you want to get an estimate from. No matter how fabulous a display is (and yes, we know that’s important) you will want to wait to commit to a company before you talk details and they see the job at hand. At a home show you want to try to find a few suitors, its not the time for a committed relationship.
4. Trust your gut. Your home is important and regardless of the size of the project. Engage the people working the booth because ultimately these people will be in your home disrupting your life for a period of time. Beyond giveaways, contests and other free things (yes, we know these are important too) meeting the people is really going to give you a better sense of if this business is what you are looking for.

Renewal Remodels & Additions is at the Tacoma Home & Garden Show (January), Puyallup Home & Garden Show (January), Washington Remodeling Expo (January), Tacoma Remodeling Expo (March) and the Seattle Home Show (October) each year. If you are in the Puget Sound area and attending one of these shows – stop by and say hello.