Attending a home show can be both exciting and intimidating. The venue is always massive and full of countless experts promoting a wide variety of products and services. While the experience may seem daunting it doesn’t need to be that way. Here are some tips to make the most of attending a World Class Home Show, so when you leave you will be armed with valuable and useful information.
Narrow Down Your Project Scope
Have a plan going in about what you are interested in seeing and learning more about. Your plan can be extremely precise, such as you want to look at faucets for your half bath or carpeting for your finished basement. Your plan can also be a bit loser and undefined. For instance, maybe you want to hardscape your backyard, but you don’t know where to start. Just identifying the area and the type of work that needs to happen can give you a great starting point.
Do Your Homework
Conduct some research around the projects you are interested in accomplishing ahead of time. Having an idea of the process, materials and cost will give you a better understanding when you are at the home show and talking to professionals. Educating yourself prior to the show ensures you will be able to spot a good deal when you see one.
Keep an Open Mind
Home shows are an amazing resource for inspiration. Going in with a somewhat defined or vague plan can help guide you, but be open to change. The projects you think are priorities when you arrive may not be as important when you walk the show and talk to vendors. Many exhibitors offer great deals, so if you find a steal of a deal for a service or product that you initially felt was a low priority it may be worth shifting your projects.
Round-Up Data
Before heading out to the home show take some notes about your home or the property you are renovating. Take measurements and write down other useful info, so when you are speaking to a vendor you can give them information that will enable them to help guide you. Figure out the overall square footage and break it down by room, especially if you plan to address the flooring. Measure doors and windows and make note of the roofing material and approximate age. Track your typical gas, electric and water bills.
Even if you think something may be irrelevant, write it down anyway. Having all of this information handy ensures you will be able to answer questions and find the right products or services for your project.
Map Out Your Route
When you arrive at a home show it can be tempting to jump right in and start walking the floor. Instead, find a guide or map and take a moment to check it out. Based on the projects you have in mind see which vendors are exhibiting and where the booths you want to visit are located. Map out the route you will walk to ensure you see all of the vendors you want to visit. Home shows are big and spread out, so having a plan can save you the hassle of walking around aimlessly and make the best use of your time.
Take Notes
Bring a notebook and a pen or be prepared to take notes on your phone or a tablet. Whichever method is easier and more comfortable for you, but have a way to track information you receive. Write down things you see that you like, as well as things you don’t like, or topics you need to learn more about before making a decision. Jot down the names and contact info of people you speak with or use your phone to get pictures of business cards. Make sure to get contractor license numbers when appropriate.
Snap photos of displays or products to help document everything you learn. You will likely talk to a lot of people during a day spent at a home show, so taking notes will help you stay organized and make informed decisions later.
Get Ready
Put these tips to use and you will certainly be able to make the most of your World Class Home Shows experience. The whole point of the show is to be inspired and learn about the options available, but doing a bit of prep work ahead of time and going in organized will help. Home shows are a lot of fun and when you use these tips the experience can be informative and incredibly useful, too.
To find out about the latest event and get ticket info, visit World Class Shows today!
Thank you for reading our blog! How can we help you? Contact us today.
Blog - World Class Shows 