When: Today through Sunday and Feb. 8-10; 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays
Where: Airport Expo Center, 3900 McCauley Drive, Vandalia
Admission: $7 for adults; free for children 12 and younger; parking is free. Purchase $5 tickets at Kroger checkout lanes.
Prizes: Visitors can enter to win a $10,000 HomeWorld Shopping Spree; one winner will be chosen each weekend.
Presented by: Universal 1 Credit Union, Cox Media Group Ohio and NARI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
More information: www.mvhomeworld.com
It may be a new granite countertop for the kitchen, a cozy carpet for the family room, or a bedroom window that doesn’t get drafty during these cold winter months.
Whatever’s on the wish list for your home or apartment is likely to be an attraction at this year’s Miami Valley Home World. The event kicks off Friday, Feb. 1 at the Dayton Airport Expo Center and runs through Sunday, Feb. 10.
The home improvement showcase features 150 exhibitors and products ranging from appliances and insulation to bedding and closets. The event also includes cooking demonstrations, free samples and expert advice on topics from green technology to federal tax credits. Last year, more than 10,000 people attended.
Victor Rooney of Greater Dayton Building and Remodeling has been in the remodeling business for almost 20 years and says the home shows offer good exposure to vendors and good information for those who attend. His company is located in both Beavercreek and Centerville.
Though folks of all ages come to the shows, he says recently he’s seeing a lot of empty-nesters who are opting to stay in their homes and want to create spaces that allow them to age in place.
“They may want to widen their doorways, create bathrooms that are ADA compliant, even add an elevator,” he said. “That’s partly about the economy but also about living independently in your home for as long as you can.”
As for remodeling trends, Rooney says kitchens and bathrooms have always been staples in the remodeling industry and continue to be. Many families upgrade countertops, cabinets, flooring. Quartz is extremely in demand and is harder than granite and maintenance-free, he said.
Showers are still very popular, Rooney said, with clients removing larger tubs and replacing them with full walk-in showers.
Walls are coming down as well.
“When houses were built in the 1970s and ’80s, the living room was the entertainment area and was the largest room in the house,” he explains. “But what we’re seeing now is that the kitchen is the spot where everyone wants to be so we’re opening up the space to create full flow from the kitchen to the living area. You’re creating a larger space so that everyone’s in one place.”
Rooney suggests those interested in remodeling come to HomeWorld with a plan in mind and try to ask the kinds of questions that reflect their specific needs.
Many come just to browse. When Sandra and Roy Cashour of Tipp City visited last year’s HomeWorld, they never expected to end up with $10,000 worth of free home remodeling.
“We went so Roy could get some exercise,” Sandra Cashour explained. “He’d had three heart attacks in January when we were vacationing in Florida and we had just come back.”
When her husband encouraged her to enter the drawing being offered by show sponsor Universal 1 Credit Union, Sandra filled out the little slip. She’d forgotten all about it when she got the call a couple of weeks later.
“At first, I thought it was a scam and didn’t believe it,” she said. “But he finally convinced me I’d won.”
The prize allowed her to select merchandise or services from any group represented at HomeWorld. She picked new carpet for the entire house, a new refrigerator and a wine rack and wine.
“I had started a fund for new carpeting and now I can use the money for something else,” she said. “We had a ball; it was a lot of fun! “
The attraction of a home show is the variety of ideas and options on display, she said.
“I enjoy milling around with the people and talking to the vendors,” Sandra Cashour said. “There were exhibitors I hadn’t even considered — someone was showing stained glass windows, for example. And they also have the things you might need — there are water softener people, garage door folks, we had thought about getting our furnace replaced.”
The Cashours will definitely be back at HomeWorld this year.
“This time I want to win and spend the money!” Roy Cashour said.
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