On Saturday. Aug. 27 and Sunday, Aug. 28, the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga, along with EPB, will present the annual Fall Home and Remodeling Show at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Expos can be overwhelming if you aren’t prepared, so take a few minutes to organize your thoughts and make a plan:
l Decide what you want to achieve by visiting the show. Do you have a specific project in mind, or do you just want to get ideas?
l Visit www.HomeShowChattanooga.com for a full vendor list. Develop a plan of which exhibitors you want to visit. Determine which are “must see” companies and which are “want to see” companies.
l Plan how much time you want to spend at each booth by how much total time you’ll spend at the show. Allow extra time for browsing, distractions, and waiting in lines.
l Know what information you need to have from each exhibitor. Ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid to ask how each vendor is different from the competition.
l Study the exhibitor map available at www.HomeShowChattanooga and prioritize your route.
l Collect information that’s of interest to you or that might interest others in your family. Enter drawings and leave your contact information with vendors you are interested in working with.
l Skip overly crowded booths and plan to come at end of the day, when traffic is slower.
l Carry a pad and pen to jot down important notes, and take lots of pictures to remind you of the products you saw.
l Take a break after a few hours to refresh and get some fresh air. Get a snack and drink water regularly to avoid dehydration.
l Plan how you are going to use information gathered and how you will follow up with the vendors you visited.
l Most importantly – have fun!
For more information on the upcoming Fall Home and Remodeling Show, contact the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga at (423) 624-9992 or visit www.HomeShowChattanooga.com.
Chris Mabee is the president, Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga.